Left to right: Best Teacher winner Victoria “Vicki” Macrokanis, Best Principal winner Sophia Carafotes, and The Somerville Times Publisher Ross Blouin.

By Charles Lane

Two outstanding recipients of The Somerville Times’ “Best of Somerville 2015” competition were recently awarded their certificates of merit.

Sophia Carafotes (Best Principal) has taught grade 5 at the West Somerville Neighborhood School. In 2011 she was named Somerville’s Best Teacher. In May 2013, Sophia was chosen by the City Wide PTA Scholarship Committee to present an award to a SHS Senior. She continues to be active while being the principal at Somerville Adult Evening School.

It’s no wonder Sophia chose teaching as her career path. She is a born leader and dives wholeheartedly into any of her endeavors, whether it be teaching or being the principal of Somerville Adult Evening School. Before stepping into her principal shoes, she taught several popular classes at the evening school including Introduction to Computers and English and Reading for Academic Recovery.

Best of Somerville winner, Sophia Carafotes (Best Principal) Somerville Adult Evening School.

Sophia Carafotes was Ms. Somerville way back when she was a first year student at Boston University. Today she is serving on her family’s church, The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, where she sang in the choir alongside her sisters directed by her mother Mary. They are celebrating 100 years.

In 2016 Sophia will be heading a writing contest for the Somerville Public School Students to compete for cash prizes. Sophia Carafotes is a successful product of Somerville and will continue to work hard for her hometown.

Victoria “Vicki” Macrokanis (Best Teacher) is a lifelong Somerville resident. She began her career as a substitute teacher after graduating from Lesley College in 1982. The following year she got a job at the Healy School in the Hoffman Reading Lab. From there she went on to teach 6th grade the Cummings school in 1984. It was there she knew the 6th grade was the grade for her to teach. She developed a passion for the grade and students who came through her classroom doors. For the years to follow she worked at the Powder House Community School for five years and back to the Healy School as a 5th grade teacher for 3 years. In the fall of 2006 she felt she was very fortunate to get back into a 6th grade classroom at the West Somerville Neighborhood School. She is now in her 10th year and still going strong.

Best of Somerville winner,Victoria “Vicki” Macrokanis (Best Teacher) West Somerville Neighborhood School.

Vicki has served on numerous reading panels with the start of Balanced Literacy and currently Close Reading throughout the years. She has also voluntarily mentored several new teachers at the West. Since teaching at the WSNS she has served on the school council and is an after-school tutor. Vicki says teaching 6th grade has been very fulfilling in her career and hopes to continue teaching 6th grade until she retires. She loves making a difference in a child’s life.