School District Name's PCS Teacher of the Year, Building-Level Teachers of the Year & Support Staff of the Year
(Plainville, CT) Plainville Community Schools has named Louis Toffolon Elementary School Preschool Teacher, Rachel Valentine, as the 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year. Valentine was nominated by colleagues, Anastasia Speakman and Elspeth Hayden.
The Plainville school district also continued a tradition that began in 2022 honoring a school based teacher of the year in each of the five Plainville schools, in addition to ultimately selecting the district teacher of the year. For both the building level and district level teacher of the year recognitions, nominations were submitted from peers and had to reflect how candidates have demonstrated the school district’s core Portrait of the Graduate tenets, including being collaborative, communicative, innovative, mindful and resilient. The school based winners have the option of moving on to the district level process, and those who choose to move on, are interviewed by the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee, composed of the prior year’s school level teachers of the year. This year the group ultimately selected Rachel Valentine as the 2026-2027 Plainville Community Schools Teacher of the Year. Building level Teachers of the Year include: Emily Wasley, Plainville High School, Erin Georgini, Middle School of Plainville, Rachel Valentine, Louis Toffolon Elementary School, Meghan Ray, Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School, and Jill Mullins, Linden Street School.
In 2024, the Support Staff of the Year recognition was established in Plainville Community Schools, and each year since, nominations for the award have grown. This year, nominations continued to grow, and ultimately Linden Street School Paraeducator, Tina Melanson, was named the 2026-2027 Support Staff of the Year. Tina was surprised with the announcement in her classroom at Linden on May 21st, and recognized during the PCS Celebrations Reception and Special Awards Presentations program on June 8th.
District Teacher of the Year, Rachel Valentine, has been a faculty member for 22 years, working with students in preschool, kindergarten and first grade. She has served in her current preschool teacher role for the past nine years. In addition, she is treasurer of the Toffolon Sunshine Club, and is an active member of the school community through the district’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Team and as the teacher representative to the Toffolon School PTO. Further, she has contributed to scholarship committees from Toffolon’s PTO and the Middle School of Plainville’s PTC, volunteers for the Plainville High School’s Backers Club, hosted student teachers, and mentored new teachers. She was also involved in the greater Plainville community volunteering on both the Plainville Soccer Board and Little League Board.
As Teacher of the Year in Plainville, Valentine will also participate as a candidate for Connecticut’s 2027 Teacher of the Year Program. Each district Teacher of the Year will be individually recognized later this year by the Connecticut Department of Education.
Valentine holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Sociology and Applied Sciences from Eastern Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in Elementary Education with a focus in reading from Central Connecticut State University. She was honored during the PCS Celebrations Reception and Special Awards Presentations program on June 8th.
“I am truly honored to accept the Teacher of the Year award for Plainville Community Schools. It is a privilege to be part of such a dedicated and supportive community of educators, students and families. This recognition reflects the collaborative spirit of our schools and the joy I find each day in helping my students learn and grow,” said Valentine.
“Congratulations to Rachel, Tina and each school level awardee. I am fortunate to be part of this process each year to honor the excellence and dedication of our teachers and staff members. These awardees are a testament to the remarkable talent we have in the Plainville Community Schools,” noted Assistant Superintendent of Schools, David Levenduski.
“Rachel and Tina exemplify the caring and student centered educator, and PCS is fortunate to have this caliber educator,” commented Superintendent of Schools, Brian Reas.