SPS Announces 2024 Teacher Of The Year And Spotlight Cohort

Information via Stamford Public Schools

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford Public Schools this week announced the 2024-25 Teacher of the Year and Spotlight on Teaching Program honorees.

These exceptional educators were selected by a committee of current SPS teachers who evaluated all nominees as peers based on the following criteria: outstanding teaching, exceptional student support, exemplary community involvement, and positive influence on school culture.

The committee selected Carolyn Tschinkel, a kindergarten teacher at Stillmeadow Elementary School, as the 2024-25 Teacher of the Year.

Tschinkel is a 33-year teaching veteran who describes her job as a "childhood dream come true."

Tschinkel is being recognized for her efforts to create a learning environment that meets the needs of Stamford’s diverse student community, including differentiated instruction, hands-on centers and projects for tactile learners, wall displays and charts for visual learners, and music centers for auditory learners, the school district said in a news release.

"My greatest accomplishment in my teaching career has been creating a classroom environment where students develop a love for learning and they are very motivated to succeed," said Tschinkel in a news release. "I feel my greatest contribution to education is the success of my students."

In addition to Tschinkel, the committee selected the following educators for the 2024-25 Teacher of the Year Cohort:

• Danielle Marenholz, agricultural science, Westhill High School
• Kenneth Martin, visual arts (jewelry/metalsmithing), Westhill High School
• Timothy Martin, agricultural science, Westhill High School

The committee also selected 26 educators from 13 of the district’s 22 K-12 programs for recognition through the Spotlight on Teaching Program.

Each honoree was nominated by their peers for the special impact they make on their school community.

Spotlight on Teaching Honorees:

• Kellie Austin - Toquam Elementary School
• Joshua Bogard - Academy of Information Technology & Engineering
• Lindsey Colandro - Stark Elementary School
• Siobhan Collins - Rogers Elementary School
• Jennifer Correa - Rogers Elementary School
• Abigail Curry - Stark Elementary School
• Marisa Donch - Newfield Elementary School
• Melissa Giandurco - Cloonan Middle School
• Jesse Glaude - Westhill High School
• Elizabeth Grosso - Roxbury Elementary School
• Nancy Kelly - Academy of Information Technology & Engineering
• Nicole Kittleman - Westhill High School
• Mindy Midy - Westhill High School
• Corinne Mooney - Hart Elementary School
• Patrice Moore - Hart Elementary School
• Suzannah Ohring-Coll - Cloonan Middle School
• Paul Orsino - Rippowam Middle School
• Anthony Pollicella - Academy of Information Technology & Engineering
• James Pruitt - Anchor School
• George Schott - Academy of Information Technology & Engineering
• Leah Schwartz - Cloonan Middle School
• Eric Sigman - Cloonan Middle School
• Alexandra Slane - Cloonan Middle School
• Shanna Zaharis - Dolan Middle School
• Joseph Zaremski - Stillmeadow Elementary School

Spotlight on Teaching Team Recognition:

George Schott, Julie Tooher, Josh Bogard - Academy of Information Technology & Engineering

This year, the district also nnounced the addition of the Stamford Public Schools Paraeducator of the Year Award.

This is a special honor, highlighting the excellence of a Stamford paraeducator with outstanding performance, while uplifting the wonderful work of all.

The Paradecutator Cohort will be announced soon.

The 2024-25 Teacher of the Year Cohort, Spotlight on Teaching winners and Paraeducator of the Year Cohort will be honored at an event on Thursday, May 23 at The Village in Stamford.

The Teacher of the Year will participate in the 2024 Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular.