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North Mianus’ Kitselman Named Semifinalist for State Teacher of the Year

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Earlier this week, it was announced that Crystal Kitselman, a teacher at North Mianus School (NMS) in Greenwich, was selected as a semifinalist for Connecticut’s 2020 Teacher of the Year Award. Kitselman was previously selected as a 2019 Distinguished Teacher for the Greenwich Public School district.

“It is an honor to be selected as one of the semifinalists that make up the 2020 Teacher of the Year cohort from a pool of so many qualified candidates,” Kitselman said. “As teachers, we work hard to develop lesson plans that will have an impact on our students. I’m thrilled that the state has recognized the hard work and passion that I have about being a teacher.”

The Connecticut Teacher of the Year program began in 1952 to recognize and honor teacher excellence. To qualify for the state’s Teacher of the Year award, candidates must be recognized for teacher of the year within their respective districts. Teachers who are awarded state Teacher of the Year are also recognized by the President at a White House reception.

The group of semifinalists will be honored at an awards ceremony at The Bushnell Theater in Hartford on Dec. 4, where a winner will be announced. Kitselman said she’s looking forward to meeting the other candidates and learning from them in order to become a better teacher.

Superintendent of GPS, Dr. Toni Jones, praised Kitselman in a written statement earlier this week.

“We are thrilled to have Crystal Kitselman represent Greenwich Schools at the state level. Crystal truly exemplifies our mission to personalize learning for all of our students. Being selected as a semifinalist is an incredible accomplishment, and we are so excited that her talent is being recognized as one of the best educators in our field,” Jones said.

Angela Schmidt, who is the principal at NMS, described Kitselman as “an outstanding role model” for NMS, and a true “21st century teacher.”

Schmidt recalls how four years ago, Kitselman came to her with a plan to better meet the needs of every student in her class while still providing a rigorous, exciting and challenging learning environment.

Kitselman came up with a way to increase personalized learning through math “playlists”, even before the district began to spearhead the personalized learning concept. Playlists are a series of activities focused on specific content and matched to student needs.

“She still spends many nights and weekends working with her team to create new and more innovative ways to personalize learning,” Schmidt said. “Crystal is that teacher who not only seeks to provide the best possible learning environment, but who also takes the time to get to know her students as individuals with unique learning styles and needs. She is a testament to all that makes North Mianus the great school it is.”

Kitselman began her career in Greenwich at Parkway School in 2006 as a fourth grade teacher. Since 2007, she has taught at NMS in grades three and four. Kitselman received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and her master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Bridgeport (Conn.).

Kitselman said her favorite part about teaching is not knowing what the day will bring, or even what the next hour will bring.

“There are days when teachers wear multiple hats. We are teachers, but some days we are also moms, dads, therapists, nurses, coaches, friends; you name it, we are it. My job allows me to be creative while at the same time keeping me on my toes,” she said.

Previous award winners from the Greenwich Public School district include Anthony Mullen, who was awarded Connecticut Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year in 2009.

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