News & Announcements

St. Matthew School is proud to announce that Mrs. MaryEllen Schigas, Middle School Religion and Math Teacher, has been awarded the prestigious Light of Christ award from the Center for Catholic Education and Formation at the Archdiocese of Hartford. In 2023, The Light of Christ award was given to only ten teachers across Catholic Schools in Hartford, Litchfield, and New Haven counties. It recognizes the outstanding dedication and performance that Mrs. Schigas exemplifies each day as an important member of the school community.

MaryEllen is a product of local Catholic Schools, starting with the former St. Stanislaus School, then St. Paul Catholic High School, and finally Fairfield University. She earned a master’s degree in education and has been a teacher for over 30 years, almost 20 of those at St. Matthew School. In addition, she completed a four-year program in advanced biblical studies at the Archdiocesan Catholic Biblical School at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield. She is an active parishioner of St. Stanislaus, Bristol.

Mrs. Schigas humbly shares that “I am both honored and overwhelmed to have been chosen to receive this distinguished award. I learned at a very early age that our relationship with God is essential in life and being able to tie that into education is what drew me to teach in a Catholic School. Teaching in a Catholic School is so much more than a career; it is a calling, a vocation. It is a joy to work with the wonderful children and families of St. Matthew School. I certainly owe gratitude to our extremely supportive Principal, Dr. Liz Plasky, and the amazing teachers with whom I am blessed to work.”

In addition to the recognition of her hard work comes a grant for $500 which will be used to enhance the students’ learning experience in her classroom and is generously funded by the Hartford Bishops Foundation.

Dr. Liz Plasky, Principal of St. Matthew School, shares in the celebration. “We are so very proud of Mrs. Schigas for receiving this award as she serves as an example to our students and staff alike and truly lives her life each day to teach as Jesus did.”

Click here to read an article on Mrs. Schigas from the Bristol Press.