Greenwich s 2008 Distinguished Teachers gather for a group portrait Tuesday. Front row, from left: Rita Clair, Eastern Middle School; Christine Kovac, Julian Curtiss School, and Camille Fusco, Greenwich High School. Standing: Anthony Mullen, Arch School Greenwich s alternative high school; Arianne Haley-Banez, Greenwich High, and Karen Anderson, Western Middle School. (GREENWICH CITIZEN photo / Amy Mortensen)

Joy filled the hearts of six given "Distinguished Teacher Awards" Tuesday during an emotional ceremony that drew tears and cheers from a packed crowd in Western Middle School's auditorium.

Awardees included Arianne Haley-Banez, Greenwich High guidance counselor - a former New York Times editor - and Anthony Mullen, retired New York City homicide sleuth, now science/electives teacher at Arch School, the Greenwich alternative high.

Also honored with Haley-Banez and Mullen were Western Middle school music teacher Karen Anderson, Greenwich High Latin/English teacher Camille Fusco, Eastern Middle School special ed teacher Rita Clair and Julian Curtiss first-grade teacher Christine Kovac.

Awardees were serenaded by the 50-piece elementary school string orchestra (players selected by auditions), and the Western Middle School jazz band conducted by Anderson.

They were commended by Schools Superintendent Dr. Betty Sternberg, Board of Education Chairman Nancy Weissler and Esther Bushell, a former "distinguished teacher" awardee who chaired the Distinguished Teachers Awards selection committee.

While being festooned by laudatory remarks from the school brass, Awardees' ears filled with

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rigorous applause from an enthusiastic audience of teachers, town leaders, parents and students.

First graders from Julian Curtiss held aloft helium-filled pink, lavender and lime balloons topped by a huge star-shaped one. Some held bunches of flower for their teacher. Two held up a huge sign marked with many red hearts and proclaiming: "We Love Our Teacher Christine Kovac."

As the ceremony ended, they swarmed on the stage and pelted Kovac with flowers.

Meanwhile, Fusco was so overcome with joy that she sobbed. She could hardly talk when her turn came to say something at the podium. She appeared to be on the verge of collapse. But she got out the following:

"I am dumbstruck over being selected. I feel like I am standing on the shoulders of so many distinguished educators."

Her sentiment - crediting others for helping her along the way - was a common thread in the one-minute acceptance speeches given by the honored who were selected by, among others, students, peers, community leaders and parents.

The awardees, to a person, credited students and patience with making them what they are today.

Two points in the consensus among awardees appeared to be:

1. "We couldn't do it without the students. An award should go to the students who challenge me every day."

2. "Thanks to all the parents who have trusted me with their children. They are the reason I come to work every day."

Haley-Benez, the parent of one, told what it's like at Greenwich High with 3,000 "newly hormonal almost adults" she takes in hand. She reported that in her office there is in an atmosphere of confidentiality and trust - "no topic is off limits" in my office."

He recalled it helps that "I have this amazing talent to size up students in a minute."