East Shoreline Catholic Academy Principal Honored For Exceptionalism

BRANFORD, CT —The Archdiocese of Hartford announced its selection of Cheryl Panzo, Principal at East Shoreline Catholic Academy in Branford, as the Archdiocesan Distinguished Catholic School Administrator for the 2021-22 school year.

“We are so pleased to present this deserving honor to Principal Cheryl Panzo,” said Valerie Mara, Superintendent of Catholic Schools. “Principal Panzo’s demonstrated care for her students and staff, as well as her commitment to our mission of inspiring educational excellence and transformative lifelong faith formation makes her an exemplary choice for this year’s award. We appreciate and thank her for all she gives of herself to Catholic education—she is a shining example of leadership in the ESCA community and our Archdiocese.”

Each year the Center for Catholic Education and Formation recognizes one administrator within the Archdiocese with the Distinguished Catholic School Administrator Award, which is presented to an exceptional administrator who has displayed a strong commitment to Catholic education and engendered respect among members of their school, community and the Archdiocese.

A distinguished Catholic school administrator with decades of experience in education, Panzo has served as Principal of East Shoreline Catholic Academy for nearly four years. She previously served as Principal of Our Lady of Mercy School in Madison for two years, which then merged with St. Mary’s in Branford to form ESCA.

Prior to becoming a principal, she was an Instructional Media and Technology Specialist, Teacher and ICT Coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul for over eight years. In 2016, Panzo was named Educator of the Year by the East Haven Chamber of Commerce, and she was leading ESCA when the school was named Best Private School on the Shoreline by Shore Publishing in 2021.

She holds a Master of Arts from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from Albertus Magnus College. Panzo will be honored at the Archdiocese of Hartford’s HOPES Dinner on September 19, 2022.