Fiddlehead’s Giuliano among Cumberland County Teacher of the Year nominees

Sara Giuliano, a second-grade teacher at Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences in Gray, has been nominated for Cumberland County’s Teacher of the Year.

Sara Giuliano, a second-grade
teacher at Fiddlehead School
of Arts and Sciences in Gray,
has been nominated for 
'Cumberland County Teacher
of the Year.' 
SUMBITTED PHOTO

This prestigious honor is particularly meaningful as it comes directly from parent nominations, recognizing the profound impact that Giuliano has upon her students and the school community.

Giuliano, who has been part of Fiddlehead’s faculty since 2019, brings a deep love for hands-on learning and child-centered education to her classroom. With a background spanning multiple grade levels and outdoor education, she has created a joyful, engaging, and curiosity-driven learning environment for all her students.

"I’m incredibly honored by this nomination," said Giuliano. "Teaching at Fiddlehead has been such a gift – our students are full of wonder, and I’m lucky to spend my days exploring, questioning, and learning right alongside them. To know that families see and appreciate the work we do every day means the world to all of us."

At Fiddlehead, teachers are more than educators. They are innovators, designers, and mentors who craft unique, inquiry-based curricula tailored to their students said Jacinda Cotton-Castro, Fiddlehead’s Executive Director and CEO.

She emphasized the depth of dedication among the school’s faculty.

"Sara’s nomination is a reflection of the incredible educators who bring Fiddlehead’s mission to life every day,” said Cotton-Castro. “Our teachers don’t follow a scripted curriculum; they build meaningful learning experiences that are tailored to each child, inspiring creativity, critical thinking, and a deep connection to the world. Sara embodies that approach, and we are so proud to see her recognized."

Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Principal Jason Manjourides praises the lasting impact of Giuliano’s work.

"Sara’s classroom is a place of constant joy, laughter, and discovery,” he said. “She has a gift for making every child feel seen, valued, and excited to learn. Her students adore her, and she approaches each day with a contagious enthusiasm that makes Fiddlehead a better place for all of us."

The Cumberland County Teacher of the Year program is part of the Maine Teacher of the Year initiative, which recognizes exceptional educators across the state who make a difference in the lives of their students, schools, and communities. Nominees are selected based on their dedication, creativity, and ability to inspire a love of learning.

Each year, 16 teachers are named County Teachers of the Year, and one is named State Teacher of the Year. These exceptional teachers serve as role models for the profession, advocating for students, communities, and education issues while participating in professional learning and community efforts to improve education.

To be considered for this honor, teachers must have at least five years of teaching experience, including three years in Maine. They must hold the appropriate professional certification for their position, be actively teaching at least half of the workday, and they must maintain their teaching position and remain in the county for which they are selected.

Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences is deeply committed to fostering an educational environment that nurtures academic excellence, character development, and strong community values, and provides a joyful, integrated educational experience for children. It was one of the first free public charter schools established in Maine.

Rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach, the school offers arts-infused, inquiry-based learning that encourages creativity for the younger ages and project-based learning that develops critical thinking and a deep connection to the natural world for students.

Giuliano graduated from the University of New England in 2012 and started her teaching career in Scarborough for Grades 1 and 2 and later for sixth grade science. After taking a few years off to work as an associate director at a summer camp in Raymond, she discovered Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences, and said it seemed to be the combination of all things she loved about teaching and the outdoors.

She started as the Teaching Assistant in the school’s fourth and fifth grades, then taught third grade the following year, and has since found her home teaching second grade.

When she is not teaching, Giuliano said that she loves to be outside, whether it is spending time at the beach, hiking, camping, or playing with her dog, Lily. <