Jane E. Martellino
K-5 Media Specialist
International School at Dundee
Greenwich, Connecticut
“With her lightning fast mind, generous spirit, and boundless energy, she has enriched and reshaped our ISD community in countless positive ways.”
Jane E. Martellino’s endless passion for reading has created a vibrant culture of literacy at the International School at Dundee.
Jane has helped countless children discover the joy of reading through programs like a Battle of the Books tournament to her “one book, one school” initiative. She also founded Connecticut’s first K-3 book award program, The Charter Oak Book Award; since it launched in 2010, more than 60 schools have participated each year.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jane has kept the school community engaged and inspired. She created a tablet-based interface for students to access digital books, daily read-alouds, learning resources, and personalized reference assistance, all from the safety of their homes. She’s also worked to keep everyone’s spirits up by sharing inspiring daily video messages featuring her adorable dog, Maggie.
“Her brilliant mind literally never stops and everyone at ISD benefits from her enthusiasm, intelligence, and incomparable creative energy,” her nominators wrote. “Her passion for books is so palpable, so contagious, that you simply have to be a part of it.”