Massachusetts Teacher of the Year is Math Teacher at East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School
BOSTON — State and local education officials today recognized the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and other recipients of the Commonwealth’s top honors for educators.
“Massachusetts’ teachers and public schools continue to be national leaders and are a point of great pride for the Commonwealth,” Governor Charlie Baker said. “The outstanding educators we recognize today are preparing their students for strong futures that benefit the entire Commonwealth.”
“It’s an honor to recognize these teachers and the thousands of other educators they represent,” Lt. Governor Karyn Polito said. “As a parent and as an official who has spent time with local officials across the Commonwealth, I am incredibly grateful for the work all of our teachers do every day to inspire and nurture our children.”
At a State House ceremony held today, Lt. Governor Polito and other state officials presented an award to Jamil Siddiqui, a math teacher at East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School who was selected earlier this year as the 2019 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. The 2018 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year, the Commonwealth’s most recent Milken Award winner and the Massachusetts finalists for the 2017 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching were also recognized.
The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program recognizes excellence in teaching across the Commonwealth by selecting a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment and positive contributions of educators statewide. The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year is automatically the state’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award. While remaining in the classroom, Mr. Siddiqui will serve as an ambassador for the teaching profession over the next year by speaking and conducting workshops across the state.
“The teachers we are recognizing today have put in countless hours to support their students’ growth and their own professional development,” Education Secretary James Peyser said. “Each of these educators is an outstanding representative of their colleagues in the Commonwealth and of their profession.”
“These educators are inspiring, hardworking individuals who make a tremendous difference for their students,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley said. “We need to celebrate our educators much more than we do. It is an honor to recognize them for their work and to wish them well as they continue in the classroom.”
Mr. Siddiqui, who grew up in Caribou, Maine and lives in East Bridgewater, holds three degrees from Boston University. He holds a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and two master's degrees, one in mathematics education and one in pure mathematics. Mr. Siddiqui has spent his entire career at East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School, where he is lead teacher of the math department and student activities coordinator for the high school. During his time there, 14 of his former students have gone on to become math teachers themselves.
Mr. Siddiqui was also recognized today for being a 2017 finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Brinda Tahiliani, a teacher at New Mission High School in Boston, was named the 2018 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year. The National History Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Ms. Tahiliani will represent Massachusetts as a candidate for the national award. The state History Teacher of the Year receives a $1,000 grant, and the recipient’s school is presented with a collection of classroom resources donated in that teacher’s name.
Ms. Tahiliani received a bachelor’s degree from Bates College, a master’s of business administration from Brandies University and a master’s of education from UMass Boston. She has been teaching for 12 years.
The 2019 Teacher of the Year finalists honored today were:
Alexandra Caram, a library and media specialist at Summer Street School, an elementary school in Lynnfield; and
Gavin Smith, a biology teacher at the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science in Boston.
The 2019 Teacher of the Year semifinalists honored today were:
Tracy Nadolny Duguay, a music teacher at the Martin E. Young Elementary School in Randolph;
Jessica Lander, a social studies teacher who teaches English learners at Lowell High School;
Andrew Manning, an English teacher at Dorchester Academy in Boston; and
Paul Pitts-Dilley, a social studies teacher at the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science.
The 2017 Milken Family Foundation Award winner, Daniel Adler, a sixth-grade science teacher at UP Academy Leonard, part of the Lawrence Public Schools, was also recognized today. Known as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the Milken awards were established to provide public recognition and individual rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary teachers, principals and specialists who further excellence in education.
In addition, officials recognized the Massachusetts finalists for the 2017 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science, who are:
Jennifer Fairbanks, a math teacher at Hopkinton High School;
Beth Johnson, a math teacher at Knox Trail Middle School in Spencer, part of the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District;
Ellen Latham, a science teacher at the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science;
Aaron Osowiecki, a science teacher at Boston Latin School;
Cara Pekarcik, a science teacher at North Quincy High School in Quincy;
Mr. Siddiqui; and
Kara Yifru, a science teacher at Milton High School.
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