2021 Teacher of the Year: Rochelle Brown

Photo: CEA

Here is Renee's interview with Governor Lamont & Connecticut Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona appointed 2021 Teacher of the Year: Rochelle Brown, a kindergarten teacher at Poquonock School in Windsor.

She shares her insight on the COVID-19 vaccine and what it means for Connecticut educators, school staff, and students.

Listen here:

About Rochelle Brown

Currently in her fourth year as a Kindergarten teacher at Poquonock School in Windsor, Connecticut, Rochelle Brown is just as passionate in her 21st year of teaching as she was in her very first year. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Health in 1998. The following year, she earned her Master of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching and Curriculum both at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY.

Ms. Brown began her career at Windsor Public Schools in 1999. During the last two decades, she has taught grades 2, 3, Adult Education, and Kindergarten, first at Oliver Ellsworth School, and most recently at Poquonock. She has been a Windsor Education Association union representative for over a decade. Kindergarten is her favorite grade to teach because of the “tremendous growth that is witnessed throughout this very important year.” For many of her students, this is their first school experience, and Ms. Brown makes it her mission to have children enjoy the “magic” of learning in an environment where they feel loved, valued, and important.

Always seeking opportunities to grow as an educator, she often collaborates with her fellow teachers. In 2007, her friend and colleague started the Empowered Leadership Academy (ELA), an afterschool program for boys of color in grades 3-5. Ms. Brown eagerly joined, navigating the East Coast for seven years to visit museums, historical sites, and cultural venues to provide broader life and educational experience to their students. Through their work with the ELA, they were recognized for their dedication to the children of Windsor by Windsor Public Schools.

More recently, as the co-chair of Poquonock’s Equity Committee, she has explored her love of multicultural children’s literature more deeply, sharing her favorite books through her Instagram account, kidlitlove8. She has also offered Professional Development workshops at the building and district levels. It is her firm belief that establishing personal connections is vital to student success.

With her personal mantra being, “Always strive to be a better educator than you were the year before,” Ms. Brown has been nominated for the honor of Windsor Teacher of the Year twice during her decades-long career. In May of 2020, she was named Poquonock and Windsor Public School’s Teacher of the Year, and in October of 2020, she was named Connecticut’s Teacher of the Year.

Connecticut Vaccine Appointment Assist Line 12 Hours per Day/7 Days a Week

Working in partnership with the state Department of Public Health (DPH), the United Way of Connecticut has announced plans to immediately expand availability and access to vaccine scheduling through the state’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line.

  • Scheduling available seven days per week 
  • Scheduling occurs between 8a.m. - 8p.m. each day 
  • Minimal wait times 
  • Appointments being booked at 12 locations across the state 
  • Up to 10,000 appointments per week 
  • 125 contact specialists trained and answering appointment calls 
  • The phone number to call for vaccination scheduling is: 877-918-2224.

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