The Teachers Among Us

Continue Reading Issue 43

Eastern’s deepest roots are in education. Since opening its doors in 1889 as the Willimantic State Normal School, preparing skilled and compassionate teachers has been a pillar of Eastern’s mission. Today’s alumni continue that legacy, with several earning recognition this past academic year as top teachers in their respective districts and across the state at large.

Brian Betesh ’05: “History is my vessel”

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker personally recognized Eastern alum Brian Betesh ’05 as the 2026 Connecticut Teacher of the Year. Betesh is a sixth-grade social studies teacher at Rogers Park Middle School in Danbury, the same school he attended years before enrolling at Eastern to study history.

“I love the story of people … that’s what history is,” said Betesh. “History is my vessel to be a teacher.”

In the classroom, Betesh employs innovative strategies to engage his students and stimulate learning, with interactive experiences being a major part of his curriculum. A prime example is his end-of-year project, “Save Rome.”

“Instead of just learning about Rome, students have to figure out how to save the Roman Empire from collapse by analyzing all of the problems that Rome had,” he explained. The project “immerses students into history instead of simply memorizing facts.”

Betesh also leads multiple efforts outside of his social studies curriculum. He teaches a project-based learning class and coordinates “Rogers That!,” a student-led podcast that has interviewed more than 80 local leaders, community members, and Rogers Park alumni.

Governor Lamont said of him in a press release, “Betesh is a remarkable educator whose creativity, leadership, and deep commitment to his students embody the spirit of Connecticut’s public schools.”

Kimberly DePaolis ’15: “You really can’t be a great educator alone”

“It feels like the culmination of the passion and love that educators have poured into me over the years,” said special education and preschool teacher Kimberly DePaolis ’15, who was named Teacher of the Year by Newington Public Schools.

This academic year marks DePaolis’ 11th year at John Paterson Elementary School, where she also attended as a child.

DePaolis credits her recognition not only to her hard work, but also to her coworkers, family, friends, and fellow educators who supported her along the way and provided her with growth opportunities.

“You really can’t be a great educator alone,” she said. “This nomination is the result of the collective efforts of many people who have shaped me to be a voracious learner and dedicated teacher.”

At Eastern, DePaolis fostered several lasting connections with faculty and classmates, worked for the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) and the Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE), and traveled to Jamaica to learn about teaching practices in the Caribbean.

Laina Rivers M’18: Encouraging civil discourse and confidence

Laina Rivers M’18, a third-grade teacher at Clover Street School in Windsor, was named the school's 2026 Teacher of the Year for her strong commitment to fostering a supportive and empowering classroom environment.

“Third-grade students are still learning how to communicate their ideas, listen to others, disagree respectfully, and collaborate productively,” Rivers said. “Encouraging civil discourse helps students build confidence in their voices while also learning that their classmates’ perspectives matter.”

Rivers graduated from Eastern with a master’s degree in educational studies through the Holmes Master’s Program, a partnership with the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, which supports teachers from historically underrepresented populations.

“That experience deepened my understanding of equity, representation, and advocacy in education, and reinforced my commitment to ensuring that students see themselves reflected and valued within schools and classrooms,” said Rivers.

Jake Paciotti ’21: A top new science teacher

Jake Paciotti ’21, a science teacher at Coventry High School, received the 2026 Ralph and Ruth Yulo New Teacher Award. The statewide recognition, named after esteemed Eastern Professor Emeritus Ralph Yulo Jr. and presented by the Connecticut Science Teachers Association, honors new K-12 science teachers in Connecticut who encourage students to question and observe, improve instructional practices, and design interdisciplinary learning opportunities.

“My initial reaction to winning the award was disbelief,” Paciotti said, admitting he hadn’t originally thought of himself as an exemplary teacher. Coventry Public Schools, on the contrary, reported in a social media post that Paciotti was chosen to receive the award for his leadership, innovative teaching, and commitment to student success.

Paciotti employs project-based learning techniques and highlights diverse and marginalized identities to enrich his classroom. To support varied learning needs, he incorporates universal design, differentiation, and backward planning into his daily curriculum.

“Teaching is unattainable without first creating this sort of environment,” he noted. “If students don’t feel comfortable, properly supported, and heard while in your classroom, it becomes that much more difficult to keep them engaged, learning, and open to new ideas.”

