By Sarah Opdahl

The staff of New Fairfield Public Schools met in the new high school’s auditorium in the last

week of August to usher in a new academic year. There were many messages of gratitude

extended to staff and hopes expressed for a successful year ahead. Superintendent Ken Craw

set the stage for a busy year and offered ways for all staff to contribute to the betterment of the

District.

Teacher-of-the-Year Casey Aiezza, who teaches elementary-level physical education,

challenged her colleagues to spread kindness, keeping in mind the teachings of

their colleague Sarah Gelish, who passed away earlier this year. “We need to create habits

around kindness for ourselves and our students,” Aiezza said. She encouraged fellow teachers

to embrace all aspects of their jobs, despite many difficult ones, and she echoed sentiments that

their overall work achieves heroic status.

Aiezza shared stories about perseverance and the importance of making a difference in

children’s lives, even one child’s life. “Now more than ever, these kids need us. We

need to truly connect with our students,” she said, encouraging people to slow down and listen

to students’ stories, look at their drawings, and more.

Craw’s message to the 375 staff members included a recognition of what he has learned in the

last year at the district’s head. He pointed out six areas that he sees as key to the district’s

strength: 1) the perseverance of the staff in its fight to combat budget season

difficulties in the spring; 2) the collaborative spirit shown by all and modeled by the

administration; 3) NF staff does whatever it takes, such as the feat that was undertaken to

ready the field and stands for graduation in June; 4) the innovation that is flowing in all schools;

5) the love of the arts that is evident, even though this is thought of as a sports-focused town;

and, 6) the emphasis on and evidence of warmth, kindness, and heart shown among community

members. He explained that there are ways to contribute to the district’s future through

strategic planning, working toward optimal learning environments, focusing on high-quality

instruction, and continuing to work with an evolving curriculum.

Board of Education Chair Mr. Dominic Cipollone asked teachers to celebrate successes and

watch for opportunities to aid students who may be struggling a bit. “I hope you find the patience

necessary and humor always,” he said, in educating students who are still making their way

back from the pandemic’s disruptions. “Ask yourself if you would want your own child to learn in

your classroom,” he challenged, encouraging them to genuinely connect with students. For his

part, he said he is committed to continuing to strive for an even more cohesive, capable

curriculum that builds on prior learning and ultimately prepares New Fairfield’s students to be

Successful.

Teachers’ Union President and STEAM Teacher Mr. Jeff Guiliano spoke of the position of

educators with gravity, referencing statistics that reinforce the difficulty of the position and

stressing the importance of their role in children’s lives, especially following the

pandemic.

Craw delighted the staff with the introduction of ABCD (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty)

Awards. They were given to Director of Technology Paul Gouveia for his tireless efforts in the

construction and moves; Michelle Collins for a new program in middle school special education

that supports growth in behavioral and emotional strategy building; Kyle Cacciapaglia, Heather Gray-Merrill, Heather Furlong, Alicia Dalton, Vanessa Shay, Gina Coscina, and Tony DiNardo – seven staff members who helped a student with challenges progress; and, the high school’s Head Custodian Jim Hunt f or his leadership in the construction and move.