Press Release  MassDOT Announces the 2026 SRTS Crossing Guard Awards of the Year and Community Partners

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), through its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Safe Routes to School Crossing Guard Awards. The annual contest, which began in 2021, seeks to recognize and highlight the important role crossing guards play in helping students and families safely travel to schools. This year’s Crossing Guard of the Year is Sagario Ortiz.  

“Crossing guards are essential to the safety of students walking to and from school,” said Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “Under the Healey-Driscoll administration, safety has been at the center of everything we do at MassDOT, and the Safe Routes to School Awards highlight all of the members who work daily to keep our young people safe. Their dedication, vigilance, and kindness give families peace of mind and make them trusted pillars in our communities. I congratulate all of our award winners for their contributions and thank and honor our community partners for their commitment to creating safe environments that help our young people thrive and succeed.” 

Sagario has been working as a Crossing Guard since 2017. She was the crossing guard for the Gardner Pilot Academy for many years and currently works at Winship Elementary School in Brighton. She had 74 nominations from students, parents, caregivers, faculty and staff members describing her positive spirit towards all of those in the school community and her ability to make everyone feel seen, heard and supported. 

This year’s crossing guard appreciation campaign began with nominations submitted by partnering school communities and included a dedicated Crossing Guard Appreciation Day held in March. More than 450 nominations were submitted for 74 crossing guards who work in 40 communities.  

Representatives from SRTS partner schools, including school faculty and staff, parents, and community members, completed an online nomination form asking the following questions: “How does your crossing guard go above and beyond to keep students safe? How is your crossing guard special? Do they do anything unique that sets them apart? Does your crossing guard participate in any school/community events? How many years have they been a crossing guard?”  

Nominators could also upload photos of their crossing guards in action. Once all nominations were submitted, the Safe Routes to School team and MassDOT evaluated them based on stories that demonstrated a commitment to safety and dedication to the role.  

The winners were recognized today at the Annual Safe Routes to School Awards Ceremony at the State House.   

These included:   

Honorable Mention:  

Alvin Montalvo – Argosy Collegiate Charter School, Fall River 

Crossing Guard Champions:  

• Cheryl Williams – Morse School in Cambridge  
• Deb St. Germain – Horace Mann Elementary School in Melrose  
• Brekton Drougas and Marge Barnett – Bridge Street Elementary School in Northampton  

Community Collaboration – awarded to an Alliance Partner organization that strongly demonstrated the importance of collaborating among schools and community stakeholders and furthered the mission of Safe Routes to Schools  

• Peabody School Safety Task Force  

Exemplary Programs by Region – awarded to schools that set a great example by crafting a new or existing Safe Routes to School Program through innovation, creativity, and engagement  

• Western – Sunderland Elementary School, Sunderland 
• Central -Vernon Hill School, Worcester 
• Central – Honorable Mention – Butler Middle School, Lowell  
• Northeast – Washington S.T.E.M. Elementary School, Lynn  
• Northeast – Honorable Mention – Beethoven Elementary School, Boston 
• Southeast – Forestdale Elementary School, Sandwich 

The Massachusetts SRTS Program, sponsored by MassDOT and funded by the Federal Highway Administration, promotes safer routes for students to walk, bike, and roll to and from school by fostering partnerships among community-led organizations, local law enforcement, education leaders, and public health departments.    

The program serves over 1,300 schools in more than 285 communities, emphasizing pedestrian and bicycle safety and providing resources to support local initiatives. 

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