Enfield Teacher of the Year Announced

ENFIELD, CT — A World Language teacher at John F. Kennedy Middle School has been selected as the 2019-20 Enfield Teacher of the Year.

Pamela Estes has been recognized for her commitment to her students. She is known for an elevated level of energy and enthusiasm she brings to all facets of her school and community.

During the selection process, the Teacher of the Year Committee recognized her creativity in planning hands-on lessons, and the positive relationships she establishes with students. Her students have become citizen scientists through a partnership with Monarch Watch, where they raised, tagged and released monarch butterflies to track their migration from Enfield to Mexico. Estes tied this project to el Día de los Muertos.

This past school year, she planned two cultural assemblies for JFK students: Goza Latin Band and Joe Odhiambo—The World’s Best Basketball Dribbler and motivational speaker. Over the years, she has also brought performances by Chinese acrobats, Russian dancers, a Mariachi band, a Celtic band, African drummers, and a Japanese drum ensemble to the students at JFK.

Estes is the co-founder of the Get Fit for a Cause club, where students fundraise for and participate in 5K races whose proceeds benefit the community. Additionally, she serves on the Principal’s Advisory Committee.

Estes was nominated by Kate Fawthrop, fellow World Language teacher at JFK and former Enfield Teacher of the Year herself. Because of this distinction, she will be presented at the state level in the Connecticut Teacher of the Year process.