The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Field House rocked at the June 9th graduation ceremonies to cheers and yelps as Faculty Distinction Awardees were announced by Principal Damon Smith. Meighan Bannon, Jacqueline Cesario, Doug McGlathery, and Tanya Trayer received Faculty Distinction Awards, sponsored by Friends of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (FoCRLS) and presented by Principal Smith and FoCRLS Executive Director Elaine Schear. Honorees were nominated by the Class of 2016 to recognize teachers and staff members who have made the greatest impact during their time at CRLS.

Meighan Bannon of the English Language Arts department is described by her students as a teacher who helps them grow, is always willing to help them, and makes them love school. Said one student of Ms. Bannon, “She has been there since the start and she has just encouraged me so that I can achieve anything I plan to do.  I have created a bond with her that I will never forget.”

Jacqueline Cesario has been a Social Studies teacher at CRLS for 15 years. She started teaching Constitutional Law in 2010 as part of the Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Program, and since then CRLS has consistently had students advance to the national competition in Washington D.C. Ms. Cesario is a longtime Senior Class advisor and Student Government co-advisor.

Doug McGlathery has been a Computer Science and Math teacher at CRLS since 1980. He studied architecture at MIT, where he was inspired by MIT-Wellesley Upward Bound to become a teacher. He also holds a graduate degree from Harvard. Mr. McGlathery says CRLS is a special community where he feels very lucky to teach among amazing colleagues and to help incredible students pursue their happiness.

Tanya Trayer holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in English from Simmons College and has been teaching at CRLS since 2007. She teaches English and Gender Theory and is co-advisor of P-10, CRLS’s Gay Straight Alliance. Ms. Trayer, who previously worked for seven years as a teacher/counselor for Cambridge Housing Authority’s Work Force Program, is deeply committed to gender, racial, and economic equality.

The Faculty Distinction Awards program is one of six provided to CRLS students and faculty by FoCRLS, a 501(c)3 nonprofit association creating and supporting opportunities at the city’s only public high school. For information about donating or volunteering, please visit focrls.org, email info@focrls.org, or call 857-235-9290.