ESCA Principal Cheryl Panzo Named 2021-22 Distinguished Administrator

Cheryl Buonome-Panzo, Principal of East Shoreline Catholic Academy (ESCA) in Branford, was honored and awarded the Archdiocesan Distinguished Catholic School Administrator for the 2021-22 school year, during the Help Our Parish Elementary Schools (HOPES) Dinner on Monday, September 19, at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, CT.

"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..." said Marra.

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, Cheryl Panzo serves as Principal of East Shoreline Catholic Academy (ESCA). She previously served as Principal of Our Lady of Mercy School in Madison for two years, which then merged with St. Mary School in Branford to form ESCA in 2018. Cheryl is also the former principal of St. Vincent de Paul School in East Haven. 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 under her direction ESCA was named Best Private School on the Shoreline by Shore Publishing in 2021.

East Shoreline Catholic Academy (ESCA) is a dynamic Pre-K3-Grade 8 STREAM model school, preparing individual students to be our future leaders rooted in faith, service, and academic excellence. Accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), ESCA employs a progressive STREAM educational model endorsed by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). STREAM connects every content area and richly augments all learning experiences by incorporating technology and engineering into a traditional curriculum. The STREAM curriculum includes Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, the Arts (Fine Arts, Language Arts), and Mathematics. Interdisciplinary instruction and project-based applications of learned concepts will help children acquire leadership skills while preparing them for success in those careers most in-demand in the twenty-first century. Our teachers employ a “growth mindset” in their classrooms, and each student’s unique gifts are celebrated and are encouraged to reach their full potential.

To learn more about East Shoreline Catholic Academy visit our website:

https://eastshorelinecatholica...