Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Boston
Public Schools Superintendent Carol R. Johnson joined School Committee Chairman Rev. Dr. Gregory G. Groover, Sr., and Boston Teachers Union President Richard Stutman to honor 13 of the best educators in Boston at the 11th annual Boston Educators of the Year ceremony. The event was held at Boston’s Shubert Theatre and was emceed by NECN News Anchor Latoyia Edwards.
“I take great joy in honoring these educators for their tireless work to help our kids succeed,” said Mayor Menino. “Our award winners are just a small sample of the terrific educators we have in the Boston Public Schools. It is such a thrill that we are able to honor these educators in our city’s Theatre District – where we can really showcase our stars.”
Members of the Boston School Committee were in attendance for the event.
“Tonight, we honor the true champions of our city - our educators,” said Rev. Groover. “Our students are better because of them and that means our city and our Commonwealth are better as well. We can never take for granted the importance of a great teacher at the head of every classroom.”
“So often teachers are the unsung heroes of our community, but tonight we pause to honor the best among us,” said Dr. Johnson. “We know these teachers and nurses put in many long hours with little or no notice and yet they come back and do it all again time after time. For this and so much more we say thank you.”
Those honored tonight include: Ruth 
, School Nurse at TechBoston Academy (Dorchester); Christopher Burdman, Grade 6 Math and Science Teacher at Mildred Avenue K-8 School (Mattapan); Fernadina Chan, Artistic Dean/Dance Teacher at Boston Arts Academy (Fenway); Isilda Colonette, Grade 2 teacher at Beethoven/Ohrenberger School (West Roxbury); Kati Delahanty, English Teacher at Charlestown High School (Charlestown); Jennifer Doyle, Grade 7 Inclusion Math and Science Teacher at Mary Lyon K-8 School (Brighton); Alison Galanter, Grade 9-12 History/ELL/SPED Teacher at Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (Mission Hill); Caitlin Hollister, Grade 3 Teacher at Richard J. Murphy K-8 School (Dorchester); Sheila Johnson, Grade 2 Inclusion Teacher at Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School (Dorchester); Sabine Pierre-Jules, Grade 2 teacher at Mather Elementary School (Dorchester); Ingrid Roche, Spanish Teacher at Boston Latin Academy (Roxbury); Yolande Thomas-Easterling, Grade 1 Teacher at Donald McKay K-8 School (East Boston); Debra Vinci, School Nurse at Lee Academy and Joseph Lee Elementary School (Dorechester).
The program is possible due to sponsorships from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, IBM, State Street Bank, Verizon, and lead sponsor, the Gillette Company.