At its meeting on June 7, the Board of Education celebrated retiring educators and honored graduating students who recently earned awards and honors. Board of Education Chair Deborra Zukowski announced the celebration of excellence portion of the meeting and oversaw handing out awards and certificates, and offered congratulations.

“This is always a joyous occasion,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue, “for us to celebrate our outstanding staff, our retirees, and, of course, our students.”

Retiring Educators

Rodrigue shared that the retiring educators have a combined 198 years of teaching in Newtown and a total of 263 years in the field of education, when counting work outside Newtown.

“Congratulations to all of you,” Rodrigue said after each retiree’s name and information had been read.

Some of the retirees were not in attendance at the meeting, which was held at Reed Intermediate School and videotaped, but not live-streamed.

A list of the retiring educators was shared by the district following the meeting.

Middle Gate fourth grade teacher Linda Baron was first hired in 2002 and previously taught in New Jersey. She has taught for a combined 23 years.

Newtown High School science teacher Karolyn Baumgartner was hired in 2001 and has taught for a total of 21 years in Newtown.

NHS art teacher Carol Skolas was hired in 2000. She has taught for a total of 27 years.

Newtown Middle School Principal Tom Einhorn was hired in 2013. He has a total of 22 years in education.

NHS social studies teacher Randi Kiely was hired in 1999 and has taught for a total of 26 years.

Hawley Elementary School special education teacher Margaret O’Callaghan was hired in 1990 and has a total of 35 years teaching.

Reed Intermediate School special education teacher Nancy Cedor was hired in 2005 and has a total of 30 years in education.

NMS language arts teacher Mary Connolly was hired in 2001 and has a total of 21 years teaching.

NHS math teacher Janet Filmer was hired in 1998 and has a total of 27 years in education.

NHS science teacher Doreen Merritt was hired in 2004 and has a total of 31 years in education.

Honoring Students

Students honored at the school board meeting included Newtown High School’s demi-decile, or top 5%, of the Class of 2022. Those students are Valedictorian Cate Fischer, Salutatorian Amanda Stowe, and, not in order, Rachel Gita Arena, Brian Nicholas Garten, Sean Kenny, Norah Kolb, Elliot James Lurie, Juan Jose Mendez, Naha Nawaz, Benjamin Ochs, Jeremy Dale Pankow, Christina Savo, Samuel Paul Staubly, Aiden Waaler, Jasper Davis White, Jordan Helena Wittmer, and Andy Zhang.

Students chosen for this year’s Connecticut Association of Board of Education (CABE) Awards, two at NHS and two from NMS, were also announced. NMS students Stephen Mammola and Luke Stewart and NHS students Christina Savo and Rayna Toth earned the awards.

Students chosen to receive Western Connecticut Superintendent Association/Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) Student Recognition Awards were announced, two from NMS and two from NHS. NMS students Madeline Norrett and Benjamin Fitzgerald and NHS students Allison McCarthy and Matthew Irving earned the awards.

NHS student Leah Rojas was honored for earning Fourth Place/Honorable Mention in a recent 2022 Congressional Art Show, and NHS student Saahil Ray was honored for earning the 2022 George A. Coleman Excellence in Equity Award.

The school board’s NHS student representatives, who attend board meetings to share updates from NHS, were announced for next year as Kirtana Kunzweiler and Daniel Godino.

Education Editor Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.