DERBY, Conn. — On Friday, Derby Public Schools announced its District Teacher of the Year, and the award went to Karen Szilvasy, a special education resource teacher at Irving School.
Szilvasy will represent the district as the 2025 Teacher of the Year in the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program, which focuses public attention on excellence in teaching.
According to a release from the district, Szilvasy works with students in the third, fourth and fifth grades. She has been a Derby teacher for 23 years and has been teaching special education for 27 years, having previously worked at a private school.
Szilvasy began her career as a self-contained special education teacher and moved to the resource model several years ago, the release said, noting that she works seamlessly as a team player with the entire Department of Special Education.
“I feel very proud and honored to have been nominated by my peers and chosen for this recognition. It has been a pleasure working in Derby for the past 23 years surrounded by such amazing people who are so dedicated to our kids,” Szilvasy said, in the release.
In addition to working in the district at Irving School, Szilvasy also spent time in Derby at Bradley School. Irving School Principal Marc Russo said he was beyond excited to have Szilvasy represent the district as the 2025 Teacher of the Year.
“In those two-plus decades with Derby, she has made a tremendous impact on the students under her care. Not only has she been a positive and motivational force in the lives of her students in terms of teaching and learning academics, she has been a supreme advocate for their social-emotional needs. Additionally, Mrs. Szilvasy is universally held in high regard by her colleagues,” Russo said, in the release.
Dr. Matthew J. Conway, Jr., the superintendent of schools, said he is inspired by Szilvasy’s unwavering dedication to her students.
“She goes above and beyond every day to support struggling learners, collaborates seamlessly with colleagues and adapts instruction to meet individual needs. Her commitment to fostering a nurturing and meaningful learning environment makes her an invaluable asset to our Derby family,” Conway, Jr. said, in the release.
According to the release, Szilvasy, who lives in Durham, is married to Michael, has two adult children named Jessica and Bryan and a granddaughter named Camryn. She loves to garden, be outdoors and make her own maple syrup.
----
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
