The school district’s 2018-19 Profiles in Professionalism awardees were celebrated at the May 21 Board of Education meeting.

“This is really a special evening, and we look forward to it every year,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue.

Board of Education Chair Michelle Embree Ku said the annual celebration is one of her “favorite events of the year.”

The Profiles in Professionalism awards asks district staff to nominate outstanding members of the school community. The honorees are then celebrated at a Board of Education meeting annually. The May 21 meeting was held in Reed Intermediate School’s library, and district staff, family members, and friends filled the space for the event.

The 2018-19 honorees are Sandy Hook School Elementary School executive secretary Erin Ardino, Middle Gate School Elementary School parent volunteer Robert Barricelli, district board certified behavior analyst Lauren Connor, Hawley School Elementary School Lead Teacher Jenna Connors, Reed Intermediate School teacher Petrice DiVanno, Middle Gate library/media specialist Suzanne Hurley, Head O’ Meadow Elementary School counselor School Lisa Kilcourse, Reed head custodian Mark Pirozzoli, Newtown High School Career Counselor Peg Ragaini, Hawley behavioral interventionist Betsy Rickert, Newtown Middle School library/media specialist Andrew San Angelo, NHS teacher Kathy Swift, and NHS secretary Carol Villodas.

Dr Rodrigue called the honorees present for the meeting up one by one, and she read the nominations submitted for each awardee.

Ms Ardino was nominated by Sandy Hook Principal Dr Kathy Gombos, who said the executive secretary always represents Newtown Public Schools and Sandy Hook School “in a positive way.”

Middle Gate parent volunteer Mr Barricelli, was nominated by fellow awardee Ms Hurley for the honor. Ms Hurley’s nomination letter described him as a “faithful volunteer” who continues volunteering to clean the school’s fish tank, even though his children have graduated from the elementary school.

Ms Connor was nominated by Director of Pupil Services Deborah Mailloux-Petersen, who wrote that Ms Connor took special care with one student this past year.

Dr Rodrigue said Ms Connors was nominated by Hawley secretary Lisa Petrovich, who called Ms Connors “a professional in every sense of the word” in her nomination letter. In the letter, Ms Connors is described as helping everyone with ease and grace, always with a smile.

Ms DiVanno was nominated for the award by Reed teacher Matt Dalton. He wrote that Ms DiVanno demonstrates kindness, patience, and comfort while helping children attain levels “they did not know they could even reach.”

Ms Hurley was nominated by Middle Gate teacher Linda Baron, who shared that Ms Hurley inspires the imaginations of children in her nomination letter.

Ms Kilcourse was nominated by both Head O’ Meadow Principal Tim Napolitano and lead teacher Carol Danenberg, who called Ms Kilcourse a “bridge builder.”

Mr Pirozzoli was nominated by Reed Assistant Principal Jill Bontatibus-Beaudry for creating a safe and welcoming environment. He was also nominated by district maintenance crew leader Jesse Bailey.

Ms Ragaini was nominated by district accounts payable staff Jim Delgado, who wrote, “[she] has been instrumental in the early days of the Newtown High School Capstone project.”

Ms Rickert was nominated by Hawley Principal Christopher Moretti — for exemplifying the meaning of the Profiles in Professionalism award — and teacher Deborah Lubin Pond.

Mr San Angelo was nominated by NMS Principal Tom Einhorn, reading teacher Patricia Bowles, and NMS library/media associate Nancy Fraczek. In his nomination letter, Mr Einhorn explained that Mr San Angelo began this year as the school’s library/media specialist after spending “many years as one of our outstanding grade eight social studies teachers.”

Ms Swift was nominated by NHS teachers Marc Kenney and Richard Lye. Mr Kenney wrote that Ms Swift works tirelessly to ensure students gain the requisite skills and awareness “of their own world through the relevant class discourse.”

Ms Villodas was nominated by Ms Swift. Ms Villodas was called a “miracle worker” by Ms Swift in her nomination letter.

To read the full version of this story, see the May 31 print edition of The Newtown Bee.