After 20 Years Kensington Nursery School Says Goodbye To Carole Capodiece

When Carole Capodiece started working as a teacher at Kensington Nursery School in 1993, she had no idea what the future held. She started working at KNS with her own daughters for four years and knew it was a great place.

Now 20 years later, Capodiece is retiring but she will still be available to substitute if needed.

"I always had a soft spot in my heart for this place, she said in between talking to friends who gathered to wish her goodbye Thursday night. "And I can still keep working if they need me, which is great."

Capodiece's husband Jim retired in March from being the head of the Parks and Recreation Service in West Hartford.

"The timing made sense," Carole said. "With both of us retiring we will have more time for ourselves and to help with our grandkids. We are taking the grandkids to Disney next week and we are going to Aruba this winter. We never could have done that before because of winter vacation."

While she said she is secure with the decision, she said she will miss lots of things about her position.

"Every day I came to work and it could be a bad day but when hose kids came in it always put a smile on my face," she said. "Everything else disappears when I see those kids. 

"I remember 9-11 and the parents were coming and were so sad. I didn't really know what was going on. Just to be around the kids and see those smiles and know that life goes on really helped the teachers and the parents." 

Lisa DeGroff, who has taught with Capodiece the last five years said Capodiece is a treasure.

"We actually communicated a lot of times with non verbal looks," said DeGroff with a laugh. "She gave it to you straight every day. She talked to parents and co-workers the same way. You always knew where she stood. She really has a magic touch. Everyone needs to have a teacher like Carole Capodiece because she only comes along once in a lifetime."