Connecticut
East Hartford selects an ‘extraordinary educator,” as 2024 Teacher of the Year
EAST HARTFORD – An author and accomplished writer has been selected as the district’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.
Gaunet Davis teaches seventh grade English and Language Arts classes at East Hartford Middle School. She is also a skillful writer who published her novel “Foreign” this year, according to school officials.
School officials said that Davis also will represent the school district as an example of what is best in the profession in the statewide Teacher of the Year competition.
Davis found out the news about her selection in her classroom by surprise on Thursday, May 18, district leaders said.
She was selected after a rigorous application and interview process, which began with nominations from other teachers.
Nominees who submit an application, resume and recommendations, and then interviewed by the East Hartford Teacher of the Year committee comprised of former district teachers of the year, Central Office administrators and school principals, officials said in a statement. The committee then visits classrooms of its three finalists and selects the winner.
While she is currently pursuing her Sixth Year Certificate from Central Connecticut State University, Davis has both a master’s degree in English education and her bachelor’s degree in English/professional writing from Lehman College of City University of New York, district officials said.
Davis has been teaching for 20 years, including eight years in East Hartford.
Superintendent of Schools Nathan Quesnel said, in a statement, that Davis is an “extraordinary educator,” who he could not be more proud of her to represent East Hartford Public Schools as Teacher of the Year.
“From her first days in the district, she has made an impression on all of us around what it means to work hard, set high expectations for students and care about a job that’s so important to our community,” he said.
One of her students shared that when she is in Davis’ classroom, she and her peers feel safe.
“Ms. Davis always tries her best to meet us at our level to understand our thought process when completing assignments. She will correct us but then also guides us to come to our own conclusions,” the student said, also in the statement.
Officials said Davis also organized a successful Literacy Night this fall that engaged the school community in literary-focused activities and resources and an initiative with the East Hartford Public Library to provide library cards for students and increase their access to books.
East Hartford Middle School Principal Anthony Menard said that Davis is “an excellent example of someone who goes above and beyond for her students”, as she teaches with her heart.
He also shared the many ways that she has been an asset to colleagues, including her serving on the school Diversity and Equity team, leading her instructional data team, and facilitating professional development on topics such as increasing independent reading and culturally responsive teaching.
The East Hartford Board of Education will formally recognize all building Teachers of the Year at a luncheon at the end of May.
Arbor Day: What to know about the holiday celebrating trees
Arbor Day began in Nebraska in the late 1800s. Here’s everything you need to know about the holiday all about trees and nature.
As the weather warms up in preparation for a New England summer, many people are heading back outdoors to adore Connecticut’s nature, from flowers to mountains to trees.
While Connecticut has plenty of fantastic trees to look at this time of year, many of the state’s trees are full of history as well as beauty. In fact, the oldest tree in Connecticut is estimated to be 200-300 years old. Located in Simsbury, the Pinchot Sycamore Tree is believed to be not only the state’s oldest tree, but also its largest.
Here’s the story of Connecticut’s oldest tree, as well as where you can see the landmark today.
History of the Pinchot Sycamore Tree
While the exact origins of the Pinchot Sycamore tree are unknown, it is estimated to be 200-300 years old, with some scholars saying it may be as old as 500 years.
According to Simsbury’s town website, the tree is named after Gifford Pinchot, an environmental preservationist who was born in Simsbury in 1865. Pinchot served as governor of Pennsylvania for two terms and the nation’s first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, which he was appointed to by Teddy Roosevelt. The sycamore was originally dedicated to Pinchot in 1965, and again in 1975.
Last measured in 2016, the Pinchot Sycamore tree stands at a whopping 95 feet tall with a circumference of 28 feet around, making it the largest sycamore tree in all of New England. Today, the tree stands as a symbol of the town of Simsbury, located just south of the town’s center.
How to see the Pinchot Sycamore Tree
Today, the Pinchot Sycamore Tree is at the center of Simsbury’s Pinchot Sycamore Tree Park, located near Talcott Mountain on the east side of the Farmington River. The address is 20 Hartford Rd., Simsbury.
Two markers near the tree recognize the tree’s dedication and measurements, as well as the park’s founders. The tree is accompanied by a nearby bench for viewing, as well as plenty of green space where residents often picnic under the tree’s shade.
WATERBURY, Connecticut (WABC) — Police in Connecticut have arrested a 19-year-old in the shooting of 5 people at the Brass Mill Center mall in Waterbury on Tuesday.
Tajuan Washington, 19, of Waterbury, is charged with five counts of first-degree assault and a number of weapons violations, authorities said at a news conference on Wednesday.
Washington is being held on a $2 million bond.
Brass Mill Center Mall, located at 495 Union St., remained closed following the shooting just before 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, which prompted a massive police response and mall lockdown.
The victims, four women and one man, range in age from 20 to 26.
Three of the victims have been treated and released from the hospital. The remaining two are in stable condition and continue to receive medical care.
The most seriously wounded is a woman who suffered a gunshot to the spine.
Authorities said that the shooting was not random and appeared to have stemmed from a dispute that escalated into gunfire.
Law enforcement recovered evidence from the scene, including items connected to the firearm, which are now being analyzed by forensics teams.
No officers were posted inside the mall at the time of the incident.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont released a statement following the shooting, saying in part, “This afternoon there was a tragic mass shooting at the Bass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, a place where everyone should feel safe. We are grateful to law enforcement, who acted swiftly.”
Authorities said the Brass Mill Center, while not opened to the public as of Wednesday afternoon, has been thoroughly searched and cleared by the Waterbury Police Department in coordination with the Connecticut State Police.
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WATERBURY, Conn. — Five people have been wounded in a shooting at a mall in Connecticut, police said Tuesday.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said officers responded to the Brass Mill Center for reports of a disturbance at around 4:40 p.m. He said all victims were being treated at local hospitals, though he declined to elaborate on the extent of their injuries.
Spagnolo said police believe the gunman, who had a semiautomatic pistol, knew the victims and that the shooting was preceded by a dispute that quickly escalated.
He said police haven’t made any arrests so far, but believe there is no further threat to the public.
”We do not believe this was a random act of violence,” Spagnolo said at a briefing outside the mall.
The Brass Mill Center is located off Interstate 84 in Waterbury, about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) southwest of Hartford, the state capital.
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