Governor Lamont Announces Kiana Foster-Mauro Is Connecticut's 2024 Teacher of the Year

Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today announced that Kiana Foster-Mauro, a fourth-grade teacher at Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School in New London, has been selected as Connecticut’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. The recognition is the state’s highest honor celebrating extraordinary teachers.

Governor Lamont, Commissioner Russell-Tucker, and other state and local officials delivered the news to Foster-Mauro this morning during a surprise visit to her classroom, which was followed by a schoolwide assembly and celebration with the honoree’s students, fellow educators, and family.

“We are grateful to have a hardworking educator like Ms. Foster-Mauro teaching in our public schools,” Governor Lamont said. “We’ve heard so many impressive stories about her from her colleagues and students at Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School. She embodies the qualities needed to prepare students for success throughout their lives. It was an honor to visit her in her classroom today to deliver this great news. Connecticut has the best public school teachers in the nation and they should be recognized and celebrated.”

Foster-Mauro is a lifelong learner who is committed to empowering her students. As a Black, biracial woman, Foster-Mauro understands the importance of diversity in education. She believes teaching is a radical act that impacts minds and hearts, designing lessons that empower and tackle critical and relevant topics.

Foster-Mauro has presented at conferences, nationally and locally. She has been a member of the National Association for Multicultural Education since 2018 and was recently accepted to present on facilitating critical conversations around current events, identity, human rights, and mental health.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in education with minors in history and human rights, and a Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction from the University of Connecticut. At UConn, she served on the executive board of Leadership in Diversity, a student-led organization dedicated to diversifying education.

She is passionate about community and empowering others. She enjoys teaching her students reading, writing, and social studies daily and connecting with former students just down the hall and at her annual classroom family reunion. Outside of the classroom, she extends her commitment to education, diversity, and community as a dance teacher at The Dance Extension and company advisor to the Community Dance Ensemble.

“Kiana has shown exceptional qualities, such as intentional planning, unwavering responsibility, and a genuine commitment to the craft of teaching,” Jason Foster, principal of Nathan Hale Arts Magnet Elementary School, said. “Her passion and dedication to our students exemplify the highest standards of education. She is a critical part of our school community, and we are proud to honor this achievement.”

The designation of Connecticut Teacher of the Year is decided annually by the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council, a group composed of former recipients of the honor and representatives from educational organizations, businesses, and the community. The council reviewed nearly 100 district-level Teachers of the Year through a rigorous selection process that included candidate applications, interviews, and school site visits, including focus groups with faculty, parents, administration, and students.

Kiana Foster-Mauro will now become Connecticut’s representative for 2024 National Teacher of the Year. She succeeds Connecticut’s 2023 Teacher of the Year, Carolyn Kielma, a science teacher at Bristol Eastern High School in Bristol.