Teacher of the Year: Christina
McKirryher
Just a few days ago the Southington School District presented its annual Staff Convocation of teachers, staff and administrators
from all our schools. Always exciting, often surprisingly delightful, the
program has become a major event for our community’s educators. A high point of
the Convocation was the introduction and recognition of this year’s
Southington Teacher of the Year 2016-2017, Christina McKirryher, an
extraordinary first grade teacher at the Plantsville Elementary School.
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| Christina McKirryher Southington Teacher of the Year |
Christina and her husband of seven years, Jeff,
reside in Naugatuck with their three children, Jack, Declan, and Griffin. McKirryher, a teacher in Southington for the
past six years, was originally hired in November 2009 as a literacy tutor at
Strong Elementary School. In August 2010, she was transferred to PES as a
Kindergarten teacher. A year later, Christina was assigned to teach first
grade. Superintendent Timothy Connellan stated that (McKirryher) believes “every
child deserves to learn in an environment that focuses on student achievement while
meeting the needs of every child.”
Christina
earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2007 at the
University of Connecticut. In 2008, she earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary
Education with a cross endorsement of Business Education at the University of
Bridgeport. Currently, she’s working on a Sixth Year Degree and Certification
in Educational Leadership at Central Connecticut State University. Christina is
a passionate advocate for teaching and learning and an inspiration to others. Apart
from her first grade instruction, she serves on the School Safety and Security
Committee and the Responsive Classroom Committee. Having worked with
McKirryher for two years, PES Principal, Steve Bergin, said: “She’s an
excellent example of our great teaching in Southington. Her practice of
instruction is at a rigorously high level. She goes out of her way for the
school and in the community and absolutely deserves the award.”
McKirryher
has proactively served as the STEPS coalition representative at PES. In that
role, she organized a Taste of Plantsville night allowing families to showcase
their cultures. At PES she also created the S.T.A.R.S. program recognizing
students for character traits and has organized field trips, literacy nights for
students in kindergarten through second grade, and a ‘Read Across America’ day.
Observing much of her work at PES during
the past year, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Steve Madancy, said: “Her leadership and commitment to the STEPS Asset
Building Classrooms and Celebrations of Excellence, bringing the school
community together to celebrate the achievements of students have been
remarkably effective. Christina’s compassion is for the whole child.”
This year’s TOTY Coordinator, Chris Palmieri, (Vice Principal
at DePaolo M.S.), explained the selection process for each year’s nominee. “A committee
of teachers representing all Southington schools, elementary, middle and high
school, reviews the names of those proposed in an open nominating system.
Nominees are asked to complete the application form used by the State of
Connecticut for uniformity of data from all districts. The local teachers’
committee reviews all candidates and makes the final selection. The application
forms of each District’s TOTY are forwarded to the State for its selection of Connecticut
TOTY.
“While we select only one, the process and the recognition is a great
tribute to all of our Southington teachers who do such a phenomenal job.”,
Palmieri said.
Congratulations, Christina McKirryher and thank you for your outstanding service to our Southington children!
Tag: Southington
Citizen columnist and freelance writer Dick Fortunato welcomes comments at dick617@gmail.com
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