The news of this year’s Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards comes on a somber note, following the Trump administration’s decision to terminate $106 million in education grant funding from Massachusetts.
Nearly half of that funding — $47.3 million — is being stripped from Springfield schools.
Despite that major blow, Springfield Public Schools’ teachers remain committed to providing top-of-the-line education to their students, and this year, 21 of the city’s educators — from across different schools and grade levels — are being honored with an Excellence in Teaching award.
“Springfield Public Schools remains committed to delivering high-quality education and will continue to do so through careful planning and responsible stewardship of our resources,” Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Sonia Dinnall said in a statement.
A complete list of this year’s Excellence in Teaching award winners from Springfield includes Gina Lamoureux, Elias Brookings Elementary School; Stephanie Roszko, Elias Brookings Elementary School; Patricia Clark, Frank H. Freedman Elementary School; Grace Ribeiro, German Genera School; Anne Carmichael, Hiram L. Dorman Elementary School; Jared Leone, John J. Duggan Academy; Lisa Gagnon, Liberty Elementary School; Megan Kieselback, Lincoln Elementary School; Jennifer Jones, Lincoln Elementary School; Laura Rapa, Rebecca M. Johnson Elementary School; Jamie Pirog, Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy; Yaveiska Alicea-Figueroa, Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy; Erika Cruz, Special Education Department; Kathryn Hakanson-Stacy, Springfield Central High School; Michael Bagge, Springfield Central High School; James MacKay, Springfield Central High School; Emma Giordano, Van Sickle Academy; Morgan Healy, Van Sickle Academy; Sandra Robinson, White Street School; and Takara Weir, William N. DeBerry Elementary School. Natalie Rauh, who teaches third grade at Hiram L. Dorman Elementary School, received this year’s New Teacher Award.
All of this year’s honored teachers will be celebrated at a banquet at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on May 13. There, awardees will receive a check for $250 and tuition incentives from Elm College, Bay Path University, Mount Holyoke College, Springfield College, Western New England University, Westfield State University and the University of Massachusetts.
The Republican asked four of this year’s award-winning teachers — across different schools, grade levels and subjects — to answer questions by email. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Takara Weir
Takara Weir is a second-grade teacher at William N. DeBerry Elementary School. She has worked for Springfield Public Schools for 5 years.
What does excellence in teaching mean for you, and how do you bring it to the classroom?
Excellence in teaching is when an educator goes above and beyond what is expected of them to benefit their students in and out of the classroom. Teaching is known to be a demanding profession that requires a lot of work outside of contract hours, multitasking, planning, passion, and care. I believe I bring this to the classroom in many ways. I like to joke that I am always “on” or working and I think it is true. Often, I am responding to parent messages or emails, conquering my endless to-do list, and working on what needs to be done to benefit the students. I have attended numerous professional developments that were offered by the district but have also enrolled in ones in my own free time. I create supplemental and standards-based materials to enhance their reading, writing, and math skills.
On a non-academic level, I work extremely hard to create lasting relationships with my students. Many of my past students still visit me despite no longer being in my class! I also plan creative activities in the classroom; I teach and expose my students to other ideas through hands-on projects, movement breaks, and PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) events. I’ve hosted Read Across America Week, glow parties, cookie decorating, pajama days and more. While of course, students attend school to learn, and we do follow a strict routine with academics and pacing, I also try to bring more enjoyment into each day. My hope is that my efforts will create core memories for my students, and they will one day look back and remember having me as a teacher as a fond memory.
Excellence in teaching can also be seen outside of the classroom. As I previously mentioned, I work hard to form relationships with all my students. Many of my former students eagerly join the Girls on the Run team that my colleagues and I coach. It is truly a treat to keep seeing the students and get to know them in a recreational setting. Outside of the classroom, I also coordinate the distribution of food bags before school vacations, which work to provide extra snacks to those in need. I am lucky to be in a school with an administration that supports nurturing the students academically as they do emotionally and physically.
What is the most rewarding part of teaching for you?
The most rewarding part of teaching is the students. The progression from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is truly remarkable in terms of their comfort level with me and the numerous “aha moments” when something finally makes sense. I love to see progress from the first day of school where they timidly return from summer vacation not knowing what to expect of their new second grade teacher; they come in quietly as they take in me and their new surroundings that will become the classroom community over the school year.
It is a privilege to be a trusted adult in their lives who they slowly get more comfortable with; I enjoy being the adult who is privy to the exciting news that they are bursting to share or wiping their tears and trying to help them overcome their hardships. As their comfort grows, I start to see their growth academically. I see the phonics skills from reading groups get applied to their writing or the joy on their face when they read a book they previously would not have tried or the triumphant look as they tackle a particularly hard problem.
What is your favorite teaching/classroom moment in the past year?
My favorite classroom moment was our SIPPS “graduation.” SIPPS stands for Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words; it is an intervention used to help students who need additional reading support. Each year as a classroom teacher, most of my students have started out needing the intervention. This particular year was special because we had a party to celebrate at the end.
