Teacher of the Year candidates from each building were announced by Milford School District recently. The candidates will now compete for the District Teacher of the Year award.
Building candidates include Erika Allen, Morris Early Childhood Center; Sherrie Bontrager-Thomas, Milford Central Academy; Amanda Cinque, Milford High School; March Johns, Milford Middle School; Zitali Joseph, Lulu M. Ross; Candice Leyanna, Benjamin Banneker; and Erin Raniszewski, Mispillion.
In addition to the Teacher of the Year candidates, Educational Support Professionals of the Year were announced. Nicolas Albert, Milford Central Academy; Jessenia Carranza, Lulu M. Ross; Kristin Caiola, Mispillion; Trish Gerken, District Office; Kayla Popham-Hutson, Milford High School; Roteasha Newsome, Benjamin Banneker; Christopher Timm, Milford Middle School and Gisselle Rodriguez-Vargas, Evelyn I. Morris, were named this year.
Angel Mills from Morris was named the Milford School District Behavioral Health Professional of the Year.
The District Teacher of the Year competes at the state level for the State Teacher of the Year award. The last time a teacher from Milford was named as the state Teacher of the Year was 2023 when Ashley Lockwood was chosen. If chosen for the state award, the teacher then competes for the National Teacher of the Year program.
Each teacher nominated at the building level receives a $300 reward. The teacher chosen for the district award receives a $1,700 award. Building level Educational Support Professionals receive a $300 award and an additional $1,700 if chosen for the district award. The State Behavioral Health Professional of the year receives a $2,000 award.
