Concord Teacher Named NH Catholic Schools Teacher Of The Year

MANCHESTER, NH — A Concord teacher has been named New Hampshire Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year while other educators and volunteers in the state were also honored last month.

Tara Henley, of St. John Regional School, was named the 2021 recipient of the Saint John Baptist de la Salle Teacher of the Year Award, according to the Diocese of Manchester. She was one of three finalists for the award, which included Mary Chamberlain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover and Deb Gauvin of St. Christopher Academy in Nashua.

This is the fifth year of the awards that celebrate the mission of advancing education at Catholic schools in the Granite State, according to David Thibault, the superintendent of the schools. Due to coronavirus, the awards were given to each recipient at their schools instead of the annual gala.

“Our vision, in union with Bishop Libasci, is to make Catholic education affordable, accessible, and available to all families throughout our state,” Thibault said. “But our Catholic schools simply would not exist without the commitment of our educators, administrators, clergy, and lay partners in the community. Their selfless support is what allows our students to succeed, and we are proud to honor them with these awards.”

The diocese also honored Deacon Mitch Couture with the St. John Vianney Cleric of the Year Award, for his support of Salve Regina Academy in Gorham. Four others also received the St. Joseph the Worker Award: Bev Broomhall of St. John Regional School; Janine Christiana of Sacred Heart School in Hampton; Christina Garand of Saint Francis of Assisi School in Litchfield; and Teri Maxwell of St. Benedict Academy and St. Catherine of Siena School in Manchester.

The Knights of Columbus Council 506 was also honored with a St. Joseph the Worker Award in recognition of its support of Salve Regina Academy.

For more information about Catholic schools in the Diocese of Manchester, visit this link.

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