Cheshire Educator Recognized As Hero Of Distance Learning

CHERSHIRE, CT – As educators have migrated to uncharted waters with the transition to distance learning, many have emerged as heroes to the students and families depending on them to keep their schoolwork on track.

Cox Communications asked members of the community and school departments which teachers were truly excelling in this challenging environment in order to reward educators with a $1,000 home technology makeover for their virtual classrooms.

The request for recommendations led to a surge of nominees. With no shortage of deserving candidates for the technology makeover, Cox reviewed the submissions and made the difficult decision to choose an overall winner for Connecticut.

Eric Brinkman, a sixth-grade teacher at Highland Elementary School in Cheshire, was chosen as the winner of the $1,000 technology makeover following a nomination submitted by State Representative Liz Linehan.

The nominations were packed with colorful anecdotes showing there is no limit to the creativity of teachers across the region.

Mr. Brinkman’s nomination was highlighted by his efforts to facilitate online social “get togethers” so students could still visit their friends while staying apart; daily video chats with his students to conduct lessons and monitor their adjustment to distance learning; and even going so far as to sing and “rap” the day’s lessons, to the delight of his students.

“I’ve said it before and I will say it again: teachers were forced to change the tires on a moving vehicle when the pandemic swept through our country,” said Jay Allbaugh, senior vice president and region manager, Cox Communications.

“To see them not only keep their coursework on track but find ways to extract even more creativity and joy from students attending school for the first time in a virtual setting is just tremendous, and we are thrilled to recognize Mr. Brinkman with the virtual classroom of his dreams.”