Superintendent Cyndy S. Taymore
360 Lynn Fells Parkway
Melrose , MA 02176
For Immediate Release
Monday, April 25, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Melrose High School Teachers Recognized at Partners In Excellence Celebration
MELROSE — Principal Marianne Farrell is pleased to announce that numerous Melrose High School teachers received awards during the Partners in Excellence celebration earlier this month.
Eight teachers were honored on April 5 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. The event recognized high-performing AP Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and English teachers through the Mass Insight Education’s AP STEM and English Program.
![Eight teachers from Melrose High School were recognized during the Partners in Excellence celebration. (Courtesy Photo)](https://jgpr.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/melrose-partners-in-excellence.jpg)
“We were so pleased to have a number of our MHS faculty recognized for providing rigorous academic opportunities to our students through our STEM and English courses,” Principal Farrell said. “MHS is committed to increasing student achievement to ensure success following graduation.”
Those honored by Mass Insight Education include:
Biology teacher Kerri Scott earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y. She began teaching at MHS in 2002 and has since taught every level and elective of Biology at Melrose as well as Photography and Astronomy. After teaching an honors level Biology II elective for several years, Scott suggested the course be replaced by AP Biology, and the district bought new books and materials to start the program six years ago. In addition to teaching AP Biology to students in grades nine through 12, Scott teaches Anatomy and Physiology and a course in Bioethics.
Calculus teacher Laurie Greenwood has been teaching math at MHS since graduating from Stonehill College in 2005. In those 11 years, Greenwood has taught everything from Algebra 1 to AP Calculus. She has developed a particular fondness for teaching Calculus and truly enjoys working with all of her students. She believes that while higher math can be challenging, it can also be transformative.
Chemistry teacher Brittney Martin began teaching chemistry at MHS in September 2012 and after her first year, launched the AP Chemistry program. Since then, Martin has continuously worked to add new, rigorous material to the course so that she can provide her students with the best possible learning opportunities. In addition to teaching Chemistry, Martin is a mentor to new members of the MHS faculty and a co-advisor for the Class of 2019. She has also been working on cross-district curriculum mapping and an action research project. Prior to working at MHS, Martin earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Notre Dame and her master’s in secondary education at Providence College.
English Literature and Composition teacher Tanja Hiti-Stearns majored in English at Yale University and completed a collection of short stories as part of her master’s degree program at Wesleyan University. Influenced by her love of both Jane Eyre and Laura Ingalls Wilder, she embarked upon a teaching career. After nearly two decades of public school teaching, Hiti-Stearns has engaged with high school students in courses ranging from senior English to Latin to Theatre Arts to AP Literature.
English Literature and Composition teacher Heather MacDonald received a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston University in May of 2000, a master’s degree in secondary education English from the College of William and Mary in August of 2002 and a master’s in creative writing from Boston University in September 2008. After a few years of teaching at the community college level, she returned to being a high school teacher and has never looked back.
Environmental Science teacher Nancy Naslas has been a professional engineer for more than 20 years. She holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from Brown University. Naslas is currently teaching her 12th academic year and has worked as a high school environmental science, chemistry and physics teacher and as a seventh grade science teacher. Before she became a full-time teacher, Naslas worked as a substitute teacher and volunteered in the Melrose schools for more than five years.
Environmental Science teacher Suzanne Troy has been teaching in the science department at MHS since 2004. A graduate of MHS, she returned to her Alma Mater after receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology from Fairfield University and a master’s in teaching from Tufts University. Over the course of her career, she has taught a variety of courses including Biology, Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry.
Statistics teacher Christina Cardella is in her 15th year as an educator and in 2011, she accepted a position to be a math director for grades six through 12. This has given her the opportunity to share her expertise and love for teaching as well as inspire others to grow as professionals in order to provide the best educational experience for all students.
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