Two special ed teachers to share Stamford Teacher of the Year award
A teacher who has spent 41 years in the Stamford school district and a Toquam Magnet Elementary School special education teacher share this year’s Stamford Teacher of the Year honors.
Lisa Legato-Howlett, a special education teacher in the Stamford Public Schools’ “Individuals Achieving Independence” program, was chosen as the Stamford Teacher of the Year. But due to her upcoming retirement, she will share the award with Toquam teacher Barbara Hanauer.
Hanauer was originally chosen as the runner up by the Teacher of the Year committee, but she will now automatically become a candidate for the State of Connecticut Teacher of the Year program.
Legato-Howlett has held a variety of special education positions in the district. She has served as a resource room co-teacher, a classroom teacher, and spent 20 years serving students with disabilities at Stillmeadow Elementary School.
A news release from the Stamford school district states that Legato-Howlett was “instrumental in the development and growth” of the Individuals Achieving Independence program, which provides transition services for students with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 21.
“During college, I decided I wanted a career path that would combine my love of children with behavior analysis and theories of child development,” Legato-Howlett said in the press release. “Special education seemed like the perfect fit for me. I've never regretted my decision and can't imagine my life doing anything else. I am so honored to have been chosen for this award.”
Hanauer has been a teacher for 31 years, almost all in Stamford schools. She began her teaching career in Texas and California before moving to Stamford about 42 years ago.
After taking time off to raise her children, Hanauer became a paraeducator at Northeast Elementary School. She would later serve as a resource teacher, co-teacher, and support teacher at Julia A. Stark Elementary School.
For the past four years, Hanauer has worked with students with learning disabilities as a special education teacher at Toquam.
“I'm so humbled that out of so many people, I was chosen to be honored as Teacher of the Year in Stamford,” Hanauer said in the press release. “Part of the joy of my job is that I get to work with, and learn from, so many talented people who have taught me so much. These past few months I've discovered so much more about my students and the people that I work with: The support, wisdom and teamwork of parents, students and staff have made me realize that I still have a lot to learn. I feel, in some ways, I should be thanking Stamford for giving me the opportunity to do what I love every day.”
Stamford Superintendent Tamu Lucero praised Legato-Howlett and Hanauer for their work.
“What a perfect choice Lisa was for Stamford Teacher of the Year,” Lucero said, in the press release. “The amazing work that she has done on behalf of students over the years has been truly impactful. Given Lisa’s retirement, I know Barbara’s enthusiasm
and commitment to our students makes her an ideal candidate to take over the reins of Teacher of the Year and represent us at the state level. ”
The 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year Finalists were Stamford High School science teacher Saleh Jahangir and Toquam special education teacher Diana Pelliccia.
To be considered for Teacher of the Year, each educator was required to submit three essays and be interviewed by the committee. Finalists were determined after the interview process and each was required to submit a videotaped lesson.