Vernon School Officials Name Teacher of the Year

VERNON, CT — Vernon’s 2018-2019 teacher of the year is Joanne Stavens-Martin of Vernon Center Middle School.

She has been a physical education and health teacher for the past 12 years at VCMS, school system officials said.

Here is a biography submitted by Vernon education officials:

Joanne Stavens-Martin is a mentor to many new teachers, long-term substitutes, and student

teachers over the years. Her vibrant personality motivates all of the students. Whether she is singing,
dancing or talking in her famous British accent, she is always full of energy every day.

She has a great rapport with the students and staff at Vernon Center Middle School (VCMS) and everyone knows she is someone that people can go to for support. She is professional, goes above and beyond what is
expected of her, and supports the community and her colleagues one hundred percent.

She is always professional, being well-prepared in the classroom, interacting with, and on behalf of, her students with high expectations yet also with care and concern. If a student does not have the clothes or shoes
for physical education, she takes up and keeps a collection of various sizes of clothing and shoes to
give them.

Joanne is involved in countless activities and events to improve the VCMS community. She has been
the adviser for the VCMS Relay for Life team. Through this team, she has taught the students
compassion, selflessness, empathy, and ways to fund raise on their own. She has led the students
raise well over $15,000 for the American Cancer Society.

She has also lead numerous after-school intramurals and tournaments. She invites high-school
students to be involved as well to be role-models for the middle school students. Her efforts to make
Vernon a tight-knit community are endless.

Joanne Staven-Martins represents all that a Vernon Teacher of the Year should be: professional,
always doing more than is asked, and supporting not only our students but the greater VCMS and
Vernon communities.

Photo Credit: Vernon Public Schools