Inspired by Christine’s overflowing positive energy and exemplary commitment to the students of Dedham
The Dedham Education Foundation has established an annual award to be given to a Dedham Public School educator who goes above and beyond to make students feel like rock stars. This award is in honor and memory of Christine Stec, a longtime Oakdale 4th grade teacher, and Dedham resident who lifted up our community. Christine lost a courageous battle with cancer in March 2023, but leaves behind a powerful legacy.
Over the years, Christine submitted several grant applications to DEF to benefit her students, one of the many ways in which she set the standard as an educator in our community. The inspiration for the name of the award is both Christine’s extraordinary skill and enthusiasm as a “rock star” educator and her practice of celebrating her students as “rock stars.” Each year, every student in her class got to be the “rock star” for a week, with activities that highlighted what makes each child thrive. The students shared favorite activities and hobbies with their classmates, and caregivers were invited into the classroom to eat lunch with their rock star, and their classmates created a poster to show what they appreciated about the rock star.
Inspired by Christine’s overflowing positive energy and exemplary commitment to the students of Dedham, DEF will recognize one educator each year who helps students feel like rock stars each day, just as Christine did. Dedham public school community members including students, caregivers, administrators, and staff are invited to nominate Dedham’s Rock Star Educator. Eligible award recipients are those directly supporting the academic and social-emotional skills of Dedham’s students, such as teachers, counselors, reading specialists, librarians, special education teachers, and school psychologists. All nominations will be reviewed by a committee of the DEF board of directors and ultimately selected by vote of the full board. The winner will be announced and recognized at public events such as at a School Committee meeting. The winner will also receive a $500 grant from DEF for educational supplies or programs to benefit students in their class or school.
Nominations open Monday, January 2nd, and close February 7th, 2025. Please submit nominations with this google form.
Students, families, colleagues, administrators, and school committee members are all invited to nominate educators using our online nomination form.
The winner of 2025’s award will be announced in March.
Meet 2024’s Christine Stec Rock Star Award Winner!
Avery teacher Maureen Blazejewski was selected from among 27 nominated educators across all seven Dedham Public Schools to be the winner of the 2nd annual Christine Stec Rock Star Educator Award. In addition to being an exceptional educator, she is also a long time resident of Dedham and a graduate of Dedham Public Schools.
One nomination read: “Maureen teaches ALL students. You will NEVER EVER hear Maureen state a negative, such as, ‘ ________ won't be able to do that or learn that.’ Instead you observe how Maureen thoughtfully pre-plans and determines how to support her students so that all students are successful. Maureen regularly introduces new strategies tailored to our daughter's needs to help her be as successful as she can be in the classroom and with other students.”
In a different nomination, a colleague described Mrs. Blazejewski’s commitment to equity and access for all learners: “Maureen enriches her students’ learning by providing extension activities. Students are currently learning about the systems of the human body. Maureen has created a hands on magnetic skeleton with labels so students can identify and see the various parts of the skeletal system. Each student has also made trifolds of the skeletal and muscle systems. Maureen has also created a 3D model of the lungs to enrich students’ learning. Maureen has also recorded herself reading so that if a student is absent he/she can listen to it the next day so they do not fall behind. Maureen also gets to know each student individually and allowed each student to be ‘Student of the Week’ where each student created a poster highlighting their family, cultures and interests.”