Teacher Highlight: Kathy Costonis Nominated for Excellence in Education Award

On Jan. 25, at the Winthrop Chamber Awards ceremony, third grade teacher, Kathy Costonis will be presented with the Excellence in Education Award.

“It is an honor to be nominated for the award…. and a big thank you to the smart, dedicated, and hard-working team that I work with every day,” said Costonis, who credits the many, talented teachers for her own personal growth as an educator.

From the start, Costonis had no doubt that she wanted to be a leader in education, and she started out as a Child Development major at Stonehill College before earning her Master’s Degree in Education from Salem State University. In 1991, Costonis began teaching third grade, and hasn’t looked back since.

Is teaching something that you always wanted to do?

I have always been fascinated by child development, so teaching is the perfect profession for me. Teaching is ever changing, there is always more to learn even after 29 years! I am always looking for new ways to make challenging content more student-involved and fun. Every year I get a chance to make a new group of third-graders feel empowered and learn that it is hard work that makes them successful.

What do you love about teaching?

The best part of teaching is watching my students grow as people and learners each year. Teaching is never boring. There are always new ideas to try. For example, with computers available in every classroom, I am able to chart each child’s growth over time and share that information with the student.  We can then discuss their successes and challenges. I encourage my students to take some responsibility for their learning and set goals. Even third-graders will see success in goal-setting!