Citadel Heart of Learning Awards

At Citadel Credit Union, we’re committed to serve those who work every day to build a better future for us all. That’s why every year we honor outstanding teachers across the Greater Philadelphia area in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Lancaster and Philadelphia counties with the Citadel Heart of Learning Award. This year, our winners will be awarded a total of over $80,000 in grants and prizes, along with our treasured glass heart trophy. Grand prize winners will be selected from each of the six counties, so be sure to spread the word and submit your nominations by January 15, 2025.

How to Submit a Nomination:

All too often, teachers are unsung heroes. If you know a teacher who goes above and beyond the call of duty, share their story and how they’ve impacted your life or a student’s life. You can submit a written nomination form online, a video nomination, or email us at CitadelHeartofLearning@CitadelBanking.com. To submit a video nomination you can create a post on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook and tag us @citadelcreditunion on TikTok or @CitadelBanking on Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #CitadelHeartofLearning. Just make sure your video shows us exactly why your teacher should be nominated.

Citadel Heart of Learning Awards 2023-24 Winners

Last Year's Grand Prize Winners

Elizabeth Pandosh - Kings Highway Elementary School

Elizabeth Pandosh is a Kindergarten teacher at Kings Highway Elementary in Coatesville Area School District. She holds a true passion for teaching and proves it with her ability to connect to her students and make her classroom “feel like its own little family.” She is able to teach subjects like reading, math and science to such young students through her unique methods and uses data gathered from her own personal observations to help kids grow.

Travis Lick - George Washington Carver High School

Travis Lick is a 7th and 8th grade Math Teacher at George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science in the School District of Philadelphia. Travis's role in the academic improvement and success of his students and his desire to get to know them on a personal level in an effort to mentor them shows his commitment to teaching. Over the last two STAR (computer adaptive standardized test) windows, Mr. Lick’s students’ growth average raised nearly 60 points, which was the best in the community and the top of the school's Learning Network. His passion and dedication truly makes a difference in the lives of his students.

Chassidy K. King - Chester High School

Chassidy K. King is a Marketing Teacher at Chester High School in Chester Upland School District. Her mission in making sure young people understand financial literacy, marketing, communications, and other essential skills is extremely important to her and she is happy to be "the teacher that any student can come to for help." She has founded multiple programs and groups to help struggling young girls get the necessities they need and to help them grow and express themselves in a safe place.

High School Winners:

• Victoria Duffy - 21st Century Cyber Charter School
• Tracey Parker - Coatesville Area Senior High School
• Matt McCloskey - Downingtown West High School
• Doreen Steinmacher - Owen J Roberts High School
• Daniel Weinstein - Phoenixville Area High School
• Caihong Ye - Bishop Shanahan High School
• Kim Guarneri - Avon Grove Charter School
• John Achille - Lampeter-Strasburg High School
• Brian Newbert - Belmont Charter High School

Middle School Winners:

• Natalie Handley - Downingtown Cyber Academy
• Rory McMullen - Palisades Middle School
• Carol Stem - Charles F. Patton Middle School
• Mitch Hoffman - Peirce Middle School
• Roseanna Fabii - Great Valley Middle School
• Chiara Bouchard - Garnet Valley Middle School
• Cara Weil - Hazel I Jackson Middle School
• Natalie Cohen - Eisenhower Science & Technology Leadership Academy
• Sue Subers - Pathway School

Elementary School Winners:

• Tiffany Hamilton - Tinicum Elementary School
• Kerianne Darragh - Elk Ridge Elementary School
• Andrea Roszits - Bancroft Elementary School
• Rita Trainer - Saints Peter and Paul School
• Maureen Segal - Ithan Elementary School
• Greg Moore - Radnor Elementary School
• Anita Girvin - Salisbury Elementary School
• Cyndi Kirschner - Worcester Elementary School
• Renee Butler - Sankofa Freedom Academy

Traci Watson Heart Award:

• Scott Cantrell - Lampeter-Strasburg High School

• All nominees must be Pennsylvania-certified active teachers in a Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Lancaster, or Philadelphia county public school or non-public school. Exceptions may include teachers in non-public schools who are not required to be certified, home school teachers, tutors, etc. Retired teachers are eligible as long as retirement date was at max, one year prior to award year.

• For the purpose of the Citadel Heart of Learning Award, a public school shall be defined as a school under the jurisdiction of one of the public school districts listed above and which is publicly funded; employs staff that are required to be certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education; and meet the policies, rules, and regulations of the Pennsylvania School Code.

• For the purpose of the Citadel Heart of Learning Award, Charter schools and home schools are categorized as non-public schools.

• For the purpose of the Citadel Heart of Learning Award, cyber school teachers will be eligible for nomination if the student or parent submitting the nomination resides in one of the aforementioned counties.

• All nominees must provide direct instruction to students in a classroom setting. This includes classroom teachers, subject teachers, certified teaching professionals who provide direct instruction to students, k-12, in a classroom setting, such as a reading specialist, speech therapist, learning support teacher, librarian, etc.