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05/18/2016 08:30 AMWhen Cheryl Panzo, principal of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) School, received word that she was named the East Haven Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Educator of the Year, she was surprised for a number of reason.
“My school is closing at the end of this year, but this award is a good way to shed light on what St. Vincent de Paul has meant to the East Haven community throughout the year and the impact it’s had,” says Panzo. “I wish I could share it with everyone involved in the school, because everyone has contributed to the success of the school.”
In addition to Cheryl, others honored at the Chamber’s ceremony on May 17 included V.F. McNeil Insurance for Chamber Business of the Year, Vincent Borillo (Improve My Home CT) for New Chamber Business of the Year, SARAH Inc. for Non-Profit of the Year, and Big Prints for Best Business After Hours of the Year, as well as Community Service Award recipient Bill Richardson and Student of the Year Sarah Harkins.
Cheryl thanks the school board she has worked with over the past two years she has served as principal as well as the staff of the school. She notes that over the past two years, she and her staff have worked to have a balanced budget for the first time in 10 years, increased enrollment for the first time in 10 years, instituted more technology use in the classrooms, and more.
“We improved relationships with the town and were recognized in the community,” says Cheryl, who noted students’ mission projects included work with the food pantry, Shoreline Greenway Trail, Senior Center, care packages for troops, and more. “Despite the fact that we’re closing, it’s been an honor to serve with all these people. The closing will be a loss for the town. Being principal has been a really rewarding experience that I never anticipated.”
In fact, when Cheryl began her college career at Albertus Magnus, her original goal was to teach high school English, but after enjoying art classes, she focused on graphic design, working in that field for 10 years before realizing her dream of becoming a teacher. When she finally became a teacher, she combined her two passions.
“Graphic design was so tech-oriented and so collaborative and when I came here [to SVDP], technology hadn’t really been integrated so I took that on,” says Cheryl, who then attended Columbia University to receive her master’s degree in instructional design. “I wanted to learn how to more efficiently integrate technology into the classroom.”
Cheryl spent nine years as a teacher at SVDP, focusing on teaching literature and language arts. She also shared her passion for technology by running professional development sessions.
Two years ago, the school board and the pastor of SVDP asked Cheryl to take over as principal.
“I had never considered it in past, but I knew the concerns facing the school and the vision of the school,” says Cheryl, who enjoys fitness, reading, photography, and being the secretary of the East Haven Rotary. “As a member of St. Vincent de Paul and the East Haven community, I thought I could help the school so I accepted the position.
“Without the assistance of the SVDP school board, especially, Mike Canestri, the past two years of our school would not have been possible,” she says.
While Cheryl and her staff have made great strides with the school, in January, they received notification from the Archdiocese of Hartford that the school would close at the end of the school year. The school, which serves 88 students from pre-K through 8th grade, is quickly approaching its final day with the students ending the year on June 10 and the faculty finishing on June 17.
“We are ending the year with lots of special celebrations,” says Cheryl. “This is truly a community school and it’s been a warm and wonderful journey. We are looking forward to bringing some of our traditions, histories, and spirit of our school to wherever we all go.”
Cheryl accepted a position as principal of Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) in Madison next year. She is excited to continue working in an administrative role in a larger school.
“I’m looking forward to learning about their culture and how they represent the Catholic identity and seeing the continuation of the Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Hartford,” says Cheryl. “I love going to the classroom to see the students and teachers and sharing time with them. It is the best of both worlds.”