(May 29, 2025) The Rochester City School District is proud to celebrate seven employees named 2025 Educators of the Year. The District honored these individuals during the fifth annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 131 West Broad Street. The event was broadcast on the District’s YouTube page.
Launched in 2021 by the Office of Human Capital, the Educators of the Year initiative recognizes employees who go above and beyond in creating supportive and impactful learning experiences for RCSD students. Nominations are submitted by colleagues, students, families, community members, and supervisors. Final selections are made by a committee that carefully reviews all submissions and supporting material.
Awards were presented across seven categories:
Administrator Educator of the Year
Jaime Lustig, Central Office
Elementary Educator of the Year
Margot Egling, The Children’s School of Rochester No. 15
Bilingual Educator of the Year
Noelle Rich, Abraham Lincoln School No. 22
Secondary Educator of the Year
Richard Holland, Rochester Early College International High School
Special Area Educator of the Year
Anastasia Polashenski, Loretta Johnson Middle School
Related Services Educator of the Year
McKensey McDonald, Rochester Early College International High School
Support Staff Educator of the Year
Dannetta Lee Singletary, Virgil I. Grissom School No. 7
Anastasia Polashenski will now be eligible to enter the New York State competition for Educator of the Year. The RCSD is home to the 2024 New York State Teacher of the Year – Zach Arenz, a music teacher at The Flower City School No. 54.
