Announcement from Asheville City Schools:
The teachers of Asheville City Schools go home with more on their minds then just lesson plans; their compassion and care for students is unending.
Therefore, it is will great pleasure that Asheville City Schools announces its 2021 District Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Susanna Cerrato.
A 3rd Grade teacher at Ira B. Jones Elementary School, she was named the ACS Teacher of the Year during a surprise announcement this morning. Because our teachers are currently working from home due to COVID-19, the announcement was made in the front yard of our outstanding educator’s home.
Upon seeing her “prize patrol,” Cerrato’s jaw immediately dropped.
“I’m just floored,” she then said. “Thank you so much! This district means so much to me, and I truly feel like I’ve found a home here.”
The reveal’s timing was extra special, as it coincides with Teacher Appreciation Week.
The 2019-2020 school year marks Cerrato’s ninth year in the classroom and third at Ira B. Jones.
Cerrato’s educational career began in 2010 as a 1st Grade teacher at Central Park East II, CPEII in New York City. She spent two years in New York, working not only with 1st Graders but also as a 5th Grade collaborative team teacher. She also led whole group instruction in a 6-1-1 setting for autistic students using various technology to create multiple access points at the Bronx’s P.S. 723 at P.S. 388.
Following her time in New York, Cerrato taught 1st and 5th Grade reading at Akili Academy of New Orleans before becoming the Special Educational Instructional Coach and Manager at
Schaumburg Elementary. During her three years in Louisiana, Cerrato worked to supervise the instructional practices of Pre-K thru 2nd Grade special educators while ensuring alignment and fidelity to IEP goals/grade level curriculum as well as led both whole group and small group instruction in literacy and math.
In 2016, Cerrato moved to Asheville and began her current role at Ira B. Jones Elementary School. In addition to leading whole group instruction, Cerrato collaborates with Exceptional Children’s teachers as well as Title 1 instructors to differentiate curriculum using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Furthermore, she uses formative and summative data to teach small groups focused on closing skill gaps in literacy and math as well as adapts English Language Arts curriculum with a focus on best practices for implementation with fidelity.
“My philosophy of teaching is grounded in beliefs about inclusion and equity,” said Cerrato. “I believe at the root, teaching is about using empathy, honesty, inclusion and the belief that all students are inherently capable, to help all students feel seen, safe and skilled.”
In addition to her time in the classroom, Cerrato is a founding member of the Jones Social Justice Team and facilitates Jones’ Equity Steering Committee, overseeing the creative and implementation of equity coaching and decision making for her school community. Additionally, she’s aided her colleagues’ professional development by leading courses on balanced literacy across grade levels, co-planning/co-teaching models and implementation as well as a book study on Zaretta Hammond’s Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain.
She too created an inclusive community in which students from across the district felt safe and motivated to learn as an Asheville City Schools Read to Achieve Summer Reading Camp educator in both 2017 and 2018.
Cerrato earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Poetry Writing/Renaissance History from New York University as well as a Master of Arts in Elementary Inclusive Education Certification from the Teachers College of Columbia University.
As Asheville City Schools’ Teacher of the Year, Cerrato will now be invited to participate in a regional interview process.
Nine regional finalists will be selected amongst North Carolina’s 94,000 classroom teachers.
From the nine, the state’s Teacher of the Year will be chosen by a committee of professional educators as well as business and community leaders. The final announcement will be made in April 2021.
If selected as the state Teacher of the Year, Cerrato will spend the 2021-2022 school year traveling across North Carolina as an ambassador for the teaching profession.
We would like to congratulate all of our Teachers of the Year across Asheville City Schools:
- Michelle Greener – Asheville High School
- Greta Qualls – Asheville Middle School
- Kate White – Asheville Primary School
- Betts Conti – Claxton Elementary School
- Mike Bartlett – Hall Fletcher Elementary School
- Daniel Withrow – Isaac Dickson Elementary School
- Sarah Armstrong – Montford North Star Academy
- Tina Harris – School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville
- Mitzi Levering – Vance Elementary School
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