HPS Selects 3 Finalists for the 2019 Teacher of the Year Title

After an intensive screening and interview process, Hartford’s 2019 Teacher of the Year choice is down to three finalists.

A special district wide committee selected Zuleyka Shaw, a science teacher at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy; Nicole DiFabio, a social studies teacher at Hartford Public High School’s Academy of Engineering and Green Technology; and Narciso Moquete, a 4th grade teacher at SAND School.  The finalists are being video-taped conducting a class at their schools and asked to complete a series of written essay questions as part of their final evaluation.

The selection committee is made up of Hartford Public Schools academic professionals, officials from the Hartford Federation of Teachers, and former winners of the event. 40 schools, each submitting one nominee, are participating in the competition. All school-based candidates will also be recognized at the banquet.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet to be held at the Hartford Marriott Downtown Hotel, located at 200 Columbus Blvd.

 

All nominees must be tenured K-12 teachers in the Hartford Public Schools system. They must exhibit exemplary teaching skills, show commitment to the belief that all children can learn and must be active in community and humanitarian efforts. Last year’s winner was Benjamin Carlson, a Physical Education teacher at Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School.

 

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Here are this year’s nominees:

School/Location	Candidate name
Asian Studies at Bellizzi School	Tina Titus
Betances Early Reading Lab Magnet School	Donna DiPreta
Breakthrough II Magnet (North) School	Afton Gilyard
Breakthrough Magnet (South) School	Danielle Mullings
Bulkeley High School	Gina Rodriguez
Burns Latino Studies Academy	Cheyenne Mayo
Burr School	Amanda Webster
Capital Preparatory Magnet	Lee Mascolo
Classical Magnet	Lauren Silva
Environmental Sciences Magnet at Mary Hooker	Kerry Eagan
Expeditionary Learning Academy at Moylan	Lisa Gruber
Global Communications Academy	Sharon Ford
Great Path Academy at Manchester Community College	Liahna Gonda-King
Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy	Zuleyka Shaw
Hartford PreK Magnet School	Laura Gouin
High School, Inc. / JMA	Susan Johnston
HPHS Academy of Engineering & Green Technology	Nicole DiFabio
HPHS Law and Government Academy	Kaitlyn Curran
HPHS Nursing Academy	Elizabeth Matthews
Kennelly School	Ashley Bonet
Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts	Heather Dinnald
M.D. Fox School	Laura Munafo
McDonough Middle School	Kailyn Polzella
Milner Elementary School	Keisha Evans
MLK Middle School at Rawson	Rosanne Morris
Naylor School	Jose Rosario
New Visions	Amy Baldyga
Parkville Community School	Patricia Hahn
Pathways Academy of Technology & Design	Katie Boiteau
Rawson School	Ella Barnes
Renzulli Gifted & Talented Academy	Sarah Cheney
Sanchez Elementary School	Carmelo Genovese
SAND School	Narciso Moquete
Sport & Medical Sciences Academy	Tawnya Jacocks
STEM Magnet School at Annie Fisher	Joshua Blanchfield
STEM Magnet School at Dwight	Danielle Fasciocco
University High Magnet	Kate Grayeb
Webster MicroSociety Magnet School	Amanda Pino
West Middle School	Mary Ellen Fritz
Wish Museum School	Jessie Ponzo

 

Hartford Public Schools is grateful to its invaluable event sponsors.

Lead sponsor VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., Co-lead sponsor Specialty Transportation, AXA Advisors, Pullman & Comley, the Hartford Federation of Teachers, Shipman & Goodwin Counselors at Law, the Church & Main Deli, City Steam Brewery Café, Bears Restaurant Group, The Village for Families and Children, the Waterford Group Charitable Foundation, California Pizza Kitchen, and Office Depot.