Awards Gala

Collaborating with staff from Western Connecticut State University’s Biology Department, Mrs. Soto travels to Puerto Rico to study a newly discovered species of crustacean in the Rio Camuy Cave System. She analyzes the anatomy, characteristics, DNA, and ... more »

Dr. Rozycki and Dr. Moxley develop community service learning resources to encourage faculty and students to be civically engaged. Study group participants identify best practices to guide civic engagement activities, develop and pilot a multidisciplinary service learning ... more »

Ms. Rodzwell and her partners form an action study group to improve their students’ ability to solve mathematical word problems. With the help of a consultant, teachers analyze monthly word problem exercises and examine the sources of students’ conceptual ... more »

Collaborating with Ameritech and Cingular wireless engineers, Mr. Davids, Mr. Forrest, and Mr. Pata study the science of cell phones. The group identifies the fundamentals of wireless communication. Based on what they learn, participants develop a curriculum on the cell ... more »

Mr. Geary and his partners explore how they can use graphing calculators to increase students’ mathematical skills and proficiency with the technology. Teachers learn the capabilities of the graphing calculator, review the curriculum to maximize use of ... more »

In response to research that at-home reading results in higher student achievement, Mrs. Chadbourn and her partners create the “Keep Books” program to build home libraries for their Title I students. Students receive one book weekly and complete reading ... more »

To improve learning for their autistic students, Ms. VanArsdell and her partners learn best practices for teaching autistic students. The team—including teachers, paraprofessionals, occupational and physical therapists, and speech pathologists—researches ... more »

Ms. Young and her partners implement a school garden project to provide cross-curricular learning opportunities for their at-risk students. Students design and cultivate fruit, flower, and native plant gardens in the school’s courtyard. To care for these ... more »

Through “Tell Me a Story: Innovative Uses of Digital Cameras and Multimedia for Writing,” Ms. Pali and her partner implement an integrated writing and technology project. After reading biographies of famous people, students write their own personal ... more »

Mr. Bacon, a second-year teacher, attends the Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures for Success Institute to enhance his instructional skills. Working with his colleagues, he creates a plan to implement the instructional strategies that he learns at the institute to address ... more »

Recognizing that their at-risk students respond best to culturally relevant literature, Ms. Dyer and Mr. Crawford implement “Voices of the Valley” to improve students’ writing and technology skills. The bilingual students interview community members ... more »

Advancing his knowledge on stubble lichens, a group of old-growth forest species, Dr. Selva travels to Washington, DC, and New York City to study lichen collections at a botanical garden and herbarium. Dr. Selva hopes that studying the actual specimens will enhance the ... more »

To encourage scientific inquiry and increase hands-on learning, Mrs. Royle and Mrs. Cantrell develop a project that explores the sun. Using sun projection screens to view features of the sun’s surface, students keep a data log of their observations and produce ... more »

Mr. Nelson and Mr. George form a study group to learn about authentic inquiry-based physics materials. Study group members collaborate to develop student learning materials for the testing of a portable cosmic ray detector and to assess content learning.

Through “CSI @ WJB,” Mrs. Dye and Ms. Carr cultivate cross-curricular learning and career interests in students with both academic and social needs. With mentoring from local police, newspaper reporters, and attorneys, students research the ... more »

Mrs. Connolly and her partners implement “Setting the Stage for Science Standards” to enhance students’ comprehension of nonfiction texts and to build scientific understanding in a hands-on setting. After exploring a variety of science concepts ... more »

Ms. Crayton and her partners lead a study group that includes school faculty, staff, students, and board members to explore Hawaiian history, language, culture, and healing practices. After attending each monthly workshop on Hawaiian history and culture, study groups meet ... more »

To help their special needs students develop a sense of community and view themselves as valued community members, Ms. Trimmer and her partners implement several outreach and garden projects. Working with local high school volunteers, students build bird feeders and ... more »

Ms. Pittard and her partners, all teachers in different grade levels throughout the district, form a lesson study group to improve mathematics pedagogy. After collaborating to develop lessons, participants conduct classroom observations and reflect on strategies to improve ... more »

Mr. Gilmartin and Ms. Barden develop a watershed project to help students create a positive environmental change. Students study the history of the local river region, learn to identify species of fish and macroinvertebrates, and conduct field studies to test the ... more »

Mrs. Shank and Ms. Long implement “FCS Online: A Digital Bridge for Remote Collaboration” to prepare students for work and develop communication, technology, and problem-solving skills. Students at two regional middle schools use an online discussion forum ... more »

Mr. Roe and Mr. Zakroff enhance the writing and technology skills of their students by incorporating a student newspaper into their curriculum. Students use computers to develop a comic strip and to write and edit articles, movie reviews, and editorials for a ... more »

Dr. Lazarus leads a study group to implement a mentoring program for adjunct faculty. Full-time faculty mentor adjunct instructors by observing classroom instruction and exploring personal theories on pedagogy.

