Kate Mazzetti Shamburg '88, Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award Winner, Educator and Social Justice Advocate

The 2022 Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award was presented to Katherine “Kate” Mazzetti Shamburg, class of 1988. Her sister Elise, also a Stuart graduate, nominated Kate, sharing that “Kate has been a dedicated teacher her entire career who is currently a Special Needs Teacher at South Street School, a public elementary school in Newark, NJ. Kate won the 2019 District Teacher of the Year award for her excellence and dedication, but her commitment to her students during the pandemic that followed was inspirational to her family and community".

She worked so hard to teach her kids online and protect their mental health and advocate for them with their parents and social service agencies. Kate was one of the first teachers to volunteer to go back to the classroom despite the health risks during this pandemic, to provide a safer education environment for her students.

Kate would attribute her commitment to social justice and education equity to her Stuart education and teachers like Mrs. Light, who inspired a love of literature, particularly Shakespeare. One of her unique teaching strategies has been to incorporate Shakespeare and performing arts into the classroom. Her creative approach to teaching children with special needs has been recognized as innovative by her Principal and the families that she serves.

The spirit of Stuart remains with her and guided the first steps in her journey; faith, love, learning and commitment to service to others create a life worth living.