HAVERHILL — Matt Castonguay admits he likes to "stay under the radar.''
But there's no hiding this time.
The Haverhill YMCA has awarded its first-ever Educator of the Year honor to Castonguay, a fifth-grade teacher at Bradford Elementary School.
"This is amazing," Castonguay, 27, said after receiving the award. "Thank you. Thank you."
Castonguay, who is highly involved in cross country and many other activities at the school, thanked the colleagues he works with every day for their hard work and dedication.
He said he was ecstatic, but surprised, to be nominated and he certainly didn't expect to win.
"I like to stay under the radar," he said. "I do what I do because I want to. It's all for the students. They're why I love going to work every day."
The other nominees were David Cunningham from Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, Barry Mooers of Haverhill High School, Judy Reilly of Walnut Square School, Valerie Wood of Bradford Elementary School, Judy Collins of Pentucket Lake School, and Noemi Custodia-Lora of Northern Essex Community College. The teachers were nominated by colleagues, students or parents who sent letters of recommendation.
All seven of the nominees were honored at the event with trophies and citations from Mayor James Fiorentini and state Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill.
The gymnasium at the Haverhill YMCA, usually a bustling mecca for basketball and floor hockey, was transformed into a gala reception with 12 tables covered in white tablecloths and coral-colored napkins. White string lights twinkled around the room. Balloons in a rainbow of colors lined the halls to the gym.
To start the event, the YMCA's kindergarten enrichment students led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Haverhill High singers Katie Amaro and Michael Buckhout provided the mood music.
The nominees —minus Cunningham, who was unable to attend — sat at tables around the room, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues. Each nominee was easily identified by a corsage and the constant stream of guests congratulating and praising them.
Tracy Fuller, executive director at the YMCA, was one of them.
"You clearly are shining stars," she said to the teachers. "Thank you for all you do every single day."
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