Vernon Schools Honor 18 Students And District Teacher Of The Year

VERNON, CT — The Vernon public school system, the Vernon Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary are honoring 18 students from elementary school through adult education.

Awards were bestowed during a ceremony Monday night at Vernon Center Middle School.

Vernon’s teacher of the year, Brian Stevenson of VCMS, was also recognized.

"Tonight, we're here to recognize the best and the brightest of our schools," Macary said.

In recognizing Stevenson, a VCMS reading interventionist, as Vernon's teacher of the year, Macary said there is "no higher honor that to be recognized by your peers in your profession."

Stevenson, he said, "exemplifies all the characteristics, traits and abilities of a great education."

VCMS Principal David Caruso said the school faculty and staff are proud of Stevenson's achievements, while adding and he is glad Stevenson is a colleague.

"There's not anybody that’s more passionate about helping kids, helping the whole child," Caruso said. "He does an amazing job taking students that may struggle a little bit with reading and turning them on to like and sometimes even love reading, which is not an easy task. He does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes, runs a ton of data to try to identify not only which students can use a little extra help, but where they need the extra help and exactly how we can give them that help. And then he gets to work and he rolls his sleeves up every single day and makes sure he gives those students his best."

The students honored Monday are "among the best and the brightest," and that means they "embody the qualities of academic prowess, community service, leadership, strong character, innate intelligence, service to others, moral integrity, hard worker and determination," school system officials said.

Rockville High School students Lorelei Hutchings and Jonathan Kasamba received the National School Development Council Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning.

"Lorelei is an exemplar of leadership and academic excellence at RHS," Macary said. "She is the senior class president, vice president of the Rockville chapter of FFA and on track to finish as a top 10 scholar at RHS."

He continued said about Kasamba, "Inside the classroom Jonathan is a strong and reliable student that has increased the rigor of his course work year-by-year. Outside of the classroom, he is a top athlete on our football, basketball and track teams. Jonathan is also a valued and integral member of the student council."

Center Road School student Joshua Arno is a "remarkable Roadrunner" and an exceptional representation of core values of being caring, responsible and safe, Macary said.

"Above all else, Joshua treats everyone with kindness and is one of the first to offer help to others in need," he said.

Another Center Road School student, Michayla Lavoie, is an academic star, Macary said.

"Michayla excels in all academic areas and goes above and beyond to produce the highest quality of work," Macary said, while adding, "she is a highly motivated, driven and eager learner. Michayla sets high expectations for herself and holds herself accountable by meeting those expectations."

Lake Street School student Elijah Korode is "hard-working and intelligent, and a role model to his peers," Macary said.

He is part of the Reading Buddy program for first-graders and "strives to be the best academically," Macary said.

Lake Street School student Isabella Pretorius is "intrinsically motivated both academically and socially," Macary said.

He added, "She continually helps others in the classroom as well as our school community.” Isabella has a particular enjoyment for creative writing and has taken on the challenge of playing the flute in our school band as well as joining the after school chorus club."

Maple Street School student Katheleen Fair is "kind, follows directions the first time given, holds herself and others to high expectations and has a growth mindset," Macary said. "She is always respectful, responsible and demonstrates a caring heart. She strives to do her best academically and constantly challenges herself."

Maple Street School student Zadiel Martinez is "hardworking and a positive influence in the classroom to his peers," Macary said. "He is not afraid to take risks in the classroom and learn from his mistakes. He is a resilient student who fights and fights until he finds the right answer. Zadiel is also a role model to the students at Maple Street School."

Northeast School student Ruby Kalnenieks is known for her strong worth ethic and positive attitude, Macary said. She is involved in activities including chorus, band, Lego Robotics, Endeavor and Business Club.

"In each of these roles, Ruby's enthusiasm and commitment continue to shine through," Macary said.

Northeast School student Thomas Smith is "bright beyond his years and always seeks to enrich his knowledge by taking on new challenges," Macary said.

He added, "Whether he is in the classroom or on the playground, Tommy's gentle demeanor and kindness don't go unnoticed. Tommy is also a talented athlete who excels in soccer. He is always fair and makes sure everyone feels included and valued, both on and off the field."

Skinner Road School student Aayesha Fatema "continuously sets a remarkable example of leadership as a student and takes pride in learning and always demonstrates her best work, no matter how big or small the task," Macary said.

He added, "Aayesha positively contributes to the school community on a daily basis and always
works hard to achieve excellence."

Skinner Road School student Joshua Kim is an "SRS star" who is dedicated to his academics and performs at a high level, Macary said, while adding, "More impressively is Josh’s involvement in the community. Josh writes for the SRS News, plays the saxophone in the school band, sings in the chorus and is currently playing the lead role in the CAST Children’s Theater musical production of 'The Magic Treehouse; Knight of Dawn.'He also writes, produces and records songs in a garage band."

Vernon Center Middle School student Madison Gordon has a commitment to excellence that is evident in everything she undertakes, Macary said.

He added, "Her ability to fully absorb lessons and innovatively apply them in practical settings demonstrates her profound understanding and intellectual prowess. Although she is soft
spoken, Madison's academic aspirations resonate loudly."

VCMS student Sarah Rizzo's "quiet confidence" is admired by her teachers, Macary said.

"Sarah constantly goes above and beyond in completing assignments, is an active participant in classroom discussions and is always respectful and well-behaved," he said. "She is a role model for others and a pleasure to teach."

RHS "superstar" My-Ngoc Lai-Huyen "has never shied away from the most rigorous classes and has grown tremendously during her time at RHS," Macary said.

He added, "She is a leader and always willing to share her knowledge with others. She is No. 1 in the class of 2025 and has been at the head of her class since freshman year. She came to RHS as a soft-spoken, academically focused student and will leave a young woman who understands her power and potential beyond high school."

RHS senior Thomas Bannon is also among the top 10 students in his class.

"His work ethic shines through in all aspects of his life," Macary said, while adding. "Thomas sought out the most demanding courses and excelled. Through his hard work, he is expected to graduate from Rockville High School with 28 college credits — the equivalent of one year of college. Thomas is a multi-sport athlete and is a valuable member of both the basketball and track and field teams."

Also recognized were two students in VRABE – Vernon Regional Adult Based Education.

VRABE student Gianna Menillo's "dedication to her education is truly impressive," Macary said.

"She completed her credit diploma in March while working full-time, which demonstrates her commitment and drive," Macary said.

She plans to attend Lincoln Tech to major in diesel technology.

VRABE student Jasmine Mosby has been attending GED classes for two years and has had major gains in her education," Macary said.

"Jasmine has a number of strengths and is always interested in supporting others in the classroom," he added. "She shows up early to class, works hard and carries herself in a polite and respectable manner."