HAVERHILL — Wiping tears from her eyes, Sara Reyes walked to the podium to receive a crystal apple and the admiration from co-workers and former teachers who remembered her as a smart but shy girl.
Reyes, 25, received the first-ever Rising Star Award from the Lawrence Rotary Club at DiBurro's Function Facility. Nicole Romano, 38, a fourth-grade teacher at Tarbox School for the past eight years, was honored as Teacher of the Year by the club.
Reyes received $500 while Romano got $1,000 for herself and another $1,000 for her school.
"I was completely flabbergasted," Romano said. "It's surreal. I've nominated teachers before, and I never thought I'd be in this category."
Reyes, a kindergarten teacher at Hennessey School for two years, and Romano were among 58 men and women who teach in the city's public, charter and Catholic schools, nominated by fellow teachers for their work.
Pete Peterson, president-elect of the Lawrence Rotary Club, said club members decided to reward a young teacher because they also "can be inspiring."
"We didn't want the teacher of the year to become a lifetime achievement," Peterson said.
Peterson related how a 5-year-old boy with severe behavioral problems was placed in Reyes' classroom and that her encouragement and kind words helped the child advance to the first grade and exceed his reading level.
"One veteran teacher says that 'Sara is who I hope to be even after all my years of teaching. She is teaching an old dog new tricks,'" Peterson said.
Reyes said she sees herself in many of her students.
"I look like them and I went through the same things they did," said Reyes, who said her mother was also a kindergarten teacher and inspiration to her.
Peterson said the teacher of the year was chosen unanimously by three judges.
Ellen Shields, who worked with Romano at Tarbox School, said she was not surprised Romano was selected.
"I appreciate her overall generosity," said Shields, who is a math specialist. "She never says no when people come to her."
Romano also said she has been inspired by her mother, who has battled cancer, which is now in remission.
"My mother taught me a lot. She never gave up despite the fact that all the odds were against her. She taught me to always give my 100 percent."
Romano's co-workers interviewed last night said that despite dealing with her mother's illness, she was the first to come to school and the last to leave and worked in the after-school and summer programs.
"When you go to school, the children need you 100 percent and they are counting on you," said Romano, who was shaking with emotion after her name was announced.
Romano said she was inspired to go into teaching by one of her professors at Merrimack College.
"Her students know that she wants great things for them. She inspires them to do their best because through her example, they see what hard work and a positive attitude can do," Peterson said.
