Schools

Squadron Line Educator Is Simsbury's Teacher of the Year

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Squadron Line Elementary School sixth grade teacher Betty Lichota is Simsbury’s Teacher of the Year.

At a “welcome back” gathering for the district’s teachers on the morning of August 26, 2013, Assistant Superintendent Erin Murray explained the selection process, which recognizes teacher excellence, and introduced last year’s Teacher of the Year, Dr. Stuart Younse.

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The announcement of Lichota as Teacher of the Year was greeted with a standing ovation. Lichota addressed her colleagues with a speech that encouraged teachers to reflect deeply on their motivation to teach, asking, “who am I and why am I here?” She gave credit to all the teachers, mentors, and administrators who had helped her during her career. Lichota attributed to their tutelage and nurturing the skills she has learned of collaboration, motivation, compassion, self-confidence, objectivity, engagement, technology, and inspiration.

Said Lichota, “I am a big jigsaw puzzle. All the little pieces that fit together to make me the teacher that I am today are really the bits and pieces of knowledge I have gained from all of my teachers and all of my colleagues both past and present.”

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Behind the podium was a visual presentation that Lichota had brought, which often drew appreciative laughter, such as when she glanced at her Tariffville School kindergarten photo, and exclaimed, “I just realized I have the same hairstyle!”  She also did not shrink from admitting that this was her “53rd first day of school in Simsbury.”

Henry James Memorial School (HJMS) Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Sara Garthwait accompanied two eighth grade students, Orla Patterson and Allison Driscoll, who presented Lichota with a handmade quilt made by the HJMS eighth grade Family and Consumer Sciences teachers and students.

To Squadron Line Elementary School Principal Meg Evans, it came as no surprise that Lichota was chosen by her colleagues as Simsbury’s Teacher of the Year. Said Evans, “Betty is a consummate professional who puts the best interest of kids at the center of every decision she makes. She has a special way about her that fosters the development of the whole child—academically, socially, and behaviorally. Her positive attitude, love of learning, and kind nature bring out the best in the people around her.”

Added Evans, “The Squadron Line community could not be more proud of Betty for achieving this distinguished honor.”

With her designation as Simsbury’s Teacher of the Year, Lichota is eligible to compete for the honor at the state level. The Connecticut Teacher of the Year will be announced in October.


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