Light of Christ
Teacher Recognition Awards
Archdiocese of Hartford
Nominees for the Light of Christ Teacher Recognition Award must have served successfully for at least five years as a teacher in a Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese of Hartford or in an Archdiocesan high school. In addition, a nominated teacher must possess many of the following qualities:
- Serves as a role model for students, a witness to Jesus, a dedicated educator, and a responsible citizen whose life is guided by Catholic principles.
- Consistently demonstrates excellence in teaching and learning evidenced by the following characteristics: high student engagement; integration of technology and 21st century fluencies; the implementation of research based best practices; and cultivates a positive, successful learning environment in the classroom.
- Consistently seeks to improve the school community and culture in positive ways.
- Practices a commitment to “Teach as Jesus Did,” effectively integrating Catholic intellectual and moral traditions across curricular areas while modeling Catholic social justice practices in and out of the classroom.
- Contributes to the viability of the school by exhibiting innovation, enthusiasm, collaboration, and excellence in the classroom.
- Embraces each student as a child of God, accepting and advocating for every student; sets high expectations for every student; accepts the challenges faced to enable each student to realize their potential and self-worth; and educates each child with genuine respect and dignity.
- Creates a culture of hope within the classrooms and school.
2025 Light of Christ Recipients:
- Cathy Roy, St. Joseph School, Bristol
- Nancy Addorisio, East Shoreline Catholic Academy, Branford
- Elaine Grossomanides, St. Rita School, Hamden
- Laura Marcucio, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Janet Adler, St. Mary School, Milford
- Cheryl Anastasio, All Saints Catholic Academy, New Haven
- Kimberly Bendtsen, Holy Disciples Catholic School, Oakville
- Christine Kupcho, St. John Paul the Great Academy, Torrington
- Susan McGrenery, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Waterbury
- Daniel Avery, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
2024 Light of Christ Recipients:
- Norma Kendrick, Saint Paul Catholic High School, Bristol
- Deborah Dombroski, Saint Matthew School, Forestville
- Joanna DeMilo-Robinson, Saint Rita School, Hamden
- John Urbanski, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Emily Nolan, Saint Mary School, Milford
- Rachel Nott, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Waterbury
- James Gambardella, The Unified Schools of Saint Mary Magdalen & Saint John the Evangelist, Watertown
- Kristina Gillespie, Northwest Catholic High School
- Toni Boynton, Saint Lawrence School, West Haven
- Ruth Ann Schuler, Saint Gabriel School, Windsor
Award Recognition:
- Ten teachers will be honored with this award.
- Each teacher will receive an individual $1000 award in recognition of their professional excellence and ministry.
- Each teacher will receive a $500 award to be used as determined by the winning teacher for use in his/her classroom.
Years of Service
The Office of Catholic Schools would like to recognize the following teachers for their many years of service.
Ten Years of Service:
- Michael Green, East Shoreline Academy, Branford
- Donna Pecoraro, East Shoreline Academy, Branford
- Gina Petano, East Shoreline Academy, Branford
- Paul Santoro, East Shoreline Catholic Academy, Branford
- Ashley Albanese, St. Joseph School, Bristol
- Jennifer DiMauro, St. Joseph School, Bristol
- Elizabeth Kelly, Saint Paul Catholic High School, Bristol
- Lisa Pisani, Saint Paul Catholic High School, Bristol
- Brianna Serio, St. Joseph School, Bristol
- Noel Chicoine-Normand, St. Bridget School, Cheshire
- Kristen Galipault, Saint Bridget School, Cheshire
- Caitlin Keough, Saint Bridget School, Cheshire
- Jennifer Bolard, St. Paul School, Kensington
- Heather Thibdeau, St. Paul School, Kensington
- Carrie Bushnell, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Amy Devanney, Saint James School, Manchester
- Mary Noryk, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Danielle Phelan, Saint James School, Manchester
- Sarah Poirier, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Curtis Stella, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Jenna Taylor, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Patricia Carroll, Saint Luke Catholic School, Southington
