On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, CAS hosted its annual celebration of school leadership at Saint Clements Castle in Portland. This yearly event is designed to recognize individual school leaders as well as to promote the profession of school administration. These six award-winning school leaders were honored at this year’s event:

Laura Dixon, John Barry Elementary School, Meriden
2025 Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year

LaShanté James, Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk
2025 High School Assistant Principal of the Year

Bryan Kerachsky, Skinner Road School, Vernon
2025 Elementary School Principal of the Year

Dr. Damon Lewis, Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, Norwalk
2025 Middle School Principal of the Year

Terra Tigno, Newington High School
2025 High School Principal of the Year

Marco Tirillo, John Wallace Middle School, Newington
2025 Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year

More than two hundred educators, friends, and family members packed the Waterford Ballroom at Saint Clements Castle to join in honoring CAS’ 2025 Assistant Principals of the Year and Principals of the Year.  Upon arrival, guests were greeted by the warm, inviting sound of the Newington High School String Quintet featuring Sage Campbell, Sahasra Gudipudi, RitaMarie Haseseler-Andrade, Ian Joo, and Suri Sanchez.

Dr. Glenn Lungarini, CAS Executive Director, welcomed guests and praised the six honorees for their ability to drive successful outcomes for students despite declining resources, increased accountability, ongoing staffing shortages and political uncertainty. Drawing on a quote from Czech historian Konstantin Jireček, he reflected, “School leaders have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.”

CAS President Joe Blake, principal of Coventry High School, extended warm and enthusiastic congratulations to the evening’s honorees, commending their courage and resourcefulness in paving pathways to success for children and families. “Being a school leader is one of the most demanding—and most rewarding—roles in education. It takes vision, compassion, resilience, and a deep commitment to creating schools where every child feels valued and every teacher feels supported. The leaders we honor tonight embody all of these qualities and more,” said President Blake.

Dr. Charles Hewes, the Deputy Commissioner for Academics and Innovation for the CT State Department of Education, offered compelling remarks on how risk compensation theory applies to school leadership, praising the honorees for using increased supports and safeguards as a springboard to take on greater challenges and pursue bolder initiatives to advance their schools.

Each of the six honorees received a plaque, a book and, thanks to the generosity of Jostens, a custom-designed ring to commemorate their achievement.

Many thanks to our photographers, Nathan Pierce and Tara Kolakowski, from Lifetouch.