Derby Public Schools Names 2025 District Teacher Of The Year

DERBY, CT — Derby Public Schools announced Friday that Karen Szilvasy has been named the 2025 District Teacher of the Year.

According to a news release provided by the district, the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program is one of the oldest and most prestigious recognition programs to focus public attention on excellence in teaching.

Szilvasy is a special education resource teacher at Irving School, currently servicing students in third, fourth and fifth grade.

"Mrs. Szilvasy's unwavering dedication to her students is truly inspiring," Superintendent Matthew Conway Jr. said in a news release. "She goes above and beyond every day to support struggling learners, collaborates seamlessly with colleagues, and adapts instruction to meet individual needs. Her commitment to fostering a nurturing and meaningful learning environment makes her an invaluable asset to our Derby family."

Szilvasy is in her 23rd year in Derby and has been teaching special education for 27 years, having previously worked in a private school. She began as a self-contained special education teacher and moved to the resource model several years ago, working seamlessly as an "all in team player" with the entire special education department team.

She is family oriented, lives in Durham, is married to Michael, has two adult children named Jessica and Bryan, a granddaughter named Camryn, and has dinner with her mother, Lorraine, every week, according to the district.

Szilvasy also absolutely loves going to Camryn's hockey games, has a summer house in Mystic, loves to garden and be outdoors and even makes her own maple syrup, according to the district.

"On behalf of the entire Irving School community, I am beyond excited for Karen Szilvasy to represent us as the 2025 Teacher of the Year," Irving Elementary School Principal Marc Russo said in a news release. "Mrs. Szilvasy has spent the last 23 years of her 27-year educational life with the great city of Derby and Derby Public Schools, working at both Bradley School and Irving School. In those two-plus decades with Derby, she has made a tremendous impact on the students under her care. Not only has she been a positive and motivational force in the lives of her students in terms of teaching and learning academics, she has been a supreme advocate for their social-emotional needs."

Russo also noted Szilvasy is universally held in high regard by her colleagues.

"She is the ultimate 'team player' and is there as a soundboard, think tank, thought partner, resource provider, and good friend for many staff members," Russo said. "Mrs. Szilvasy is in many ways an ideal educator, and for all these reasons (and probably more!) they are why she is also the Derby Public Schools 2025 Teacher of the Year."

Upon hearing about her selection as District Teacher of the Year, Szilvasy said she felt very proud and honored to have been nominated by her peers and chosen for this recognition.

"It has been a pleasure working in Derby for the past 23 years," Russo said, "surrounded by such amazing people who are so dedicated to our kids."

Jim Gildea, chairman of the Board of Education, said it was always exciting to see the district's long-term teachers honored for the amazing work they do and the lives they impact.

"On behalf of the Board of Education, I congratulate Mrs. Szilvasy on being selected as Teacher of the Year. It is well deserved," Gildea said in a news release. "I'd also like to congratulate all school based Teacher of the Year awardees and the great work they do day in and day out."