Beloved Windsor High Employee Named Paraeducator Of The Year

WINDSOR, CT — A Windsor High School staff member who students say shows up for them in a real way has been named Windsor Public Schools’ Paraeducator of the Year.

The district recently honored a beloved employee at Windsor High School, where a hallway celebration brought together students and staff as the school community recognized the impact he has made in just three years.

Samuel Dukes, who works as a paraeducator at the high school, was selected for the districtwide honor and will now serve as Windsor’s nominee for the Connecticut Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year award.

In a statement shared by Windsor Public Schools, Dukes said his work is shaped by what he needed himself as a teenager.

He wrote that he often thinks back to his own high school years and remembers wishing he had someone he could talk to and vent to. He said a resource teacher he met as a sophomore changed the course of his life simply by listening, and that he now tries to be that same kind of steady presence for students.

Paraeducators play a key role in schools, helping teachers deliver instruction and supporting students with a wide range of academic and personal needs. The district said Dukes has stood out not only for that day-to-day work, but for the way he helps students feel safe, supported and understood.

Windsor Public Schools said Dukes has earned the respect of students and co-workers alike during his time at the high school.

His background in service stretches beyond the classroom. Before joining the district, Dukes received awards including Top Customer Service in Connecticut in 2013 and a Community Involvement Award. He also volunteers as a mentor for at-risk youth through CRT in Hartford and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Connecticut.

District officials said they are grateful for what Dukes brings to Windsor Public Schools and look forward to having him continue his work with students.