By Sarah Opdahl

New Fairfield Public School faculty and staff met in the last week of school to mark the academic year’s end. The annual Celebration of Excellence event offers an opportunity to present awards, to recognize retirees, to cheer each other on, and to usher in the summer break.

There was resounding applause for Fifth Grade Teacher Sarah Sanborn, who was chosen as the district’s Teacher of the Year. Assistant Superintendent Kristine Woleck was happy to announce the win, saying Sanborn is “someone who not only demonstrates that commitment, that dedication that is so evident across the district” but someone who “has also been recognized by colleagues to receive this honor.” She went on to say Sanborn, “loves connections, she gets to know her students and she uses those insights to be responsive and differentiate in both curriculum and instruction, while maintaining high expectations for students.” Sanborn was also praised for her work outside the classroom, including participating as a leader in a strategic planning group this year and taking part in the District Equity Action Team. Following tradition, her co-worker Michelle Brown, representing t he Teachers’ Union, gave Sanborn with a white rose bush to symbolize the innocence of children. Sanborn will be joined by Paraprofessional of the Year Ms. Laurie Gonzalez at the state level of competition.

2023-24 Teacher of the Year Casey Aiezza welcomed fellow educators by emphasizing the importance of honoring “our accomplishments, being recognized for our service and dedication does not come often.” She said, though times can be tough throughout the school year, she admires her co-workers’ resilience, “You pick yourself up and dust yourself off and you keep going. The show must go on. As educators, you persevered through many challenges this year, you drew from them, and you continue to show up each day ready to make it better and more meaningful than the last.”

Superintendent Ken Craw, who hosted the event, concurred with Aiezza, saying, “We have had a lot of triumphs. But this is challenging work. It is a marathon. It is never a sprint for us in education.” Contemplating the year’s end, he asked the staff to pause, “I just want you to take a moment and reflect on just how much you have accomplished in a year where we continue to see challenges in terms of the complex needs of students. We have continued to notice that our students are coming with different concerns, different needs and parents, they have their worries about their children, and you come with a smile every day supporting these students and I could not be more thrilled to be your superintendent.”

The Sarah Gelish Spirit of New Fairfield Award, which is given in honor of the beloved el ementary school psychologist who tragically lost her life last year, was awarded to Billie Jo Watson for going above and beyond. Craw joked with the crowd that “you may have heard about our propane issues” and went on to describe Watson’s unflappabl e navigation in running a cafeteria without a way to cook for an extended period of time, which involved Watson and her staff bringing food from the Middle School in the depths of winter. “This was no small feat,” he said.

Many other long-serving faculty and staff retirees were announced announced at the event, including from the high school: Italian Teacher Clare Bryan, Math Teacher Dan Diamond, and Paraprofessionals Jody Michalek and Judy Miley and from the elementary school: Third Grade Teacher Pam Quist, Second Grade Teacher Diane Dooley, Kindergarten Teacher Melanie Williams, Art Teacher Tom Lovelett, and Paraprofessionals Marianne Donovan and Denise Spiridon. From the Central Office, Human Resources Director Kara Mehler is also retiring. Multiple service awards were issued to staff who have been in the district for at least 5 years or a series of 5-year increments.

Craw encouraged the staff to “take some time to sleep in, relax, recharge during this wonderful summer.” He went on to say he would look forward to seeing “everyone back here a couple days before Labor Day.”