Twelve of my students “graduated” from SIPPS! They worked tirelessly through 55 lessons to master the material. They were presented with their awards in front of their parents and classmates. Each student was filled with such a sense of accomplishment and joy which was mirrored on their family members’ faces as they celebrated with us.
Yaveiska Alicea-Figueroa
Yaveiska Alicea-Figueroa is an English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy. She grew up in Springfield and graduated from Springfield Public Schools in 2012. She has worked for Springfield Public Schools for nine years. “I can’t imagine teaching anywhere else,” she said.
What does excellence in teaching mean for you, and how do you bring it to the classroom?
Excellence in teaching means always making improvements and experimenting in the classroom. I try to create new activities or improve ones that have worked well each year. I always look for ways to give my students experiences in the classroom they wouldn’t normally associate with English. I also try to have creativity and self-expression in each unit. I find that I feel most fulfilled when I am able to create prompts and projects from scratch.
Excellence also requires a willingness to collaborate with others. My Putnam family is great at sharing lessons, texts and activities. We encourage each other to try new things. We also spend much of our time common planning and collaborating on summative assessments, fun projects, and new readings that spark interest for our students.
What is the most rewarding part of teaching for you?
The most rewarding part of teaching is getting to see my students grow from nervous ninth graders to headstrong and dedicated seniors. I love watching my students develop their personalities, goals, and skills. The moment students finally understand a concept that has been troubling them brings me so much joy. I enjoy guiding my students and building up their confidence. I make it a priority to be a safe space for my kids during and after their time at Putnam. Their success motivates me and provides me with the warm, cozy feelings I need to keep going.
What is your favorite teaching/classroom moment in the past year?
My favorite teaching moment this year was watching the shock on my Advanced Placement Literature [students] faces when we reached the end of the play we were studying. Their enthusiasm regarding “Othello” by William Shakespeare had me smiling ear to ear! I loved hearing their very strong opinions on the ending of the play and laughed at the “solutions” they came up with after deciding they didn’t like the ending. Seeing them become so engaged with the text and so impassioned by the injustices in the play solidified that we tackled this story the right way!
Jared Leone
Jared Leone teaches grade 11-12 history and law at John J. Duggan Academy. He has taught at Duggan for 10 years, and in Springfield Public Schools for 11 years.
What does excellence in teaching mean for you, and how do you bring it to the classroom?
What comes to mind first is student engagement and shared enthusiasm for topics and the willingness to be active learners.
Excellence in teaching means a high level of student engagement, building relationships while not sacrificing the academic goals that are set as well. Seeing students’ journey of both personal and academic growth is the most rewarding aspect of this profession.
I have been fortunate to have been at Duggan Academy for the past 10 years and have had the opportunity to teach the same students at different points of their personal and academic journeys.
What is the most rewarding part of teaching for you?
It is difficult to narrow down the most rewarding part of teaching to one aspect! The most rewarding part of teaching in my mind is seeing students’ journey of both personal and academic growth.
I have been fortunate to have students come back to visit after graduation to share with me their successes in both their academic careers and their successes when they have pursued careers after graduation.
What is your favorite teaching/classroom moment in the past year?
In the past year, my favorite teaching moment was engaging students with our own classroom version of the TV series “Shark Tank.”
While studying the Industrial Revolution, students were assigned a product from the time period to present and attempt to “sell” their fellow classmates who were assigned the role of “sharks.” This lesson plan and student activity led to excitement in the room not only for presenting their products but also for the research that was associated with it.
Sandra Robinson
Sandra Robinson is a fifth-grade teacher at White Street Elementary School. She has worked for Springfield Public Schools for 12 years.
What does excellence in teaching mean for you, and how do you bring it to the classroom?
It goes beyond the mere delivery of instruction by creating an environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves, allowing for creativity in both their learning and personal development. It combines having a deep understanding of the subject matter, and the ability to adapt it to cater to the diverse needs of students. Above all, excellence in teaching is helping students feel valued, confident, and empowered through their educational journey.
I bring this approach to my classroom by thoughtfully considering my students’ cultural and academic strengths and areas for growth. Each child entering our classrooms are unique, and I strive to honor their individuality by tailoring my delivery of academic content to meet their needs.
What is the most rewarding part of teaching for you?
The most rewarding aspect of teaching is when former students return to share their achievements. It is incredibly gratifying to know that I have played a role in helping them reach and achieve success.
What is your favorite teaching/classroom moment in the past year?
I had the opportunity to collaborate with a former student to create a composting initiative between her high school and my elementary school. It has been truly inspiring to watch her take on a leadership role within her community and work with her classmates to create and teach lessons for younger students on a topic she is passionate about. Collaborating with the high school teachers, we have been able to create a program that not only teaches students the importance of reducing waste, but also helping to protect and sustain the environment.
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