Connecticut 2007 Teacher of the Year and Dignitaries to Tour
Pomperaug High School      October 24th,  9:00 am – 11:00 am

    Connecticut's 2007 Teacher of the Year will take his tour of schools in the state to Pomperaug High School on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 from 9:00 – 11:00 am, when state and local officials, educators and students will gather to talk about how education could be improved.

    Mr. Christopher Poulos, a Spanish teacher at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, CT and the state's 2007 Teacher of the Year, has initiated a “Tour of Connecticut Schools” where the Governor, State Legislators, local elected officials, and State Board of Education members will tour the schools for the purpose of identifying and increasing the understanding of specific trends and issues that confront Connecticut schools.

    The Tour of Connecticut Schools is designed as a vehicle for strengthening the bridge between education policymakers and the teaching and learning that takes place in classrooms across Connecticut. The Connecticut Teacher of the Year will be visiting one school from each of the state District Reference Groups (DRG) over the course of nine weeks this fall. 

     Pomperaug High School was chosen as the District Reference Group “B” representative out of 21 schools in the classification.

     Invited guests, including dignitaries and Region 15 Board of Education members, will be visiting classrooms from 9:00 – 10:00 am. Beginning at 10:00 am, a town meeting will be open in the Pomperaug High School All-Purpose Room for the general public. Students, parents, teachers, administrators and community members will share the District’s successes and accomplishments along with the challenges and frustrations that they face.  If the public plans to attend the town meeting, they are asked to please report to the PHS All-Purpose Room at 9:45 am.

     It is Mr. Poulos' hope to identify and increase the tour participants’ understanding of the specific trends and realities that exist in Connecticut public schools, so they will be better equipped as they make decisions regarding legislation that affects education.

     The Connecticut Teacher of the Year and Teacher of the Year finalists serve as teacher-ambassadors for public education. They are appointed to various education advisory committees and become consultants to the Commissioner of Education. They present workshops; speak at education conferences and meetings; address student, civic, college and university, and governmental groups; and operate special programs in accordance with their interests and expertise. The Connecticut Teacher of the Year also represents the state at the national level -- participating in national educational forums, National State Teacher of the Year Program planning and networking sessions, and U.S. Department of Education meetings.