Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 308 Senior Vice Commander Don Bashak and Chaplain Donna Monteleone Randle welcomed attendees to a Voice of Democracy and Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony, held in the Newtown High School cafetorium, on Friday, March 29.

For most of the Teacher of the Year award winners - Larry Saladin, Petrice DiVanno, and Linda Baron- the announcements were a surprise. Each of the teachers who won the Teacher of the Year Award for Post 308 also went on to win first place in the award program at the VFW Fairfield County district level. Ms Baron earned an extra surprise when she learned her nomination for Teacher of the Year earned first place at the state level and has moved to the national level of the competition.

Ms Randle began the event by announcing the winner of this year's Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition for students in ninth to twelfth grade. Each essay must be written and recorded by the students, according to the VFW. This year's Voice of Democracy theme was "My Responsibility to America."

NHS tenth grader Robert DiSibio was announced as this year's VFW Post 308 Voice of Democracy winner. His entry also went on to earn him third place in the VFW district competition for Fairfield County. Fairfield County District 1 VFW Commander Archie Elam presented Robert with a certificate to celebrate his district level achievement.

According to the VFW, this was the first year Post 308 offered the VFW Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Award, also known as the "Teacher of the Year" award. The competition recognizes three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teaching America's history, traditions, Americanism, civic responsibility, flag etiquette, and patriotism in three grade categories- kindergarten to fifth grade, sixth grade to eighth grade, and ninth grade to twelfth grade.

Award Winners Named

NHS Principal Lorrie Rodrigue named the ninth to twelfth grade Teacher of the Year award winner for Post 308 as NHS social studies teacher Larry Saladin, who was later announced to have also earned first place in the district level of the award program. While Dr Rodrigue said "we have such outstanding staff and faculty throughout the district," she said she knew immediately that nominating Mr Saladin was a "no brainer."

"He is beloved as a teacher and a member of our NHS faculty," said Dr Rodrigue, before listing the many ways Mr Saladin helps his students and community. "He inspires students to do more, take leadership roles seriously, and demonstrate their civic responsibilities in new ways."

Retired Newtown Middle School teacher Don Ramsey, who was one of the judges for the VFW Post 308 Teacher of the Year award program, announced Reed Intermediate School sixth grade teacher Petrice DiVanno as the district winner for the sixth to eighth grade level of the program. Mr Elam presented Ms DiVanno with a certificate to mark her first place award at the district level.

Mr Ramsey said it was powerful to read the nominations submitted for Ms DiVanno.

"It became so crystal clear to me what this lady is doing at Reed Intermediate [School] - things like coordinating a Veterans Day assembly, bringing in veterans... creating wonderful displays in the lobby," said Mr Ramsey, adding that Ms DiVanno's efforts also impact her fellow staff members.

Middle Gate Elementary School Principal Christopher Geisler said Middle Gate fourth grade teacher Linda Baron "embodied the description and the purpose of the award."

Like Ms DiVanno and Mr Saladin, Ms Baron's nomination earned first place at the program's district level. Assistant Superintendent of Schools Jean Evans Davila later announced - surprising Ms Baron at the ceremony - that Ms Baron's nomination also earned first place at the state level of the award program. Her nomination now moves on to the national level, and the national Teacher of the Year award winners will be announced later this year.

In all of the programs she coordinates at the school, from a Veterans Day assembly to a Community Circle on Citizenship, Mr Geisler told Ms Baron, "Thank you for making a difference every day."

After recognizing each of the award winners, Mr Elam reflected that it is obvious the district has a "team... a family team. We need more of those."