Congratulations to Teacher of the Year Roxana Casco and Sarah Kennedy, this year's Hal and Joann Tehan Award recipient.

Teacher of the Year

The Teacher of the Year is a peer-nominated award for someone who serves as a role model for students and models 21st century learning skills and teaching tools.

Casco just completed her eleventh year in the World Language Department at Ursuline. She teaches Spanish and has also moderated the Spanish Honor Society for almost 10 years.

"My favorite part about being a teacher here at UA is the strong connections that I am able to make with my students," she said. "I also love helping them fall in love with Spanish!"

What's the most rewarding part about teaching?

"I love hearing back from my students about how their love of Spanish and confidence in speaking Spanish grew and how they come to the realization that mistakes are necessary for their growth," she said.

She's humbled to receive this year's Teacher of the Year Award.

"I believe this is one of the biggest recognitions a teacher can receive," she said. "A big 'thank you!' to my colleagues who nominated me for such recognition. I am most grateful!"

In her free time, Casco enjoys spending time with her family and finding new things to learn.

The Tehan Award

The Tehan Award was established by Hal Tehan to honor a teacher whose life and work demonstrates strong integration of the Ursuline mission.

Kennedy, who just completed her ninth year at Ursuline, is a Visual Arts Teacher, Freshman/Junior Seminar Lead Teacher, and the Assistant Director of Auxiliary Programs. She has participated as a coach and moderator for numerous activities including (but not limited to) Head Bowling Coach, Assistant Cross Country Coach, and Moderator for the National Art Honor Society. 

What does she most enjoy about teaching students at Ursuline? 

"I love getting to see what they are passionate about and watching them grow into their gifts and talents. I get to teach several different grade levels and often see students “grow up” from freshman year through their graduation," she said. "Our students are driven and motivated individuals that work to create positive change in the world and I am so proud to be a small part of their journey."

She is honored to be chosen for this award and grateful to Ursuline for the opportunities offered to her to be a part of different extracurricular groups that allow her to get to know students both inside and outside the classroom.

"My students bring joy into my life," she said. "I enjoy getting to help them grow into not only intellectual students in the classroom, but also into good, well-rounded humans, in general."

To unwind, Kennedy works in her garden and on home projects. She also loves riding her bike and trying out local coffee shops around town.