Meet Southington's Top Teacher For 2025-26

Southington Public Schools

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The Southington Public School District recently announced that Kimberly Padroff, a fourth-grade teacher at Hatton Elementary School, is the "2025-26 Teacher of the Year."

Chris Palmieri, Teacher of the Year Program coordinator, said, “Although many amazing teachers were nominated this year and it became a very difficult decision."

He said Padroff stood out especially because of her mentorship to her colleagues.

Padroff will be recognized at the 2025-26 Staff Convocation as well as at a reception
before a Southington Board of Education meeting in September.

Padroff has been teaching in Southington for the past 16 years.

She was originally hired as a Grade 5 teacher at Flanders Elementary School in August 2009.

She then transferred to Grade 4 at Hatton Elementary School effective August 2022 and has remained in that position since.

Bob Garry, Hatton principal, said, “Kim is a remarkable educator. She finds a way to reach and teach every student in her classroom and makes our entire school a better place.”

Padroff said she describes her educational philosophy as “building strong relationships, creating inclusive classroom communities, and embedding social emotional learning into everything I do.”

"As a mentor teacher herself, she has the unique opportunity to support new teachers and her own students by providing them the resources they need to be successful," wrote the school system in an announcement.

Padroff resides in Southington with her husband and two children.

For more information on Kimberly Padroff and the 2025-26 Southington Teacher of the Year, click on this link.