UVM BRSU Staff Award

More than 200 faculty and staff members of the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union (BRSU) gathered on August 23rd at the Manchester Elementary Middle School for the BRSU's All Staff Kick-off preceding the new academic year. The energy was contagious as attendees participated in a day of learning and planning. The event was topped off by the announcement of the annual BRSU Staff Awards.

“Our teachers and staff create exciting learning opportunities every day,” says Superintendent Randi Lowe. “I’m so proud of what they do for all our kids. And each year we celebrate our collective work by acknowledging the extraordinary efforts made by our individual honorees.”

Two of the three BRSU Award categories feature teachers and professionals for their work with students in the classroom. BRSU Teachers of the Year are nominated and selected by their peers. To be eligible for this honor, an instructor must have had at least three years of experience at the BRSU and not won previously. This year’s Teacher of the Year recipients are Johanna Davis, Behavior Interventionist at the Flood Brook School, and Dawn Baker, Grade 3 Teacher at the Mettawee Community School.

The BRSU also nominates two teachers each year for the University of Vermont (UVM) list of Outstanding Teachers from across the state. This award honors educators who best exemplify five standards of teaching: learning, professional knowledge, advocacy, colleagueship and accountability.

BRSU principals and senior staff recommend a short list of  instructors for the UVM special designation. The final decision for the two BRSU recipients rests with Superintendent Lowe. This year’s UVM Outstanding Teachers are: Charlene Lehmer, English Language Arts Instructor at Sunderland Elementary School and Tracy Hughes, English Language Arts Instructor at Manchester Elementary Middle School. Both Lehmer and Hughes will be invited to attend a ceremony later this year at the University of Vermont for all Vermont Outstanding Teachers.

In addition to the faculty awards, in 2020 the BRSU instituted a third category of BRSU honorees, the Annual Staff Award. This honor recognizes the vital contributions made daily by paraeducators, custodians, chefs, bus drivers and administrators. This year’s winners are Kristin Cicerello, Paraeducator at the Flood Brook School and Celeste Keel, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent.

A list of the BRSU honorees in each category, plus comments from their BRSU colleagues follow:

BRSU Teacher of the Year Awards

Dawn Baker, Grade 3 Teacher, Mettawee Community School: Dawn Baker is an amazing teacher. She always comes to school with a positive attitude and a smile on her face. She is a quiet force who demonstrates her love for teaching every day. Dawn creates a nurturing classroom environment where each child feels valued. She has high standards for her students and helps to develop the skills they need to be well rounded individuals. Dawn is reflective in her teaching and is always willing to learn.  Even after a challenging day, she starts the next day cheery and optimistic.  Dawn puts her heart into teaching, and spends hours planning fun and engaging lessons. Thank you for all that you do for the students in your room.

Johanna Davis, Behavior Interventionist, Flood Brook School: Johanna has embraced her new position as behavior interventionist at Flood Brook School.  Students feel heard and respected in her presence.  She takes the time to build relationships with all students and they know how much she cares about them.  She creates supports so students are successful in their learning environment and gives them tools to use when they feel overwhelmed. Her calm and present demeanor with some of the most challenging children in the building is remarkable. Not only does she show up for our children, but she is also available to support parents and teachers as well. She has done an incredible job and we appreciate all she does for our school every day. Thank you Jo!

UVM Teacher of the Year Awards

Charlene Lehmer, English Language Arts Instructor, Sunderland Elementary School: Charlene has dedicated her career to teaching at Sunderland. She provides students with a nurturing environment and students often leave saying she is their favorite Sunderland teacher. She goes above and beyond to connect with families as well and is always willing to try new things. In the last six years she has taught in three different academic grade structures without missing a beat. She is an early adopter when new programming is implemented. She has a "can do" attitude and tackles whatever is asked of her. Charlene is a great colleague and welcomes new staff with her support.  Thank you, Charlene, for your calm, consistent, commitment to excellence.

Tracy Hughes, English Language Arts Instructor, Manchester Elementary Middle School: Tracy is a committed educator who leads her department with unrivaled passion. Tracy demonstrates leadership skills and this year assisted grade 7 and 8 teachers in collaborating and developing a Middle School Social Studies curriculum. Her passion for teaching and learning comes through in everything that she does. When you walk into her classroom it is clear that students are engaged and interested in their learning and Tracy does this effortlessly each day. Tracy's compassion and willingness to make strong connections with her students, in addition to her passion in her field of expertise, is what facilitated her students' significant growth and achievement this year. Thank you, Tracy, for all you do for your students, the MEMS community and the entire BRSU.

BRSU Staff Awards

Kristin Cicerello, Paraeducator, Flood Brook School: Kristen works tirelessly and pours her heart and soul into her job. She is able to work with children who have  a variety of needs, and goes out of her way to get to know each one and what makes them tick.  She has a great sense of humor which puts students at ease and makes them laugh. We are all in awe of the relationships she nurtures, not only with the student she is assigned to, but also with every child in the classroom. She has an amazing way of balancing fun with accountability, ensuring children enjoy themselves while still meeting behavioral and academic expectations. Kristen's high expectations for all children help them shine. She always brings her A game to school. She is amazing!

Celeste Keel, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent: Celeste is knowledgeable, efficient and when necessary, ruthless (in a good way).  She organizes so much behind the scenes, and knows something about everything in the BRSU. Quite simply, without Celeste, we would collapse. Celeste went above and beyond for the JISP program last year. Reaching out to organizations to see if they wanted to participate and helping school staff with what needed to be done on their end. This was a huge undertaking and she took it on like a champ. Celeste is an excellent executive assistant.  She understands the workings of the system and always executes her part flawlessly with a positive attitude and pleasant manner.  We are all very lucky to have her at the BRSU!

(Photo above: BRSU nominations for UVM Teacher of the Year go to Charlene Lehmer of the Sunderland Elementary School and Tracy Hughes from Manchester Elementary Middle School.)

BRSU Staff Award

Mettawee’s Dawn Baker and Flood Brook’s Johanna Davis designated as 2024 BRSU Teachers of the Year.

Staff Award Flood Brook

Flood Brook paraeducator, Kristen Cicerello, selected for the 2024 BRSU Staff Award.

BRSU Staff Award BRSU

Celeste Keel designated as a recipient of the BRSU Staff Award for her work as the Executive Assistant to the BRSU Superintendent.