Region 15 2017-18 Teacher Of The Year Named

SOUTHBURY/MIDDLEBURY — Regina Lemerich Botsford, Superintendent of Region 15 schools, has announced LeAnn Cassidy, Social Studies teacher at Memorial Middle School, as Region 15’s 2017-18 Teacher of the Year.

Cassidy has worked in Region 15 at Memorial Middle School for fifteen years, serving as a Social Studies Teacher and concurrently as an Instructional Teacher Leader for the past four years.

The Selection Committee recognized Cassidy’s focus and dedication to her students, to teamwork and to her school. She is recognized for teaching her students to be confident, life-long learners who speak and write with perseverance and intelligence while becoming respectful self-advocates. A parent gratefully described her teaching as, “planting a seed that will continue to grow in high school and beyond.”

Cassidy serves on various school committee and develops innovative assignments that capture the strengths of individual students and their abilities.

“LeAnn manages to touch the daily lives of all students and staff everyday. Whether working with our yearbook committee, school climate committee, coordinating our inspiring Veteran's Day recognition program or attending evening PTO meetings, she has been a constant positive force benefiting all of us. Her accomplishments are too many to list, and she is most deserving of this recognition,” said Dr. John Sieller, Principal at Memorial Middle School, in a prepared statement.

She connects with her students as they journey through middle school, developing skills to bridge the dependency of elementary school to the independence of high school. One of her middle school students said, “Mrs. Cassidy is extremely motivational, never puts us down, and she encourages us and builds us up.”

Cassidy is described as an inspiring and passionate educator, mentor, colleague and teacher. “LeAnn’s impact on children, adults, and families has been far reaching. She so ably and deservedly represents all of us at Region 15,” said Botsford in a statement.