By Dave Matlow
Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon today marked the official opening of the 2014-2105 school year by welcoming an overflow crowd at the annual teacher orientation in the Bedford Middle School auditorium and introducing the 2015 Teacher of the Year.
Lisa Almeida, a Spanish teacher at Coleytown Middle School, was selected as the Teacher of the Year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Lisa Almeida, a Spanish teacher at Coleytown Middle School, was selected as the Teacher of the Year.
Other nominees were announced as Megan Stone and Eric Lawrence, Saugatuck; Jennifer Benson, Kings Highway; Michelle DeCarlo, Greens Farms; Kerry Jean Douglas, Bedford; Anne Fernandez, Joel Kabak and Enia Noonan, Staples, and Rick Quiricone and Christina Zadravec, Coleytown Middle.
Landon’s welcome message included introductions to 44 new teachers—“the most new hires that we have had since 2008”—two new administrators as well as recognition of 25-year school veterans Enia Noonan at Staples, Ellen Zunick at King’s Highway, and Janice Price at Staples.
“Westport 2025 is a vision designed to prepare our students for 2025 and beyond, when they will need to be citizens who work in a more global community and their work environments may be more global than local,” Landon said.
The Bedford Middle School auditorium was overflowing for today’s meeting. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
He noted that this year marks his 16th in the Westport public schools.
In Almeida’s acceptance comments, she offered five helpful teaching tips: (1) “teaching is a performance,” (2) “don’t take yourself too seriously,” (3) “you can’t hide,” (4) “teaching is about preparing students for life,” and (5) “always celebrate” such occasions as students’ birthdays for which her class sings Happy Birthday in Spanish.
She added, “I love my students and I love the Spanish language. I love what I do” and summed up her message to the attendees, “We must remember that every life we touch, truly matters.”
Landon said Almeida will be honored at a Board of Education meeting on Sept. 8, at which time all nominees will be honored.
