BERLIN — David Bosso has deep roots in his small hometown, but the flags hanging in his classroom — from Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Japan — reflect his global vision.
Bosso, who was named Connecticut's teacher of the year Tuesday, grew up in Berlin, attended Berlin High School as his father did, came back to teach social studies at the high school and met his wife, Jennifer, who teaches math there.
"Berlin High School means a lot to me," Bosso said just after his award was announced in the school gymnasium packed with students and state and local officials. "Some of the most important memorable and important days of my life have taken place within these walls."
Yet his passion to learn about the world and bring that knowledge back to his students has taken Bosso far from his hometown, earned him statewide recognition and made him a contender for national teacher of the year.
"What a spectacular teacher you are, sir," Stefan Pryor, the state's new education commissioner, said at the ceremony. "You have done a remarkable job of maintaining your duties on a day-to-day basis while importing ideas and inspiration from around the world."
Bosso has traveled widely abroad, often winning grants to make trips and working with teachers, talking with students or spending a day in a school to get a sense of the country's culture and educational system.
Last May, Bosso traveled to Ghana through the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program to work with numerous educators in the development of best teaching practices.
"It's important to be familiar with the places and regions and the cultures about which you teach, to go beyond the textbook," Bosso said. "There has to be a personal connection there. That's really been the goal."
In addition to flags, Bosso has filled his classroom with photos from his travels — the Great Wall in China, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, an Egyptian pyramid, a mosque in Saudi Arabia — and thick notebooks of his research.
Lia D'Amato, a senior at Berlin High School who gave a speech at the ceremony, had Bosso for a world history class.
"He made me want to be not just a better student, but a better person," D'Amato said. "He brought the perspective of everything else going on in the world to this small town of Berlin."
She said that Bosso's class was part of the reason she had just joined Habitat for Humanity to help others and why she is interested in traveling to other countries.
Another student, Jill Ferraguto, a junior, gave Bosso a thumbs up as he walked into the auditorium. "He's the best teacher I ever had," Ferraguto said. "He knows when to have fun and when to be serious."
Her friend, Lauren Aresco, also a junior, said, "He connects with the kids really well."
Bosso was recognized by the Connecticut Council of the Social Studies with its Excellence in Social Studies Education award in 2009. He earned a bachelor's degree in history and social studies from Eastern Connecticut State University, a master's degree in history from Central Connecticut State University and another master's degree in educational computing and technology from the University of Hartford. He currently is pursuing a doctorate in education at American International College in Springfield.
Connecticut's teacher of the year was selected from nominations made by 110 of the state's 166 school districts; the state has more than 50,000 public school teachers overall.
Christopher Poulos, who is president of the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council and the state's 2007 winner, said the contest isn't about picking the best classroom teacher, which would be very difficult to judge, "but rather to pick the best representative of excellence in education."
He said the selection process is extensive and includes visits to finalists' schools to interview students, teachers, bus drivers, school secretaries and others.
Poulos said Bosso will travel extensively around the state and the country, including a trip to Washington D.C. in the spring to meet with President Obama and Arne Duncan, the U.S. secretary of education.
It was the second time a teacher from Berlin High School has won the statewide Teacher of the Year award. Carol Virostek, who received the award in 1989 and taught Bosso, attended the announcement ceremony.
"He was a great kid, a good student, a good athlete and came from a great family," Virostek said. "He's done everything he could possibly do to make himself the best teacher he could be, the most knowledgeable teacher. I'm so proud of him."
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articles.courant.com
Bosso, who was named Connecticut's teacher of the year Tuesday, grew up in Berlin, attended Berlin High School as his father did, came back to teach social studies at the high school and met his wife, Jennifer, who teaches math there.
"Berlin High School means a lot to me," Bosso said just after his award was announced in the school gymnasium packed with students and state and local officials. "Some of the most important memorable and important days of my life have taken place within these walls."
Yet his passion to learn about the world and bring that knowledge back to his students has taken Bosso far from his hometown, earned him statewide recognition and made him a contender for national teacher of the year.
"What a spectacular teacher you are, sir," Stefan Pryor, the state's new education commissioner, said at the ceremony. "You have done a remarkable job of maintaining your duties on a day-to-day basis while importing ideas and inspiration from around the world."
Bosso has traveled widely abroad, often winning grants to make trips and working with teachers, talking with students or spending a day in a school to get a sense of the country's culture and educational system.
Last May, Bosso traveled to Ghana through the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program to work with numerous educators in the development of best teaching practices.
"It's important to be familiar with the places and regions and the cultures about which you teach, to go beyond the textbook," Bosso said. "There has to be a personal connection there. That's really been the goal."
In addition to flags, Bosso has filled his classroom with photos from his travels — the Great Wall in China, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, an Egyptian pyramid, a mosque in Saudi Arabia — and thick notebooks of his research.
Lia D'Amato, a senior at Berlin High School who gave a speech at the ceremony, had Bosso for a world history class.
"He made me want to be not just a better student, but a better person," D'Amato said. "He brought the perspective of everything else going on in the world to this small town of Berlin."
She said that Bosso's class was part of the reason she had just joined Habitat for Humanity to help others and why she is interested in traveling to other countries.
Another student, Jill Ferraguto, a junior, gave Bosso a thumbs up as he walked into the auditorium. "He's the best teacher I ever had," Ferraguto said. "He knows when to have fun and when to be serious."
Her friend, Lauren Aresco, also a junior, said, "He connects with the kids really well."
Bosso was recognized by the Connecticut Council of the Social Studies with its Excellence in Social Studies Education award in 2009. He earned a bachelor's degree in history and social studies from Eastern Connecticut State University, a master's degree in history from Central Connecticut State University and another master's degree in educational computing and technology from the University of Hartford. He currently is pursuing a doctorate in education at American International College in Springfield.
Connecticut's teacher of the year was selected from nominations made by 110 of the state's 166 school districts; the state has more than 50,000 public school teachers overall.
Christopher Poulos, who is president of the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council and the state's 2007 winner, said the contest isn't about picking the best classroom teacher, which would be very difficult to judge, "but rather to pick the best representative of excellence in education."
He said the selection process is extensive and includes visits to finalists' schools to interview students, teachers, bus drivers, school secretaries and others.
Poulos said Bosso will travel extensively around the state and the country, including a trip to Washington D.C. in the spring to meet with President Obama and Arne Duncan, the U.S. secretary of education.
It was the second time a teacher from Berlin High School has won the statewide Teacher of the Year award. Carol Virostek, who received the award in 1989 and taught Bosso, attended the announcement ceremony.
"He was a great kid, a good student, a good athlete and came from a great family," Virostek said. "He's done everything he could possibly do to make himself the best teacher he could be, the most knowledgeable teacher. I'm so proud of him."
News By:
articles.courant.com
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