HARTFORD, Conn. — Yasmin Ithier-Vicenty, a second-grade teacher at West Middle School, was named on Thursday as Hartford Public Schools’ 2024 Teacher of the Year, according to a release from the school district.
The announcement was made during a ceremony at the Hartford Marriot Downtown.
Yasmin Ithier-Vicenty said in the release that she is inspired by her mother Jacqueline Vicenty-Ithier, the 2024 Teacher of the Year nominee from Naylor School. The release said that Yasmin Ithier-Vicenty strives to provide the best learning opportunities to all students.
The 2024 Teacher of the Year has been a teacher in Hartford for eight years, according to the release, and is committed to being a life-long learner while constantly looking for ways to improve as a teacher.
The motto in her classroom is “Si, Se Puede,” Spanish for “Yes, you can,” the release said, and she encourages her students to overcome any challenges regardless of how large or small they are.
West Middle School Principal Joshua Scherer complimented Yasmin Ithier-Vicenty in the release, saying, “Yasmin is absolutely engaging… She brings so much energy and enthusiasm.”
Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez complimented the 2024 Teacher of the Year in the release, noting that she exemplifies what it means to be a teacher in the school district.
“Her innovative approach to education, passion for providing equitable opportunities for students and belief that every student can succeed is why she was chosen as Teacher of the Year. I am so grateful for her service to our students. Congratulations to Ms. Ithier-Vicenty and all our Teacher of the Year nominees,” Torres-Rodriguez said in the release.
Earlier in the school year, 38 schools in the district nominated a teacher who exhibits exemplary teaching skills and a commitment to the belief that all children can learn and succeed, the release said, noting that a district-wide committee made up of district directors, officials from the Hartford Federation of Teachers and previous Teacher of the Year winners chose three finalists after an extensive screening and interview process.
Hartford Public School 2024 Teacher of the Year nominees
The finalists included Angela Blake, a science teacher at Betances STEM, Jaqueline Rankin, a math teacher at Bulkeley High School and Yasmin Ithier-Vicenty. Each finalist submitted written essays and recorded classroom lessons, leading the committee to choose Yasmin Ithier-Vicenty as the 2024 Teacher of the Year.
According to a bio page on the school district’s website, Yasmin Ithier-Vicenty attended the University of New Haven, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. She began teaching in the school district as a behavior technician for the Rise program within McDonough School and West Middle Community School.
As a classroom teacher, she became a member of the Eureka Math Squared Fellowship Program and was also a member of the HFT/AFT Teacher Leadership Program, which discussed, researched and collaborated on subject matter pertaining to educational policy making, the bio said.
This year, Yasmin Ithier-Vicenty was nominated for the Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching, and she has been coaching girls’ volleyball and basketball at Newington High School for the past 11 years, her bio said, adding that she believes in bringing learning to life within her classroom.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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