Stamford, CT – Stamford Public Schools (SPS) announced that the Manhattanville College School of Education has awarded the 2021 Valiant Educator Award to Stamford High School (SHS) Science Teacher and 2021-2022 Stamford Teacher of the Year Donna Kaiser. This award honors a graduate of the School of Education whose career and community accomplishments reflect the mission of the School by contributing to the ethical and social growth of the population they serve.
Students, professional peers or a supervisor of the graduate submit nominations for the award. SHS Principal Raymond Manka nominated Kaiser.
“Mrs. Kaiser is a caring, dedicated and passionate educator. She is always planning and providing experiential teaching and learning opportunities during and after the school day for our students,” said Manka.
Typically, the award is presented at the Manhattanville School of Education Graduate, Doctoral and Alumni Awards Ceremony during Commencement weekend. However, due to the pandemic, Kaiser was recognized in a virtual ceremony.
Kaiser began her professional career as a cosmetic chemist and spent a decade in pharmaceuticals before transitioning to education. Kaiser earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Purchase College in New York, a Master of Arts in Secondary Science Teaching from Manhattanville College in New York, as well as a Certificate in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Bridgeport.
Additionally, Kaiser presented her published research in Biochemistry to the American Chemical Society. Kaiser taught in New York and Greenwich for seven years before joining SHS as a physical science teacher in 2008. She is currently teaching Chemistry and providing instruction and guidance in the district’s afterschool Upward Bound program.
