Dear John,

Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week!

National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-10, 2024, a time to honor and celebrate teachers for their dedication to fostering a love of learning in all students.

We welcomed Megan Ross of Thomaston as an intern in my Washington, D.C. office this semester. As part of her final Internship Capstone Project, Megan surveyed new teachers in the Fifth District. Her goal was to uplift their stories and inspire the next generation of educators. Here are just a few!

Pauline Park

Waterbury Arts Magnet School 

Waterbury 

Pauline Park is a Korean American violist, violinist, educator, and music producer. She earned a Bachelor of Music double degree from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, where she studied Music Education (Instrumental Emphasis) and Viola Performance, graduating summa cum laude. As an educator, Park has dedicated her professional life to teaching students of all ages in instrumental, vocal, and general music. She has studied under notable musicians such as Steve Larson, Rita Porfiris, Edward Cumming, and Michael Wheeler.

“My goals are to instill a love for music in my students. My students are able to not only resolve and improve problems, but to recognize them as well. They work cooperatively with peers to create and perform music that brings them joy. My students have shown great initiative and passion for the performance, composition, history, and culture of music. We have performed successful concerts, created complex and thought-provoking compositions, and recognized themes in music history and culture.”

Gianmarco Venditti
Francis T. Maloney High School
Meriden

Gianmarco is in his third year teaching at Maloney High School.  He is a member of the Social Studies Department, Freshmen Teams, assistant soccer and powder puff coach.

“My purpose for teaching is that I’ve always wanted to help students accomplish things they never thought were possible. I try to push students to do their best inside and outside of school, and I always want to create meaningful learning experiences for all my students.”  Maloney High School is proud to have Gianmarco on their team. 

Bradley Taylor
Shepaug Valley School
Washington

Bradley Taylor grew up in Woodbridge, Connecticut, and graduated from Notre Dame High School in West Haven in 2003. He graduated from Hamilton College in 2007 with a BA in philosophy. He decided to major in philosophy because he loved the challenge of applying rigorous intellectual standards to deep, serious questions about the meaning of life, the possibility of knowledge, the value of beauty, the nature of morality, and the ideal of justice. He went on to earn a PhD in philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, where he wrote his dissertation on Immanuel Kant’s moral philosophy.

Kant’s insistence of the equality and dignity of all people inspired him to pursue a career that put human happiness and flourishing at its very center. Teaching allows him to have a positive impact on students while also sharing his love of art, literature, and ideas. He loves working at Shepaug for many reasons, but, maybe more than anything else, it is the sense of shared purpose they have, a collaborative spirit between faculty and students alike. He comes to work every day with the knowledge that, at Shepaug, they all can help each other as they work together toward their community and individual goals. He is inspired by the brilliant teaching and genuine care his colleagues have for their students, and by the enthusiasm and kindness he sees in his students every day.

In addition to his teaching at Shepaug, he is an adjunct faculty member at Sacred Heart University, where he teaches courses in philosophy.

Alexa Nelson
Watertown High School
Watertown

Alexa Nelson has been working as a special education teacher at Watertown High School for the past two years. She graduated with her master's degree in special education in 2021 from the University of Hartford and was welcomed into the Watertown Public School community shortly after. She has worked with both high school students during the school year through from co-taught classrooms to self-contained classrooms, and with the elementary school students in the summer. Education is something that has been prevalent her entire life thanks to family members who were and still are teachers. It is truly a dream come true for her to be able to foster and contribute to the growth and knowledge of students. She can confidently say that she has found an inclusive environment where endless support and constant collaboration is both received and given. In turn, these qualities have made it a pleasure to be providing individualized and specialized support to students who require it to experience emotional and academic success.

Tim Scott
Wolcott High School
Wolcott

He likes to think that he took the longest but perhaps one of the most interesting roads possible to becoming a teacher. After a 30-year career in the US Army and the business world, he was ready to retire. After a few months of retirement and a rising pandemic, he realized that he still had more to give. Shortly thereafter, he started his teaching career at Wolcott High School July 2021 and quickly learned that after countless corporate roles and traveling the world, he had found a calling that would be easily the most significant and rewarding of my life.

His first year at Wolcott High, he taught Computer Applications, Accounting, Introduction to Business, Business Management and Web Design. It didn't take him long to figure out that the students were looking to learn more than just what was in the curriculum. His students not only needed to learn the subject matter but also how to prepare to be successful after they were done with school.  His classes quickly migrated beyond the textbook to students discussing and understanding business topics in a real-world application. He learned early on that in many ways the leadership lessons he had learned in the Army and in corporate America were equally applicable in the classroom. Students often want and need to know why they are learning about a topic and its importance before they will fully commit to learning it and even then, if you cannot present it to them in an engaging fashion the results will be mixed.

As year one progressed, with the help of the Wolcott High leadership team, they were able to add to the curriculum two Connecticut State Community College accredited courses and another course focused on investing called Investing and the Stock Market. Since adding these courses, they have had hundreds successfully complete the college accredited courses, giving them a little head start as they begin their college careers. The Investing and the Stock Market course has created a buzz within the student body with numerous students now actively investing with the support of their parents. Next year, we will begin teaching an advanced accounting class for students who wish to focus on a career in finance or accounting. This class will help fill out the business finance curriculum and further help students on the track or interested in starting their own business.

While he is proud of how the business program has grown at Wolcott High School, what he is most proud of are the students that come to school every day, put in the work and are graduating. As our country navigates these challenging times, he knows his students will face many difficult decisions in the future. They will need young adults of character that aren’t afraid of a challenge. While their mission is not accomplished on this front, he is proud to say they are working towards it every day. After almost three years now, he routinely tells people this is easily the most rewarding job he has ever held. While it is hard to sometimes see the progress day to day, when he looks at his students at the end of each year, he is truly impressed and inspired by how far they have come and the vast potential they hold.

Blair Vaccaro
Waterbury Career Academy
Waterbury

Blair Vaccaro teaches English grades 9-11 at Waterbury Career Academy. This marks her first year as an English teacher at WCA and her second year overall as an educator. Her entire teaching career has been within the Waterbury school district. Possessing a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus on English Education (secondary) from Western Governors University, she boasts a unique and diverse skill set.

Before transitioning to teaching, Blair worked for a software company as the Manager of Licensing and Administration. Despite enjoying a successful almost 15-year career in software, she always harbored a passion for teaching. During the pandemic, she made the bold decision to pursue her true calling, supported by her family. Blair balanced full-time work commitments with evening classes, showcasing her unwavering dedication and perseverance.

Now in her second year as an educator, Blair finds immense fulfillment in shaping young minds and fostering a love for learning (and reading). She firmly believes that teaching isn't just a profession—it's an intrinsic part of who she is. Leveraging her background in communication studies and English education, she creates a dynamic and interactive learning environment where her students are encouraged to explore, question, and grow.

Grateful for the opportunity to pursue her passion, Blair extends heartfelt appreciation to her family, the Waterbury Career Academy administration, fellow staff members, students and supportive parents who have contributed to her journey thus far. With enthusiasm and gratitude, she looks forward to continuing her mission of inspiring and empowering the next generation.

Cheers to the educators preparing the next generation of leaders. We are so grateful for the important work you do! 

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress