- Details
- Category: Past Issues
Two local educators were honored last week.
In Putnam, Putnam High principal Paul Brenton, was selected to received the Connecticut Association of Schools High School Division's William Cieslukowski Outstanding First-Year Principal of the Year Award. He was nominated by Putnam Superintendent William Hull. Hull said he nominated Brenton for his "hard work, dedication and leadership as the principal of Putnam High School during his first year."
The award was named for Cieslukowski, a dedicated school principal and former president of the Elementary and Middle School Principals of Connecticut. It recognizes principals who have had a positive impact on their school or school district. The recipients must demonstrate exemplary instructional and organizational leadership, a willingness to take risks and the ability to overcome adversity.
In Woodstock, during Woodstock Academy's convocation ceremonies Robert Derrico was named the teacher of the year. He has been a physical education teacher at Woodstock Academy since 1986 and has coached boys’ soccer for a number of years, winning six QVC State Boys Soccer Titles. He also won the 1997 Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association Keith Johnson Adversity award, the 2004 ECC Coach of the Year award and the Service To Youth award by the Woodstock Academy Student Council. In his speech Derrico talked about his passion for teaching, his challenges in life and how he chooses to deal with adversity. He stressed the importance of always looking at the glass as being half full.