Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular To Honor Teachers Of The Year

Information via Stamford Downtown

STAMFORD, CT — Two Stamford High School teachers will be honored at this year's Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular, which is slated for Nov. 20.

Donna Kaiser is a science teacher at SHS, and was the 2021 Teacher of the Year. Ringel is an English and journalism teacher at the high school, and was this year's Teacher of the Year honoree. The two will have their own float that will be themed to their specific endeavors within the classroom. The float will be titled "News! News! And Molecules."

Kaiser began her professional career as a cosmetic chemist and spent a decade in pharmaceuticals before transitioning to education. She taught in New York and Greenwich for seven years before joining SHS in 2008. She teaches chemistry as well as sponsoring an American Chemical Society-accredited chemistry club, Red Cross Club, and she coordinates the Engineering Tomorrow STEM program for the district.

Ringel is a graduate of SHS. For the last 10 years, he has advised the school’s award-winning online newspaper, The Round Table. In his spare time, he enjoys striped bass fishing and playing music with his band.

The parade, which serves as the official kick-off in Stamford to the holiday season, is one of the largest of its kind in the country, with giant helium balloons and approximately 100,000 spectators annually.

This parade is produced and funded by Stamford Downtown Special Services District with generous support from local property owners and businesses.

This year’s planned parade highlights include 14 giant balloons with favorites such as Bob the Builder, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Daniel Tiger, Gingerbread Boy, Mr. Potato Head, Octonauts, Peppa Pig, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Scooby-Doo and Snowman.

In addition to the procession's signature balloons, the streets will be filled with music from the NYPD Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Band, the Fairfield County Police Pipes and Drums and high school marching bands from Stamford, Westhill, Trumbull, Uniondale and Brentwood.

Colin Cosell, the Public Address announcer for the New York Mets and professional lacrosse team New York Riptide, will be the new Master of Ceremonies for the parade.

The parade is scheduled to begin at noon on Nov. 20 at the intersection of Summer Street at Hoyt Street and conclude on Atlantic Street, just a few short blocks from the Stamford Metro-North Train Station.

On Nov. 19, a Balloon Inflation Party presented by Point72 will be held from 3-6 p.m. at the intersection of Hoyt Street and Summer Street. This pre-parade event will allow spectators a behind-the-scenes look at the balloons as they come to life and offer music, parade talent, cartoon characters and a meet and greet with Santa Claus.