Katie Singley Named Naugatuck Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Naugatuck Public Schools 2019 Teacher of the Year Katie Singley from Hillside Intermediate School.

"Mrs. Singley is the teacher that every parent wants for their child! Simply put she loves every single student of hers in a real, honest, and authentic way. Mrs. Singley is able to connect with ALL her students at the deepest level and because of this she is able to push them to exceed even their own expectations. In addition to building lasting relationships, she is a gifted instructor. Kate embraces the humanities curriculum and helps to bring our new curriculum alive each day. She also is a vital part of the Hillside community and helps to create a vibrant and positive school culture. Mrs. Singley is Hillside's Student Council advisor. In this role, she encourages our students to be real agents of change by empowering them to organize and implement various community service projects. Kate volunteers and attends each and every after school event. She truly exemplifies the best qualities of the teaching profession. She is the perfect representative for Naugatuck as Teacher of the Year!" - Hillside Principal Johnna Minicucci Hunt

Mrs. Singley is a 5/6th grade teacher at Hillside. She currently teaches Fifth-and-sixth-grade Humanities and she has also taught Math and Science in the past.She holds a B.A. in Social Work and Counseling from Franklin Pierce University (2000) and a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Bridgeport (2008). She is certified to teach Kindergarten through sixth grade and has been a teacher for 15 years.

The new Teacher of the Year started teaching at Hillside in 2011. In addition to teaching, she enjoys eating chocolate, the beach and going for a run around her beautiful downtown Naugatuck.

“I became a teacher because there is nothing that brings me more joy than encouraging young minds and young learners. I especially love when students find it within themselves to feel good about who they are and what they have to offer. I can’t imagine doing anything else or teaching anywhere else. I come from generations of educators who shared stories each holiday about their days at school. It was ingrained in me to support our public school systems and the teachers and students who attend.”

Mrs. Singley knew that helping young learners was what she was meant to do the minute she walked into Bethlehem Elementary School to be a para educator in 2003. “From there, my mentor encouraged me to be a teacher, and the next thing I knew I was enrolled in graduate courses.”

This is how Mrs. Singley explains the atmosphere at her school.

“When you think of the last day of school, do you picture kids leaving screaming and throwing their papers and notebooks? Do you envision teachers dancing in the hallways singing, “School’s Out for Summer?” If you entered Hillside on the last day of school, you would not see this display. You would witness hugging and sobbing. The children are sad to leave, sad that they won’t be able to call Hillside their home any longer. The teachers are sad that they are losing another group of children. That is how special Hillside School is to people.”