- Robin Skoglund, St. Luke School, Southington
- Jeffrey Cahill, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Catherine Caldridge Calendrillo, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Kevin Hadyka, Saint Thomas and Saint Timothy School, West Hartford
- Jaclyn St. Laurent, Saint Thomas and Saint Timothy School, West Hartford
- Celina Marquis, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Julia Murphy, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Amy Mattiello, St. Lawrence School, West Haven
- Katherine Bechard, Corpus Christi School, Wethersfield
- Deborah Sadak, Corpus Christi School, Wethersfield
- Jennifer Schloat, Saint Gabriel School, Windsor
Fifteen Years of Service:
- Anne Eheman, Assumption School, Ansonia
- Cara Moore, East Shoreline Catholic Academy, Branford
- Dr. Jonathan Gnoza, St. Paul Catholic High School, Bristol
- Amy Kundrat, St. Bernard School, Enfield
- Kathleen McKinney, Saint Bernard School, Enfield
- Danielle Persichetti, Saint Matthew School, Forestville
- Joanna Demilo-Robinson, St. Rita School, Hamden
- Zofia Mailloux, Holy Trinity School, Wallingford
- Amy Banach, The Unified Schools of Saint Mary Magdalen & Saint John the Evangelist, Watertown
- Audrey Teeling, Saint Lawrence School, West Haven
- Ada Sullivan, Corpus Christi School, Wethersfield
Twenty Years of Service:
- Michael Madden, Saint Paul Catholic High School, Bristol
- Michelle Geoffrey, St. Bridget School, Cheshire
- Cynthia Brennan, St. Rita School, Hamden
- David Brudz, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Lisa Kirsche, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Laura Marcucio, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Christina Nunes, Saint James School, Manchester
- Ryan Healey, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- John Urbanski, East Catholic High School, Manchester
- Diana Robert, The Unified Schools of Saint Mary Magdalen & Saint John the Evangelist, Watertown
- Sara Avery, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Cory Carlson, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Mark Dodd, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Michael Conlin, St. Gabriel School, Windsor
Twenty-Five Years of Service:
- Rachel Sosnovich, Assumption School, Ansonia
- Nicole Truhart, East Shoreline Catholic Academy, Branford
- Raffaele Aliberti, Saint Paul Catholic High School, Bristol
- Regina Conner, St. Paul Catholic High School, Bristol
- Robert Houle, Saint Joseph School, Bristol
- Alison Julius, Saint Joseph School, Bristol
- Ursula Kerr, St. Joseph School, Bristol
- Katherine LaFerriere, St. Joseph School, Bristol
- Lynn Ushchak, Saint Bridget School, Cheshire
- Mary Ellen Kelly, St. Mary-St. Michael, Derby
- Alicia Mazzone, St. Matthew School, Forestville
- Denise Gertz, St. Rita School, Hamden
- Elaine Grossomanides, St. Rita School, Hamden
- Janet Adler, Saint Mary School, Milford
- Christine Kupcho, St. John Paul the Great Academy, Torrington
- Mari Adanosky, The Unified Schools of Saint Mary Magdalen & Saint John the Evangelist, Watertown
- Kimberly Bendtsen, The Unified Schools of Saint Mary Magdalen & Saint John the Evangelist, Watertown
- JoAnn Lesnikoski, The Unified Schools of Saint Mary Magdalen & Saint John the Evangelist, Watertown
- Richard Santos, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Paul Fitzpatrick, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Mary Jo Foran, Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford
- Toni Boynton, Saint Lawrence School, West Haven
- Jennifer Furlong, Corpus Christi School, Wethersfield
Thirty Years of Service:
- Joanne Slot, Saint Bridget School, Cheshire
- Catherine Massetti, Saint Paul School, Kensington
- Anna Lombardo, All Saints Catholic Academy, New Haven
Thirty-Five Years of Service
- Patricia Martin, St. Bridget School, Manchester
Forty Years of Service:
- Diane DiBenedetto, Saint James School, Manchester
- Cheryl Anastasio, All Saints Catholic Academy, New Haven
- Marilyn Hubert, St. John Paul the Great Academy, Torrington
- Patricia Saia, Holy Trinity School, Wallingford
- James Gambardella, The Unified Schools of Saint Mary Magdalen & Saint John the Evangelist, Watertown
Forty-Five Years of Service:
- Albert Wallace, Saint Paul Catholic High School, Bristol
- Rosanne Whitney, St. Paul Catholic High School, Bristol