The Teacher Hall of Fame

  • For the past sixty-nine years, the Kiwanis Club of Yonkers, in cooperation with the Yonkers Board of Education, has given recognition to public school teachers who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, made significant contributions to the school community and engaged in activities that have led to student growth and development. Historically, one teacher who meets these criteria is selected each year from a slate of nominees to be inducted into the Yonkers Teacher Hall of Fame. In 2015, the Mayor of the City of Yonkers joined the tribute, awarding annual recognitions to outstanding elementary and secondary Yonkers teachers. Nominations are submitted online by students, parents/guardians and colleagues.

    The Teacher of the Year recognition program was originated by Abraham Elkind, Chairman of the Yonkers Board of Education, who was a past president of the Yonkers Kiwanis Club. Working with David Knepfer, Club President, and Thomas Murty, Club Secretary, the first teacher was recognized during the 1955-56 school year. On July 13, 1978, the Yonkers Board of Education formally adopted the Teacher Hall of Fame.

  • Katherine Costello
    1955-56

    May Henry
    1956-57

    Thomas T. Martin
    1957-58

    Agnita C. Wallace
    1958-59

    Henry Fleichman
    1959-60

    Dr. Ruth Stone
    1960-61

    Margaret Barrett
    1961-62

    Elizabeth Turbin
    1962-63

    Alice J. Scott
    1963-64

    Dr. Robert Carey
    1964-65

    Anne Bocik
    1965-66

    Lilyan R. Buchwalder
    1966-67

    Grace S. Hoberg
    1967-68

    Margaret Falcone
    1968-69

    Elizabeth Peacock
    1969-70

    Josefina Muniz
    1970-71

    Howard Wehmeyer
    1971-72

    Maria J. Sarantis
    1972-73

    Vivian Tom
    1973-74

    Rosalyn Polachek
    1974-75

    Gladys Pack
    1975-76

    Elayne Mauskof
    1976-77

    Frederick T. Krell
    1977-78

    Lois Anne Leiser
    1978-79

    Lillian Mein
    1979-80

    Sanford Frederick Levine
    1980-81

    Rocco J. Lapenta
    1981-82

    Virginia Giordano
    1982-83

    Ruth Elizabeth Sweeney
    1983-84

  • Lauren Trager
    1984-85

    James W. Butts
    1985-86

    Eileen M. Casey
    1986-87

    Rose Licata
    1987-88

    Gail O’Rourke
    1988-89

    Geraldine Marazita
    1989-90

    Ben Corlieto
    1990-91

    Michael Richardson
    1991-92

    Anthony Marazita
    1992-93

    Joanne Chivinski
    1993-94

    Theresa Angelilli
    1994-95

    Brendan Herlihy
    1995-96

    Col. Peter Duggan
    1996-97

    Cecilia Tucker Myers
    1997-98

    Bill Roney
    1997-98

    Susan Fein
    1998-99

    Elaine Richardson
    1999-00

    Deborah Fontenova
    2000-01

    Pamela Bove
    2001-02

    Jane Petretti
    2002-03

    Joan Monk
    2003-04

    Rocco Riti
    2004-05

    Diana Zottoli
    2005-06

    Clarice Morris
    2006-07

    Randy Ascher
    2007-08

    Donna McInerney
    2008-9

    Barbara Carr
    2009-10

    Donna Cooke 
    2010-11

    Kathleen Theret
    2010-11

  • Jennifer Crespo
    2011-12

    Kathleen Theret
    2011-12

    Edwin Sández
    2012-13

    Angela Arias
    2012-13

    Teresa Tralli
    2013-14

    Tiffany Soares
    2014-15

    Joseph Giannantonio
    2014-15

    Dr. Dean Saghafi-Ezaz
    2014-15

    Christine Heidelberger
    2015-16

    Mary Flaherty
    2015-16

    Sharon Schaeffer
    2015-16

    Aferdita Silverman
    2015-16

    Lucia Ricciardi
    2016-17

    Joseph Fitzgerald
    2016-17

    Michelle Debonis-Matica
    2016-17

    Afsaneh Parandian
    2017-18

    Linda Morley
    2017-18

    Dr. Kumari U. Johal
    2017-18

    Marleni Llenin
    2018-19

    Ana Rosello
    2018-19

    Linda Vitulli
    2018-19

    Maureen Corrigan-Connell
    2019-20

    Beth Isenberg
    2019-20

    Ida D’Ugo
    2019-20

    All Yonkers Teachers
    2020-21

    Dawn Marie Soliman
    2021-22

    Sunitha Howard
    2021-22

    Theresa Smith
    2021-22

    Lauren Spagna
    2022-23

    Jessica Lynn Ford
    2022-23

    Lisa Egan
    2023-24

    Julio Veras
    2023-24

    Sean Stahn
    2023-24