New Lebanon School held their annual Field Day on Friday and it featured a happy surprise.
Assistant Principal Lindsey Eisentstein announced that some of the signage for the event was “incorrect.”
As the 300+ students and their families gathered on the field looked on, puzzled, Principal Daniel Russo replaced the incorrect banner with a new one to reflect that third grade teacher Ana Maria Fals was the district’s selection for Connecticut State Department of Education’s 2025 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program!

Photo: Leslie Yager
Greenwich Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones was on hand to mark the occasion.
She said Ms Fals was a fantastic representative of the more than 900 amazing hard-working certified teachers at Greenwich Public Schools.
“I had the honor of visiting her third grade classroom at New Lebanon School recently to witness first-hand a master teacher at work,” Jones said.
“Her students were engaged from start to finish, wasting not one minute, with smooth transitions, connecting to prior learning, introducing new learning, and students actively engaged at their level. It was magnificent watching her monitor and adjust for all learners, and when needed, seamlessly switching between Spanish and English. It was absolutely wonderful!”
“The entire New Lebanon staff is thrilled that Ms. Ana Maria Fals has been selected as this year’s Greenwich representative for the Connecticut Teacher of the Year,” New Lebanon Principal Dr. Daniel Russo said. “She is a model for her peers in the school and across the district. Her constant professionalism, care for her students, and unmatched instructional skills have touched many lives in the Byram community and we are excited to congratulate her.”
Fals has been with Greenwich Schools since 2006, primarily at New Lebanon teaching in the second grade and currently, in third grade, and was also a seventh grade Special Education teacher at Western Middle School. She has committed herself to improving the school culture and climate in the PBIS and Safe School Climate teams for many years and has shared her creativity by planning and executing IB Curriculum Nights, Curriculum Carnivals, Bridging to K program events, and a variety of SBA English Language Arts preparation workshops and experiences.
Ms. Fals received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from New Jersey City University, a master’s in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from New York University. She is an Orton-Gillingham and Wilson certified teacher who has taught in bilingual, general education, and special education settings.
Ms Fals was selected from the six 2024 Distinguished Teachers including Johanna Kolar, Western Middle School, Math 8; Lian Lam, New Lebanon School, Special Education; Audrey Maurer, New Lebanon School, Music; Ilene Rietsch, North Street School, Kindergarten; and Alyssa Stack, Greenwich High School, Social Studies.

Dr. Daniel Russo, New Lebanon School third grade teacher Ana Maria Fals and Greenwich Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones at New Lebanon School just after the school community learned that Ms Fals was the district’s selection for Connecticut State Department of Education’s 2025 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program. June 7, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Ms Fals will be recognized at the Board of Education’s regularly scheduled business meeting on Thursday, June 13 for this honor.
According to the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors teacher excellence. It does not attempt to select the “best” teacher; rather, to identify, from among many outstanding teachers of the year, one teacher to serve as a visible and vocal representative of what is best in the profession.
The program celebrates excellence in teaching by recognizing teachers who have inspired a love for learning in their students and who have distinguished themselves in the profession.
For more information about the CT Teacher of the Year Program, including its history, purpose, benefits, eligibility requirements, selection process, and the duties of the Connecticut Teacher of the Year, visit the CSDE website.

Ana Maria Fals smiles at Principal Dr. Daniel Russo and Carol Pugliano at New Lebanon School. June 7, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager

Photo: Leslie Yager

Photo: Leslie Yager

Photo: Leslie Yager

Photo: Leslie Yager

Photo: Leslie Yager