(Left to right) 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year Mallory Knutson(seated), Supt, of Schools Susan Compton; Associate Supt. of Schools Vonda Tencza, Bungay School Principal Mary Sue Feige and Bungay School Assistant Principal Lauren Reid
SEYMOUR – Students, teachers and community members received kudos for a job well done Monday (June 6) during the Board of Education’s annual year-end awards ceremony.
About 75 people turned out at Seymour Middle School as the board handed out awards for excellence in teaching, saluted retiring educators, honored citizens for community service and feted its teacher of the year and top 10 students.
A complete list of all the night’s award winners can be viewed on the board’s agenda online:
0_BOE_20220606_AGENDA_REGULAR_BOE_MEETING_REVISED.pdf (seymourschools.org)
Mallory Knutson, a third grade teacher at Bungay School, was honored as Seymour Teacher of the Year for 2022 – 2023. She was presented with the traditional wooden rocking chair to display in her classroom for the next year, along with an engraved lamp. The Seymour High School graduate told the crowd she simply loves her job.
“I was born and raised a Wildcat, and hopefully I can fill this chair as well as it has been by all of Seymour’s past teachers of the year,” Knutson said.
Receiving the David A. Brumer Excellence in Education Award was longtime SMS teacher Harvey Catlin, who is retiring this year after nearly three decades in education. Catlin has coached softball and the debate team, organized school trips and town parades and was a top 12 contender for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.
The John J. Gallagher Memorial Athletic Award went to SHS Class of 1987 grad KC Sirowich, a standout on both the football and baseball fields, having been state MVP and All-State in football, and won a full scholarship to Syracuse University.
Sirowich continues to give back to his hometown, coaching various sports teams, and encouraged others to follow suit.
“I love this town and giving back is easy because of all the great people here,” Sirowich said.
A 37-year veteran educator, Debbie Baldarelli was honored with the Vincentena Kobasa Excellence in Teaching Award for the many hats she wears, including as summer school coordinator and heading up a program to prepare 18 to 22 year olds for the work world.
SMS student Lucas Tecci received the Thomas J. Petruny Memorial Education and Environment Award, which awards those who are stewards of the environment.
Superintendent of Schools Susan Compton saluted retiring staff members, who many have been here for nearly 40 years, and include Bungay School educator Leslie Olson; Bungay School custodian Dan LaForme; SMS teacher Harvey Catlin; Seymour High School psychologist Sara Morgatto; SHS secretary Lisa Rubio and Special Education secretary Laura Stec.
Compton also presented Golden Apple Awards to those who she said go above and beyond each day for Seymour’s kids. The recipients were Bungay School nurse Rebecca Bennett, dubbed a “real superhero” helping navigate the COVID-19 pandemic; Chatfield-LoPresti School teacher Alison Brett; Assistant Director of Pupil Services, Special Education Meghan Pogonelski; the SMS custodial team, SHS teacher Kathy Papa-Zinko; Director of Nutrition Services Cindy Brooks; bus driver Stephanie Hopwood; Facilities Manager Tim Connors; IT Director Robert Dyer; Network Manager Derrick Martin; Assistant to the Superintendent Lee-Ann Dauerty and secretaries Cathy Guerra and Lisa Stowe.
This year’s SHS Distinguished Alumnus recipient went to Selectman Fred Stanek, SHS Class of 1972, who served on the school board for more than 30 years.
The event was capped off by presenting SHS’ Class of 2022’s Top 10 Students who are:
10. Miranda Violano; 9. Aidan Cruz; 8. Benjamin Sepulveda; 7. Mackenzie Sirowich; 6. Sarah Webb; 5. Emily Zhu; 4. Kaya Banks; 3. Katharine Bruno; 2. Victoria Saracino and 1. Mikayla Zedek.
Members of SHS' Class of 2022's Top 10 students.