Through “Downingtown CSI & Robotics Applications,” Ms. Plomchok, Mr. Shultz, and Mr. Walker improve students’ scientific inquiry and knowledge with practical applications of forensic science and robotics. Using real-world procedures, students learn ... more »

Ms. Carter leads a lesson study group of all fourth-grade teachers to develop and implement mathematics units that increase student achievement. The group analyzes data to identify concepts that students have not mastered, and researches best practices to create lessons ... more »

In consultation with an artist-in-residence from Ballet Northeast, a local dance performance company, Ms. Luksha and Mr. Quinn present a dance workshop to introduce students to jazz dance and ballet. Students experience the elements and style of dance and perform ... more »

Ms. Eckert attends two language immersion institutes to improve her Spanish language skills. At the institutes she engages in research on cultural topics, becomes familiar with contemporary issues in Spanish-speaking cultures, and reflects on pedagogical practices. She ... more »

Mr. Klass, Ms. Braun, and Ms. Lucy develop students’ technology, literacy, and mathematical skills through the implementation of the “Interactive Storybook” project. Pairs of fourth-grade students form publishing companies to create interactive ... more »

Ms. Farinsky learns Betty Edwards’s art education methodology, “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain,” to reach students who are not highly skilled in art. This methodology includes nontraditional methods for teaching perspective, composition, ... more »

To increase students’ letter knowledge and phonological awareness as well as parents’ involvement in their children’s education, Mrs. Hunter, Ms. Ferlin, and Ms. Welty create literacy backpacks. Students bring home weekly backpacks with activities ... more »

Mr. Dalasio, Mr. Beckish, and Mr. Pierce implement “Enhancing Your Economic Success” to increase students’ economic and political awareness and to develop academic skills in both social studies and mathematics. Using a wide variety of technology and ... more »

Ms. Eng and her partners research performance assessments and identify standards and assessments to help promote students to the next grade level based on achievement. Team members study Deborah Meier’s ideas and experiences with performance assessments and develop an ... more »

Mr. Brumagin and Mr. Huck incorporate a student newsroom into classroom instruction to enhance students’ technology and problem-solving skills. After researching the responsibilities of various newsroom jobs, eighth-grade students apply their new technology ... more »

Seeking to meet the needs of her autistic students, Ms. Arvin attends an autism training program at the University of North Carolina. She learns how to assess autism as well as methods and skills for working with autistic students. After the training, she develops several ... more »

Mrs. Mudgett and her partners implement a multidisciplinary project to enhance students’ knowledge of technology, theater requirements, media use, art frameworks, and social studies content. Students script, design, and record original clay animation films to ... more »

During the summer of 2004, Ms. Portnoy-Bland learns the Orff Schulwerk method of music instruction, which focuses on kinesthetic activities to foster musical skills, to improve the achievement of her special education students and English language learners. She implements ... more »

Collaborating with the University of Southern Maine (USM), Mrs. Herrick and Ms. Saunders create “wet lab” research units to increase students’ scientific understanding and literacy skills. After researching the topics, students work with USM graduate ... more »

Ms. Crosman and Ms. Mosher enhance the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills of their fifth- to eighth-grade students by incorporating robotics into their curriculum. After designing and building a robotic car, students use technology to program the cars for ... more »

Ms. Kurtz and Ms. Young use drumming to motivate students with behavioral problems and to teach alternatives to violence. Students in alternative education classrooms and the counseling program research the history and folklore of drums, learn to play the ... more »

Ms. Williams and Ms. Brownell implement "We Are College Bound” to introduce the vocabulary, habits, and desire necessary to attain higher education while providing a rigorous academic curriculum for their first-grade classes. Students research career options ... more »

Through “Design on Time,” Mrs. Kasper and Ms. Farina increase students’ employability skills as well as their knowledge of marketing, advertising, and computer design. Using the latest graphic design technology, students create newspaper advertising ... more »

Mr. Granger and Mr. Palmer develop “Math Takes Flight,” a mathematics unit focused on flight instruction. Students take lessons in an aircraft simulator, with each session relating to a mathematical concept. After mastering these lessons, students demonstrate ... more »

Ms. Jesup, Ms. Gokey, and Ms. MacDonald develop “Literacy Links” to enhance the art, technology, and literacy skills of high school students. With the assistance of a children’s author, students learn about writing and illustrating children’s ... more »

During the summer, Ms. Pegram and Ms. Yates engage their underserved middle school students in a summer enrichment program on civil rights. Students learn about efforts to desegregate public schools, and interview local African Americans about their educational experiences ... more »

Collaborating with the Connecticut Audubon Society, Ms. Stancarone, Mr. Bannon, and Ms. Bonenfant instruct their third- and fourth-grade students about the habitats, behavior, and ecosystem effects of birds in Connecticut. Students research bird characteristics and ... more »

Ms. Conley and Ms. Boutin strengthen the literacy skills of their students by providing family journey packs, containing materials on several themes. To involve parents in the students’ learning, the teachers videotape model activities and provide directions on how to ... more »

Ms. Evans, Ms. Hogge, and Ms. Weight increase the critical-thinking and inquiry skills of their students by transforming computer labs into spaceships. Students use these spaceships to travel back in time and research famous mathematicians. Students also interact with ... more »

Ms. Saunders and Ms. Hallums, both beginning teachers, strengthen the literacy skills of their students by implementing a reading and writing workshop in their classes. Students read, analyze, create, and publish their original writing. Teachers and students host literacy ... more »

To give their disadvantaged students practical experience with the political process, Ms. Miller-Alper, Ms. Frimel, and Mr. Koupa design a political science curriculum that focuses on voter registration. Students meet political candidates while organizing and conducting ... more »

At-risk students at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School learn how to build computers to increase their technology and critical-thinking skills. After researching components, students assemble computers for the school library. To increase parental involvement, middle school ... more »