Winchester teacher recognized as "Classroom Hero"

Acera School teacher Deborah Barolsky has been recognized as a 2023 Classroom Hero by Feast & Fettle, a Rhode Island–based family-style meal delivery service. The award comes with a $1,000 grant for purchasing school supplies for her grades 4-5 classroom.

Feast & Fettle selected Deborah from more than 300 nominated teachers. The selection committee was moved by the nominating parent’s testimonial crediting Deborah for her daughter’s improvement in writing.

“We were touched by these words. While many nominations highlighted teachers for being fun – a trait Deborah was also recognized for – it's testimonials like this that truly resonate with us,” said Justine Mooney of Feast & Fettle. “Furthermore, we found it heartwarming to read that when Deborah is typically asked what gift she'd like, she says it's for students to bring their favorite books to school for donation. Her answer underscores her belief in the power of sharing and reading.”

Deborah earned her Masters in Elementary Education at Wheelock College, and a Bachelor’s in Religious Studies from Swarthmore. She joined Acera in 2018, bringing more than 20 years of public and private school teaching experience to her classroom. She enjoys the creative and collaborative community of teachers and students here, and is especially happy to be teaching a multi-age class.

Feast & Fettle launched its Classroom Heroes program in 2022. The business also donates proceeds to Edesia Nutrition, which helps treat and prevent malnutrition in the world's most vulnerable populations, and supports small businesses through its annual Entrepreneurship Grants.

“We're always on the lookout for ways to help out in our communities. Backing teachers, who we see as the heart of any community, just makes sense,” Mooney added. “Plus, a bunch of us have kiddos over here at Feast & Fettle, so pitching in for education is really important to us.”

Located in Winchester, the Acera School offers K-12 education for gifted students. Its program includes individual learning plans for every student, math classes organized by ability rather than age, and mentor-supported passion projects. Acera also offers after school enrichment classes that are open to the public. Learn more at www.aceraschool.org.