Educator, Paraeducator Of The Year Honored By Windsor Public Schools

WINDSOR, CT — Kathleen Stoll of Poquonock School has been named the 2023-2024 Educator of the Year by Windsor Public Schools, and Sandra Bailey of Windsor High School is the 2023-2024 Paraeducator of the Year.

Stoll began her teaching career with the school in 1992 and has been a first-grade teacher at Oliver Ellsworth (1992-2014) and later at Poquonock School (2014-present). In addition to her teaching roles, she has worked as a summer school teacher for 15 years and as a private tutor for students in grades K-12 since 2010.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Keene State College and a Master of Science in reading and language arts from Central Connecticut State University. She has been actively involved in various school-based teams, including the Equity Team, Data Building Team, and as a Professional Learning Community (PLC) Leader. She has also served as a science team member, providing support to fellow teachers at Oliver Ellsworth. Outside the classroom, she has contributed to the Windsor community through her involvement with Alex's Lemonade Stand and as a religious education teacher.

Stoll's impact extends beyond the classroom, as she has provided private tutoring and mentoring to students of all ages, including adults. When asked about the impact this has had on students at Windsor Public Schools, she said, "To know that I made a difference in helping not only elementary students, but high school students still struggling as well as adults remains one of my greatest honors in my career."

She emphasizes the importance of each child reaching their full potential and building trusting relationships with both students and their families.

"As an educator, it is my strong belief and priority that each child reaches their full potential," she said. "I strive to reach each and every child as well as their family, capitalizing on strengths, personalities, their individual learning style as well as their social-emotional well-being. My students know that I believe in them and the power of “YET.” My motto has always been, “We are a team” -myself, my student and their family. All three units must work together to foster a love of lifelong learning as well as helping each child reach their full potential as a well-rounded individual."

Bailey was selected from the school building nominees following an application process with a district selection committee. She was nominated by her colleagues at Windsor High School based on her professionalism, care, and dedication to supporting student achievement.

She has been working at Windsor Public Schools for a total of 10 years. Her colleagues describe her as determined, loving, dedicated, and skilled in her role as a paraeducator. She is an integral part of the WHS community and tirelessly works to meet her students' needs. Her compassion toward her students is what separates her from the pack, as she treats them with dignity and respect and, most importantly, she treats each day as a new start.

Bailey said, "My greatest accomplishment as a paraeducator lies within the successes of the children that I serve. My purpose on this job is to help students meet their goals in every area possible, and when I see a student that I work with overcome challenges, then I see that as a great accomplishment for me. I have worked with students who have had social challenges, emotional challenges, and academic challenges, and when they overcome these challenges, I rejoice with them and affirm them because I too feel that sense of accomplishment."

Outside of her contributions within the high school, Bailey is a vital part of the greater community. For the past five years, she has rallied her colleagues to help her contribute to an outreach scholarship fund that supports underprivileged children in an inner city area in Jamaica. The group collects and recycles plastic bottles and cans to generate funds for the scholarship. This initiative continues to receive support from the school community and others. The scholarship helps alleviate the financial hardships faced by these students.

Bailey also volunteers at a non-profit organization that visits senior citizens in nursing homes and private residences. The organization also provides regular meals to community members and participates in the annual Walk Against Hunger to combat food insecurity.

The Windsor Public Schools' Educator of the Year Program recognizes and honors exceptional teaching. Stoll will represent Windsor Public Schools in the Connecticut Teacher of the Year program. The announcement of the Educator of the Year will be made by the Windsor Board of Education at their June meeting.

The Paraeducator of the Year Program recognizes and honors paraprofessional excellence. This recipient serves as a visible and vocal representative of what is best in the profession. The program celebrates excellence by recognizing paraeducators who have inspired a love for learning in their students and who have distinguished themselves in the profession. Bailey will now serve as Windsor's’ nominee for Connecticut Paraeducator of the Year.

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) and the School Paraprofessional Advisory Council established the Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year Program in 2013 to recognize one paraeducator across the state who has demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication in the performance of their job. The award is named in honor of Anne Marie Murphy, a paraeducator who was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting.