The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recognized 31 award-winning educators from across Massachusetts at its annual Celebration Honoring Excellence in Teaching on Tuesday, May 13. In addition to the award presentations, attendees saw a singing and dancing performance by Lowell High School’s Sound Impressions.

Editor’s note: Among those honored were two educators from Lynn English, both Semifinalists for 2025 Teacher of the Year. They were world languages teacher Mike Haddad and special education and American Sign Language teacher Heather Lang.

Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, education secretary and interim commissioner of elementary and secondary education, praised the educators, saying, “You are helping every student be known and valued. You’re helping them feel safe and welcomed at school. And you’re helping to make their learning relevant and interactive. I am lucky to be working with all of you. Thank you for all that you do.”
 
Dr. Regina M. Robinson, deputy commissioner of elementary and secondary education, said, “We know that all of you have very rewarding but also very challenging jobs. You can’t overestimate the effect you have on the life of a child and their family, and I want to thank you for all that you do.”
 
“We thank our teachers and educators for the contributions they make in our schools and the many ways they support their students,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I hope students and families across Massachusetts will remember to thank their teachers this month and every month.”

“We are thankful to have top-tier educators in Massachusetts. While Tuesday’s event recognized 31 outstanding educators, we know there are many more who make a positive impact on their students every day.”

Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

Wellpoint, a health benefits company that serves Group Insurance Commission (GIC) members, this year sponsored the Teacher of the Year program, offering $10,000 to the winner’s school and $5,000 each to the finalists’ schools. “At Wellpoint, we are committed to supporting teachers’ whole health, their work in the classroom and their goals to inspire the next generation of leaders. Like many others, I’ve greatly benefitted from passionate teachers who empowered me to succeed, dream big and take risks,” said David Morales, general manager of Wellpoint. “We’re pleased to sponsor these awards and thrilled about how these grants are having an impact on the Commonwealth’s students and communities.”
 
Tuesday’s celebration followed National Teacher Appreciation Week. At the start of that week, Secretary Tutwiler met with educators and students at Nipmuc Regional High School in Upton to lift up the profound contributions educators make every day in Massachusetts classrooms.

The educators honored during DESE’s May 13 event were:

2025 Finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST):

• Steven Cerce, math teacher, Easton Middle School, Easton 
• Megan Hayes-Golding, STEM teacher, Deerfield Academy, Deerfield
• Hana Yahya, science teacher, Springfield High School of Science and Technology, Springfield
• Xiaojie Zhou, chemistry teacher, Winchester High School, Winchester

PAEMST Awardees (2021-2023):

• Alicia Beggs, math and science teacher, John J. Ahern Middle School, Foxborough
• Elsa Herraez Hernandez, science teacher, Monument Mountain Regional High School, Great Barrington 
• David Kujawski, science teacher, Walpole Middle School, Walpole
• Jacqueline Macharia, math teacher, Luther Burbank Middle School, Lancaster
• Victoria Miles, math teacher, TEC Connections Academy, Walpole
• Ariel Serkin, chemistry teacher, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Cambridge 

2024 STEM Teacher of the Year (Patriots Hall of Fame Presented by RTX)

• James Gorman, science teacher, Nipmuc Regional High School, Upton 

History Teacher of the Year Finalists

• Michele Gabrielson, history teacher, Wellesley Middle School, Wellesley  
• Emily Silas, history teacher, The English High School, Boston

History Teacher of the Year

• Darcy Daniels, history teacher, Nipmuc Regional High School, Upton 

Milken Educator Award Winner

• Jillian Levreault, science teacher, Southbridge Middle School, Southbridge 

School Nurse of the Year (selected by the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization)

• Jean Hobbie, School Nurse, Hatfield Elementary School, Hatfield

School Nurse Administrator of the Year (selected by the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization)

• Noelle Freeman, Director of School Nursing, Shrewsbury Public Schools, Shrewsbury

School Counselor of the Year (selected by the Massachusetts School Counselors Association)

• Sugeily Santos, School Counselor, Curley K-8 School, Boston         

Superintendent of the Year (selected by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents)

• Armand Pires, Superintendent, Medway Public Schools, Medway

School Administrators of the Year (selected by the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association)

• Assistant Principal of the Year: Maya Smith, Associate Head of School, Fenway High School, Boston
• High School Principal of the Year: Mark Sullivan, Principal, Burlington High School, Burlington 
• Middle School Principal of the Year: Ryan Beattie, Principal, Gates Middle School, Scituate 
• Elementary School Principal of the Year: Robert C. Cancellieri, Principal, Joseph R. Dawe, Jr. Elementary School, Stoughton 

Semifinalists for 2025 Teacher of the Year

• Samantha Breen, English teacher, Hopkinton High School, Hopkinton 
• Mike Haddad, world languages teacher, Lynn English High School, Lynn
• Heather Lang, special education and American Sign Language teacher, Lynn English High School, Lynn 
• Ashley O’Neil, life skills teacher, Birchland Park Middle School, East Longmeadow
• Susannah Remillard, exploratory education teacher, Nauset Regional Middle School, Orleans 

Finalists for 2025 Teacher of the Year

• Jennifer Ferrari, visual art teacher, Lane Elementary School, Bedford
• Kristen Magas, engineering teacher, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, Franklin 

2025 Teacher of the Year

• Luisa Sparrow, special education teacher, Oliver Hazard Perry K-6 School, Boston

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The above press release was submitted to us by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.