What does it mean to be an outstanding teacher? For Eastern alumni Jake Paciotti ‘21 and Laina Rivers M‘18, it means going above and beyond both inside and outside of the classroom. This spring, the two K-12 educators earned major accolades for their work.

Paciotti, a science teacher at Coventry High School, received the 2026 Ralph and Ruth Yulo New Teacher Award from the Connecticut Science Teachers Association (CSTA).

Rivers, a third-grade science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teacher at Clover Street School in Windsor, was named the school’s teacher of the year for the 2025-26 school year.

Jake Paciotti ‘21

“My initial reaction to winning the award was disbelief,” Paciotti wrote, explaining that he hadn’t originally thought of himself as an exemplary teacher.

Contrary to his own beliefs, he was chosen to receive the 2026 Ralph and Ruth Yulo New Teacher Award for his leadership both inside and outside of the classroom, employing innovative teaching practices and remaining committed to student success, according to a social media post by Coventry Public Schools.

The award, presented by the CSTA, honors the lives of late Eastern Professor Emeritus Ralph Yulo and Ruth Yulo ’83, who led lives of service through teaching. The couple often worked with new science teachers, passing forward best practices and innovative strategies to mentees.

The award recognizes a Connecticut K-12 science teacher in their first three years of teaching who encourages students to question and observe, improves instructional practices, and designs learning opportunities that tie science to other disciplines.

In class, Paciotti employs project-based learning techniques and emphasizes diversity. To support varied learning needs, he incorporates universal design, differentiation, and backwards planning to create an equitable, supportive classroom environment.

“The rest of 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.”

Outside the classroom, Paciotti serves as the advisor to Coventry High School’s student council, organizing events and activities. He has also coordinated school-wide initiatives such as an “Earth Week” and activities highlighting marginalized communities in science.

While he enjoys Coventry’s small-town atmosphere, Paciotti also recognizes the student population is mostly homogenous from a demographic standpoint.

“It has always been a school-wide goal to expose students to individuals and stories from a diverse array of backgrounds,” he wrote.

Paciotti graduated magna cum laude from Eastern with degrees in biology and Spanish. He credits biology Professor Bryan Connolly, biology Professor and Associate Department Chair W. Brett Mattingly, world languages and cultures Professor and Department Chair Kin Chan, and former biology Professor 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.”

Courses in microbiology, plant physiology, plant ecology, and aquatic biology impacted Paciotti’s decisions after graduating to explore lab work, and later to pursue K-12 science education. He also used skills he learned in the Spanish major to chaperone a recent school trip to Spain and France, where he applied his skills to further educate his students on international cultures.

After graduating from Eastern, Paciotti enrolled in a doctoral program in ecology and evolutionary biology before shifting his focus to education, switching to a master’s program in education at the University of New England, graduating in 2025.

Laina Rivers M’18 

Rivers was both pleasantly surprised and grateful to receive the 2026 “Teacher of the Year” award at Clover Street School in Windsor.

“Through intentional instruction, meaningful student discourse, and innovative practices, Laina ensures that her students are actively engaged in their learning and challenged to think critically,” read a statement from the school. “Her impact extends beyond her classroom through her collaboration with colleagues and contributions to the school community.”

Rivers explained school administrators had encouraged her to apply to “share and reflect on all that I am doing as an educator. That perspective shifted the experience for me, and receiving the award became incredibly meaningful.”

Rivers was chosen due to her strong commitment to creating a supportive and empowering classroom environment. Inside her third-grade classroom, she uses innovative practices to build critical thinking skills and an engaging learning environment.

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

Another strong value she holds is that of building strong community in the classroom. “It starts with relationships and authenticity. I am fully myself with my students, and I think they recognize and respond to that honesty,” Rivers wrote.

She also emphasizes building a strong classroom community: “Because when strong relationships and trust are present, students understand that we can care deeply for one another while also maintaining high expectations and getting our work done.”

Rivers graduated from Eastern with a master’s degree in educational studies, participating in the Holmes Master’s Program. The master’s program is a partnership between Eastern and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s (AACTE’s) Holmes Scholars Program. The Holmes Master’s program attracts and prepares “educational change agents” from historically underrepresented populations.

Through the program, Rivers conducted research on workforce diversification in the education industry, presenting at an American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) conference in Baltimore, MD.

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

Rivers credited education Professor Tanya Moorehead and former Dean of Education and Professional Studies Jacob Easley II as mentors.

“They both supported and encouraged me every step of the way,” she said. “I often reflect on the importance of having mentors who challenge, support, and believe in their students.”

Currently, Rivers is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership and administration at Central Connecticut State University while continuing to lead students and staff at Clover Street School.