Plainville Community Schools has named Linden Street School music teacher Marilyn Speranza the 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year. Speranza was nominated by Linden colleague Michael Boncimino.
Speranza has been an educator for nine years, serving as a music teacher at Linden for the past seven years. She is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Connecticut Music Educators Association, Plainville Democratic Town Committee, and served as Secretary of the CT Valley Symphony Orchestra. She received the Junior Regents’ Honor Award and Senior Regents’ Honor Award from the University of Hartford, the Collegiate MENC Certificate of Achievement, and was a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society. In addition, she prepares music and participates in concerts with the Nutmeg Symphony Orchestra, Beth El Temple Orchestra, New England Chamber Choir, Connecticut Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Ragum Banjum Bluegrass Band.
When asked about her philosophy of teaching, Speranza explained, “I strongly believe that music is a unique and necessary aspect of life. My ultimate goal as a music teacher is to foster within my students the capability and skills to support a musical adulthood. Most simply, when my students are adults, I want them to have the ability to sing a lullaby to their children, dance at a wedding, or clap in time with the crowd at a sporting event.”
As Teacher of the Year in Plainville, Speranza will also participate as a candidate for Connecticut’s 2019 Teacher of the Year Program. Each district Teacher of the Year will be individually recognized at an awards ceremony later this year hosted by the Connecticut Department of Education.
"I have enjoyed watching Mrs. Speranza’s trajectory in becoming an outstanding music teacher who gets amazing results from her students. She is a very talented educator who is most deserving of this prestigious honor from her peers. It was great fun to notify her of this award at the start of a concert a few weeks ago. The students and staff were so excited for her,” commented Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Maureen Brummett.
Speranza holds a bachelor of music degree in Music Education, a bachelor of music degree in Bassoon Performance and a master of music degree in Music Education Pedagogy from The University of Hartford – Hartt School. She was honored at the June 10th Plainville Board of Education meeting.