2 Windsor Educators Win CT's Highest Teaching Awards

WINDSOR, CT — Two local educators have won the state's highest teaching awards.

Rochelle Brown, kindergarten teacher at Poquonock School in Windsor, has been named Connecticut's 2021 Teacher of the Year. Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona made the anouncement Friday.

In addition, the officials announced that Maria Sau, also of Poquonock School, has been named Connecticut's 2021 Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year. This year marks the first time in state history that both honorees have hailed from the same district and school.

The governor, commissioner, and other state and local officials delivered the news Friday morning during a surprise visit to Poquonock School, which was followed by a school-wide assembly, giving students and the honorees' fellow educators an opportunity to celebrate the recognition.

"We owe so much of the success that happens in our communities to the generous and dedicated teachers who have spent years developing young minds into becoming accomplished adults," Lamont said. "Ms. Brown and Mrs. Sau have both dedicated themselves to their students, and I cannot applaud them enough for the services they provide. I thank both of them, as well as every teacher in Connecticut, for what they provide our schools and our children each and every day."

The designation of Connecticut Teacher of the Year is decided each year by the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council, a group comprised of former recipients of the honor as well as representatives from educational organizations, businesses, and the community. The council reviewed nearly 100 district-level Teachers of the Year through a selection process that included on-site visits, candidate applications, interviews, and observations of teaching.

Brown has been an educator in Windsor Public Schools since 1999. She serves as the co-chair of Poquonock School's Equity Committee, as well as the districts Equity Committee. With her co-chair, Brown has offered professional development opportunities for her colleagues and created an Instagram page, kidlitlove8, to bring awareness to multicultural children’s books and the importance of representation for all children.

A Windsor Public Schools paraeducator for more than 20 years, Sau has spent many summers working with students at the Camp Treehouse program, and as the Head Camp Counselor with Tower Ridge Country Club. She is a former nursing assistant.

"Windsor is incredibly proud of this first ever accomplishment where one school has both the State Teacher of the Year and State Paraprofessional of the Year," Windsor Superintendent Craig Cooke said. "Ms. Brown and Ms. Sau are two of the most talented, passionate, and committed educators I have ever worked with. Rochelle Brown is teacher of the year every year for the students and families that are lucky enough to have her as their teacher. Maria Sau is so caring and supportive to the students she works with. Both are very deserving of this high honor."

Brown will now become Connecticut's representative for 2021 National Teacher of the Year. She succeeds 2020 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Meghan Hatch-Geary, an English teacher from Regional School District 16's Woodland Regional High School in Beacon Falls. As Connecticut's Paraeducator of the Year, Sau will represent the profession in forums and advisory committees influencing education policy and public awareness.