Lively Convocation Kicks Off New School Year

The first day of a new school year is always exciting, fresh and fun.

The building sparkles. People greet friends they haven’t seen in months. Anticipation is high; anything is possible.

That’s as true for staff members as it is for kids.

Nearly 1,000 teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals and Board of Education members filled the Staples High School auditorium yesterday, for the district’s opening convocation.

Director Lauren Pine leads the Staples choir in the national anthem. Some singers have been in the Westport Public Schools since kindergarten.

Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice gave his fifth welcome. The Staples choir sang the national anthem; cheerleaders cheered the educators. Performance coach Sebastian Little pumped up the crowd.

And everyone honored Westport’s Teacher of the Year: Staples media specialist Jen Cirino.

In his opening remarks, Scarice reminded the audience of his first convocation. Just a few months into the pandemic, he had stood alone in the auditorium, speaking via Zoom to educators about to begin an excruciatingly difficult year.

Out of that tough time has come a renewed emphasis on “humanity,” the superintendent said. The district has redoubled its focus on social and emotional learning, and its recognition of the impact every staff member has on every student.

Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.

Scarice emphasized his point by telling the stories of 2 June graduates, who went all the way through the Westport system. One was a multi-talented girl, now at Harvard; the other was the son of a single mother who, despite many challenges, was the kind of young man whom every teacher wanted in class.

Scarice also singled out every employee — including secretaries, nurses, mental health professionals and central office staff — who impact every child.

After an introduction of 49 new staff members, assistant superintendent John Bayers announced the finalists for Teacher of the Year: Michele Anderson (music, Bedford Middle School), Nicole Comerford (health, Staples), Colleen Cooney (music, Saugatuck Elementary), Victoria Davis (special education, Greens Farms Elementary), Joseph Del Gobbo (English, Staples), Kelly Falcone (academic support, Staples), and Joanne Klouda (physics, Staples).

The winner — Cirino — is multi-talented, highly respected, and a hometown girl. A 5th generation Westporter, she went through the entire school system, and won a state championship on the Staples basketball team. Her children now attend Coleytown Elementary School.

Teacher of the Year Jen Cirino. Behind her is Staples assistant principal Jim Farnen; to the right is Board of Education member Kevin Christie.

Cirino makes the high school library an accessible, welcoming, enriching and exciting space for hundreds of students at a time.

The library was her haven as a youngster, Cirino said. Her goal is to make the Staples library “a powerful place for everyone, so they can accomplish all that they want.”

Through her “Friday Fun Days,” she involves students in activities ranging from breast cancer awareness keychains, Juneteenth bracelets and Pride buttons, to mini-golf, Legos and bird feeders.

Her reach extends far beyond its walls though, through her work on environmental and sustainable issues, her advocacy for student rights, and her collaboration with teenagers and teachers throughout the building.

The final speaker, Sebastian Little, has worked with the Westport Public Schools for several years, as well as high level athletes and leading business professionals.

Sebastian Little (All photos/Dan Woog)

A former football player at Yale, he tied the recent Olympics in with the work of educators.

“Own your greatness,” he encouraged the Westport staff.

The convocation was an energetic kickoff to the coming school year.

Now: Let the games begin.

(“06880” regularly covers education in Westport, from pre-K to high school and beyond. If you enjoy our stories, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)