Simsbury Teacher And West Hartford Resident With Cancer Honored For Resilience

WEST HARTFORD/SIMSBURY, CT — A courageous Simsbury middle school teacher from West Hartford battling cancer Monday earned a prestigious honor, courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

West Hartford resident Elaine Kotler, a seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at Henry James Memorial School in Simsbury, was one of 10 nationally to receive one of HMH's inaugural "Lighthouse Awards."

The Boston-based learning technology company announced the awards for Teacher Appreciation Week Monday.

HMH said the awards are in partnership with speaker and author of "The Lighthouse Effect" Steve Pemberton and Carmen Ortiz-McGhee, chief operating officer at the National Association of Investment Companies and a “human lighthouse” featured in Pemberton’s book.

The book is an inspirational work about how "ordinary people can have an extraordinary impacts in the world."

For this award, more than 500 teachers across the country were nominated.

"This year’s winners have shown a commitment to going above and beyond for their students," wrote HMH in a statement Monday.

"These teachers are committed to the success of students in every part of their lives and serve as a guiding force to those around them, inspiring them to be lighthouses to others."

Simply put, Pemberton said he was impressed with all educators nominated.

“As I read through the nominations, I felt as if I was brought into the classrooms of each teacher, and was in awe of their daily commitments,” said Pemberton in a statement released Monday. “I am thrilled that Carmen and I were able to work with HMH to recognize the impact that these teachers are having on students, schools and communities.”

Students, families, colleagues and school and district administrators nominated the 10 winners.

They were all selected based on their embodiment of the key characteristics of a "teacher lighthouse," someone who is humble, steady, and seeks no recognition for the work they do, according to HMH.

Regarding Kotler, HMH said, with her, "you should never judge a book by its cover."

They said she "is an energetic and enthusiastic teacher, who connects with her students through compassion and humor, but each day she is in chronic pain as she suffers from major health issues, including cancer."

She has had 12 operations over a three-year span, all of which she scheduled around school vacations to "ensure she was able to continue providing her students with the best educational experience," wrote HMH.

There are, generally, 10 characteristic categories for the award, with Kotler earning hers for exemplifying a "spirit of resiliency."

“Elaine is enthusiastic, energetic, encouraging, empathetic, exciting and engaging. She suffers from tremendous health issues, including cancer. Yet, her students are not aware of her chronic pain and daily struggles," according to the nomination letter to HMH.

"Her students, present and past, constantly express their love for her, describing her compassion and humor. Students long since graduated keep in contact and visit to reminisce of wonderful memories that occurred in her classroom, a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. She is driven to provide the best educational experiences even in the face of adversity."

In the fall, she will teach the ninth-grade science course, "Integrated and Physical Science," at Simsbury High School.

In addition to teaching science in Simsbury schools, Kotler is as an adjunct professor at Manchester Community College, teaching oceanography, earth science, natural disasters and environmental sciences since 2001.

Kotler said she is also is an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Hayes-Velhage Unit 96 of West Hartford.

In 2022 she was named the ‘Unit Member of the Year’ by the Department of Connecticut American Legion Auxiliary.

For more information on "The Lighthouse Effect" book, click on this link.

For more information on Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's inaugural "Lighthouse Awards," click on this link.

For more information on Houghon Mifflin Harcourt, click on this link.