Paciotti graduated from Eastern with degrees in biology and Spanish. He credits Spanish Professor Kin Chan and biology Professors Bryan Connolly, Brett Mattingly, and Ross Koning as influential mentors along his journey.

“I realized that no matter my path forward, I wanted to be the kind of educator that they were ... considerate, knowledgeable, patient, and impactful,” he said.

Rachel Valentine ’01: Honoring childhood

“As educators, we don’t do this work for individual accolades,” said preschool teacher Rachel Valentine ’01. “We do it for daily breakthroughs, the spark of curiosity in a student’s eyes, and the community we build within our classrooms.”

Valentine was named Teacher of the Year in Plainville for her work at Louis Toffolon Elementary School.

Valentine utilizes play-based learning, whole-child philosophy, and social-emotional learning frameworks, helping young students learn to build emotional intelligence and foster a positive and supportive learning environment.

“Academics cannot happen without a foundation of safety, belonging, and emotional regulation,” she explained. “Ultimately, I think this recognition celebrates a teaching philosophy that honors childhood itself.”

Valentine learned many of her classroom philosophies and strategies during her time at Eastern. She credits education Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Trawick-Smith and early childhood education Professor Sudha Swaminathan as instrumental in her development as an educator.

“It was at Eastern that I first began to understand the profound impact of play-based and inquiry-based learning,” Valentine said. “The coursework emphasized that a teacher’s role is to guide discovery rather than to dictate it.”

Kileen Gilroy ’10: A mindfulness philosophy

Kileen Gilroy ’10, a language arts teacher at Lincoln Middle School in Lincoln, RI, was named the district’s 2026 Teacher of the Year for employing mindfulness to create a judgment-free learning environment.

“Teaching is not just about content,” she said. “It’s about pouring into your students and recognizing that they are in a larger journey of life.”

Over her 13-year career, Gilroy has taught at both Lincoln High School and Lincoln Middle School, in addition to a year taught in Waimea, HI. This year, she was awarded a Rhode Island Department of Education grant to support a wellness room initiative called the “R.E.S.E.T. Room,” which serves as a mental wellness resource for students and staff.

Gilroy describes her teaching philosophy as rooted in yoga and humanitarianism. “Those principles are naturally integrated in my work. … I view teaching as a service to better individual lives, the community, and ultimately the planet.”

Griffin Michalek ’20: “Building relationships is everything”

Griffin Michalek ’20 was pleasantly surprised to be named East Hartford Public Schools’ 2026-27 Teacher of the Year. “I think there are a billion other teachers that deserve it more than me,” he said.

The seventh-grade social studies teacher at Sunset Ridge Middle School emphasizes building strong relationships with students: “Building relationships is everything.”

One of his students said in a testimony: “You can walk into his class, and even if an assignment is boring, we’ll still have a lot of fun with it.” Another expressed that “it’s exciting to know that the best teacher in East Hartford is Mr. Michalek.”

Outside of the classroom, Michalek runs an after-school sports program and works with East Hartford Parks and Recreation, providing students with opportunities to socialize, build community, and have fun.

Rick O'Donnell '14: "being there for the kids"

“It’s not just about math or reading scores,” said sixth-grade math teacher Rick O’Donnell '14, Mansfield's 2026 teacher of the year. “Teaching is about being there for the kids.”

In class, O'Donnell encourages social interaction, creative problem solving, and active learning among his students.

“More importantly, connecting with students and helping them feel emotionally safe at school is most important,” said O'Donnell, a teacher of 12 years.

Outside of the classroom, he is involved with the district’s union and works after school to support extracurricular activities.

At Eastern, O’Donnell credits education Professor Susannah Richards and history Professor Brad Camp Davis for helping mold him into the teacher he is today.

“In [Richard’s] classroom, I started to see myself as a teacher,” he said. He added that Davis’s classes taught him the importance of student engagement. The classes “weren’t about the content, but about the energy. I ended up taking courses in his subject area just to take his classes.”

Currently, O’Donnell is pursuing a sixth-year degree in administration at UConn and a Connecticut 092 certification, which certifies educators to transition to intermediate administration and supervision roles in K-12 schools.

Continue Reading Issue 43