East Haven Public Schools' 2023 Teachers Of The Year Named

EAST HAVEN, CT — East Haven Public Schools has named its 2023 Teachers of the Year. The East Haven Teacher of the Year Committee held a ceremony this week and named Samantha Lestage as the elementary teacher of the year, Lauren Condosta was named the middle school teacher of the year and Stephanie McKee Gorske was named the East Haven Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Gorske will move on to represent East Haven at the state level Teacher of the Year program.

The celebrated teachers are Samantha Lestage (elementary), Lauren Condosta (middle), and Stephanie McKee Gorske, East Haven Teacher of the Year.

Lestage has been an East Haven teacher for 12 years. Her career began in grade 1 and Kindergarten at Deer Run School, and she currently teaches kindergarten at Tuttle School.

Condosta has been an East Haven teacher for 19 years. She currently teaches grade 8 English and Writing. All of Lauren’s 19 years have been spent at Joseph Melillo Middle School, teaching English Language Arts.

Gorske has been an East Haven teacher for 23 years. Stephanie’s first 22 years of teaching in East Haven were in the special education preschool program. Upon her 23rd year, she made the leap to 1st Grade.

All three teachers have given back to the teaching community in the form of sharing their knowledge and expertise through professional development. They each have provided mentoring to colleagues and many Paraprofessionals.

East Haven’s selected teachers were celebrated surrounded by family, friends, school principals, and colleagues. Distinguished guests included Superintendent of Schools Erica Forti, Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Murrihy, East Haven Board of Education Chairwoman Michelle DeLucia, and East Haven Board of Education Member Karyn Putney.

The Teacher of the Year Committee is comprised of former Teacher of the Year recipients, Gina Racino, Geralyn Perez, Renee McIntyre, Alphonse Camera, Michael Iaverone and is facilitated by Tammy Afragola. State Rep. Joseph Zullo is also a member of East Haven’s Teacher of the Year Committee.