Awards and Grants

CRA, Inc. empowers educators by offering grants each year. These grants support projects that promote literacy and current theory in our schools and classrooms. Winners have the opportunity to share their projects at our Awards Banquet each spring.

2023 CRA Award Winners

  • CRA Award of Excellence: Erin O’Hara, Manchester Public Schools
  • Outstanding Admin Award: Khary Fletcher, Old Saybrook Public Schools
  • CRA Literacy Leader Award: Kara Hennessey, Coventry Public Schools

2023 Teaching Grant Winners

  • Christina Herrick, Ellington Middle School
  • Jessica Giuliano, Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Middle School, Bloomfield
  • Sandra Felicissimo, Florence E. Smith Stem School, West Hartford
  • Lisa Valinsky, Reed Intermediate School, Newtown
  • Matt Kyer, Coventry Grammer School

Previous Winners

2021 CRA Award Winners

  • CRA Award of Excellence: Shannon Entwistle, Coventry High School English teacher
    Read the Press Release!
  • Outstanding Admin Award: Dr. Andrew Deacon, Torrington Public Schools
    Read the Press Release!
  • CRA Literacy Leader Award: Kristen Festa, Reading Consultant, Sunnyside Elementary School, Shelto
Shannon Entwistle being recognized by the Coventry Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Petrone.
Shannon Entwistle being recognized by the Coventry Board of Education with Superintendent Dr. Petrone.

2020 Teaching Grant Winners

  • Torrie Phillips from Coventry for “Bolstering SEL in the Coventry community”
  • Lauren O’Keefe from Milford for “Reaching All Readers with Diverse and Representative Choice Books”
  • Ashley Huckabone from Guilford for “Windows and Mirrors Book Clubs”
  • Dee Walters from Norwalk for “Mirrors and Windows -Diverse Books that Reflect the World”
  • Kristin Talbot from Torrington for “Mobile Accessible Library”
  • Nancy Wiecking from Winsted for “Diversifying the Curriculum through Book Clubs”
  • Jillian Bathricky from Guilford for “Diversifying the Library”
  • Kara Hennessey from Coventry for “Equity and Diversity in Our Classroom Libraries”
  • Therese White from South Windsor for “Building the ‘Woke Book Club’ of SWHS”
  • Stephanie McNamar from Coventry for “Supporting Student and Family Diversity Conversations through While School Book Club”
  • Jessica Ayers from Farmington for “Advancing the Academic Mindset of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students”
2020Grants1

Ashley Huckabone - Windows and Mirrors Book Clubs
Literacy Coach, Baldwin Middle School

2020Grants2

Kara Hennessey - Bringing Diverse Texts into the Classroom
K-12 Literacy Specialist, Coventry Public Schools

2020Grants3

Jillian Bathricky and Cheryl Robertson - Diversifying our Library
Literacy Coach, Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School, Guilford, CT

2020Grants4

Lauren O’Keefe - Reaching All Readers with Diverse and Representative Choice Books
English Department Head, Foran HIgh School, Milford

2020Grants5

Nancy Wiecking - Diversifying the Curriculum Through Book Clubs
English Teacher, Winsted

2020Grants6

Stephanie McNamar- Supporting Student and Family Diversity Conversations through Whole School Book Club
Reading Consultant, Coventry Grammar School

2020Grants7

Torrie Phillips - “Bolstering SEL at G.H. Robertson School & in the Coventry Community”
Library Media Specialist, George Hersey Robertson School, Coventry

2019 Teaching Grant Winners:

  • Angela Buccheri from Wallingford for “Family Literacy Nights”
  • Lisa Handfield from Chester for “Afterschool Book Clubs and More!”
  • Lauren Donovan, Nicole Flynn & Kristin Piraneo from Kensington for “Critical Literacy Skills: Critically Important for Struggling Readers!”
  • Torrie Phillips and Matt Kyer from Coventry for “Little Free Libraries”
  • Jacqueline Mulhern, Elizabeth Alagno, and Nicolette Marcal from Waterbury for “SPIRES”
  • Emily Fournier from Guilford for “Building Bridges Through Diversity in Literature”
  • Vita Beebe from Windsor Locks for “Windows and Mirrors: A Multicultural Library”
  • Erin Guarino from Bloomfield for “An Evening of Shared Reading in your PJs”
  • Michele Eligio from North Branford for “Memoir Chapbook Project”
2019awards1

Lauren Donovan, Nicole Flynn & Kristin Piraneo from Kensington for "Critical Literacy Skills: Critically Important for Struggling Readers!"

2019awards1

Erin Guarino from Bloomfield for
"An Evening of Shared Reading in your PJs"

2019awards1

Angela Buccheri from Wallingford for "Family Literacy Nights"

2019awards1

Lisa Handfield from Chester for "Afterschool Book Clubs and More!"

2019awards1

Torrie Phillips and Matt Kyer from Coventry for "Little Free Libraries"

Recent Winners

Nicholas Criscuolo Reading Award for Administrators

2018: Dr. Charles Smith – Assistant Superintendent of Wilton Public Schools

CRA Outstanding Reading Educator Award

2018: Leah Page – Reading Consultant, Essex Elementary School

International Reading Association Celebrate Literacy Award

2018: Dr. Karen Waters – Director of Literacy, Sacred Heart University