St. Stans Teacher Honored With Excellence in Teaching Award
ADAMS, Mass. — St. Stanislaus Kostka School fourth grade teacher Tammy Barosso received a Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award.
Tammy Barosso was teaching her class Tuesday morning when Maria Wagner, Springfield Diocese Superintendent of Catholic Schools dropped in with a group of administrators and a film crew to present her with the award.
"I didn't know that they were doing this," Barosso said. "I'm super excited. It is an honor. I absolutely love what I do here. The kids are the reason why I do what I do. We have a blast."
Wagner said the award recognizes four teachers across Western Massachusetts, including one new teacher. She added that teachers must be licensed and demonstrate exemplary performance and compassion.
Principal Chris Bersaw said Barosso has been with the school for 25 years and is the longest-serving teacher.
"She's taught me a lot about the school and our community, and everything and all the ups and downs over the years," he said. "So she's helped me a lot."
He added that she sets an example for all other educators in the building.
"Every single year she starts off a class, she sets the tone. She sets expectations, and after a few months, she gets them into a rhythm. Student test scores are consistently high, and you can just tell that every single year she molds her class. She's excellent."
He added that she is the teacher in charge. If, for whatever reason, Bersaw is not in the building, she is the primary decision-maker.
Barosso attributed her success to keeping the students engaged.
"I am always looking for new ideas, new ways to entice the students and keep the kids engaged with all the different things that are going on outside of school," she said. "Kids don't always get to be kids, so for me, it's about keeping learning fun."
She also said it is important to empower students.
"They are fourth graders, but they have a say and they have a voice," she said. "I just feel like anything new that I can bring to the table, any way I can make it exciting and fun."
"I absolutely love it here. I'm having so much fun. Not every day is easy. There are challenges that come with it, but you do it with a smile and know that these kids are first and foremost kids, and that's so important. You just want to make memories with them."
Wagner said she awarded all four of the recognitions that day; one included a teacher in Lee at St. Mary's. She said she was happy that St. Stanislaus was recognized.
"St. Stanislaus is small but mighty, and I love coming to Adams. It is just a great place," she said. "They go to our masses a lot in Springfield, and they always shine."
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