Springfield educators receive Excellence in Teaching awards

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Twenty-one Springfield Public Schools educators have been selected as recipients of the 2024 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching awards, recognizing their outstanding contributions to students, schools, and the community.
The award winners will be celebrated during the Springfield School Committee meeting on April 10, and later at a regional banquet at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on May 13.
Six Holyoke educators awarded for excellence in teaching
The annual awards, presented by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, honor educators across western Massachusetts who demonstrate dedication, innovation, and leadership in their schools. The initiative is supported locally by the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, among other community partners.
'We are grateful to the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation and the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation for their unwavering support, which has made this award a lasting tradition within Springfield Public Schools,' said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sonia Dinnall. 'To the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Class of 2024 — congratulations! Your dedication fuels the belief that every student has the power to succeed. This honor reflects the impact you make every day. Embrace it with pride, knowing that you are educating to empower and inspiring the future.'
2024 Springfield Public Schools Award Recipients:
Gina Lamoureux, Elias Brookings Elementary School, Grade 1 Special Education
Stephanie Roszko, Elias Brookings Elementary School, Math Instructional Leadership Specialist
Patricia Clark, Frank H. Freedman Elementary School, Grade 3 Classroom Teacher
Grace Ribeiro, German Gerena School, Grade 5 ELA Teacher
Anne Carmichael, Hiram L. Dorman Elementary School, Grade 5 ELA Teacher
Jared Leone, John J. Duggan Academy, Grade 11/12 History and Law Teacher
Lisa Gagnon, Liberty Elementary School, K-2 Special Education (LINKS)
Megan Kieselback, Lincoln Elementary School, Grade 2 Classroom Teacher
Jennifer Jones, Lincoln Elementary School, Grade 1 Classroom Teacher
Laura Rapa, Rebecca M. Johnson Elementary School, Grade 3 Classroom Teacher
Jamie Pirog, Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, Geography Teacher
Yaveiska Alicea-Figueroa, Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, ELA Teacher
Erika Cruz, Special Education Department, K-12 Behavioral Specialist
Kathryn Hakanson-Stacy, Springfield Central High School, MLL Algebra Teacher
Michael Bagge, Springfield Central High School, AP Biology Teacher
James MacKay, Springfield Central High School, Algebra I Teacher
Emma Giordano, Van Sickle Academy, Grade 8 ELA Teacher
Morgan Healy, Van Sickle Academy, Grade 7 Adjustment Counselor
Sandra Robinson, White Street School, Grade 5 Classroom Teacher
Takara Weir, William N. DeBerry Elementary School, Grade 2 Classroom Teacher
New Teacher Awardee: Natalie Rauh, Hiram L. Dorman Elementary School, Grade 3 Classroom Teacher
Each award recipient will receive a $250 check, an engraved plaque, and additional benefits such as tuition incentives from several local colleges and universities, including:
Elms College
Bay Path University
Mount Holyoke College
Springfield College
Western New England University
Westfield State University
University of Massachusetts
Other perks include a WGBY membership, providing access to a wide range of digital educational resources, and a complimentary three-month membership to the Springfield Jewish Community Center or a regional YMCA.
The awards program, now a longstanding tradition in the district, is made possible through the support of several local organizations and sponsors, including American International College, Arrha Credit Union, Country Bank, and Meyers Brothers Kalicka.
'These educators are making a lasting difference in the lives of their students and the success of Springfield Public Schools,' Dinnall said. 'Their hard work and dedication continue to inspire us all.'
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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