Superintendent Alan B. Bookman honors retirees - Glastonbury schools’ leader to join the ranks of retirement himself

The 13 teachers and administrators retiring at the end of the school year.

By Peter Marteka

Editor

For years, Superintendent Alan B. Bookman has spent part of a May board of education meeting lauding the careers of educators taking their final bows and heading off into retirement.

This May was different. In addition to saying goodbye to a dozen teachers and administrators, Bookman himself will retire after 55 years in education. 

“Tonight, we recognize teachers and administrators who have spent so many years on behalf of the students in Glastonbury. To all of you, thank you for what you have accomplished, and wishing you much happiness in your retirement,” he said speaking on behalf of the educators and maybe himself.

Here’s a look at the retirees and their careers in Glastonbury in the words of Bookman:

Amy Charron

Amy started her teaching career in 1988 at Hopewell. In 2003, she went to Farmington as a teacher and team leader. She returned to Glastonbury in 2012 as a LART at Hopewell. If I were to capture Amy’s success in one sentence, I would use the line from her evaluation that says, “The impact of Amy’s work has been significant in improving literacy performance across K-3 students.”

Principal Kathleen Murphy writes, “Amy’s deep knowledge of the curriculum, combined with her wisdom and supportive approach to sharing that knowledge, is one of her greatest gifts. Teachers value every moment spent with her — whether planning, modeling, assessing or collaborating. Her support of new teachers has been invaluable as they learned to navigate the complexities of the classroom. She was also an essential partner, keeping Kathleen informed about current trends, data, and district initiatives.

Director Christina O’Brien says, “Amy Charron is an outstanding K–5 literacy coach whose career has been defined by her deep commitment to students and teachers alike. She has demonstrated a masterful ability to build meaningful relationships, support high-quality instruction, and inspire a love of learning. Her impact extends beyond the classroom, as she has guided and empowered countless educators while always keeping students at the heart of her work. It is especially fitting that she concludes her remarkable career where it all began — at Hopewell — leaving a lasting legacy of excellence, care, and dedication.

Beth Dayton

Beth started her teaching career in 1993 in New York. In 1998, she moved to Florida where she taught for two years. In 2000 she started teaching in Glastonbury, first at Academy School and then at Gideon Welles.

Director Brenda Gregorski writes, “Beth is an inspiration to Building Thinking Classrooms in Grade 6. She is always finding ways for students to work collaboratively, play games, and really enjoy learning the 6th-grade math curriculum. I have always enjoyed her perspective on the grade 6 sequencing from her years of experience, and her calm demeanor in the classroom and with the students will be greatly missed. Her expertise with Formative will also be missed!

I can’t help but add Beth’s by the numbers piece:

30: Years spent teaching 6th grade.

23: Number of years spent teaching for Glastonbury Public Schools.

3: Number of states taught in (5 years in New York, 2 years in Florida, and 23 years in Connecticut).

176: Number of dry-erase markers I go through each year using BTC (Building Thinking Classrooms).

24: Years making Geometric Edible Turkeys out of Oreos, Whoppers, Chocolate icing, Mini-M&Ms, and Red Hots83:. 

16,967: Number of emails marked as read in my inbox currently 13,015: Emails sent from my school email.

2,400: Students that I’ve had the privilege to teach math to at GPS.

4,224: Average number of steps I take on a typical day in the classroom.

Countless: Moments of growth, laughter, and pride watching students “get it.”

Thousands: Times I’ve said, “Show your work.”

Dozens: Colleagues who have become dear friends #1: Best job I could have ever chosen.

Kathleen DeRoehn

Kathleen started her career in Glastonbury in 1994 teaching special education at Eastbury. In 1997, she taught fifth grade at Buttonball, and then half time Kindergarten at Buttonball in 2001. In 2012, she went to full time in kindergarten at Buttonball. 

Principal Janet Balthazar says, “Mrs. DeRoehn has taught in Glastonbury for 32 years, the past 25 years, she has been a mainstay kindergarten teacher at Buttonball Lane. Her bright smile, kind eyes, and love for children and learning leave a lasting impression on students and families. Her classroom is always a buzz of fun, whether her students are skip counting, singing the letter names and sounds, or she is changing her voice to match a character in a story. Kathy has always been one to get in early on changes to the kindergarten curriculum, and most recently was a Purposeful Play leader in the pilot year.”

In her last evaluation last year, Assistant Principal Denise Proffer thanked Kathy for taking on the new initiatives of implementing  Fundations and purposeful play during the school year. She goes on to say that Kathy’s positive energy in working through the new learning and supporting all of the types of learners in her classroom is refreshing. Her students have flourished in their skills and abilities to understand and apply phonics.

Maureen Donahue

Maureen started her teaching career in 1999 at Hebron Ave. In 2006, she became the PACE teacher at Buttonball and Hebron Ave. In 2007, when PACE went to full time at each elementary school, Maureen was the PACE teacher at Hebron Ave. In 2017, she went to Gideon Welles as a math teacher in grade 6.

Principal Kent Hurlburt says, “Maureen never did the same thing year to year. She loved creating classroom materials and videos to motivate kids and meet them where they are. She prioritized increasing student confidence in order to develop strong, mathematical self-esteem and a positive mindset toward learning.”

Brenda Gregorski says, “An expert sixth-grade teacher, Maureen comes from her experience as a PACE teacher and really understands how students learn and how all the mathematics connects. She is an exemplary role model in the classroom, always meeting student needs and offering wise advice for our group about best practices for students. Whether it be working with students in stations or doing a Building Thinking Classroom activity, Maureen always challenges all her learners to be thinkers. An expert of using Classkick to engage her students, her classroom is always buzzing with students working collaboratively and enjoying math!

Brenda says she will miss her leadership in the math department, wisdom, and definitely miss her famous formula for success: Success = Confidence-Fear +Effort Squared + Time.

Cindy Dysenchuk

Cindy has been in Glastonbury a long time, graduating from Glastonbury High School in 1980. Her record shows she was an outstanding field hockey player. In 1986, after college, she taught at University of Connecticut for one year, then one year at Woodstock Academy.

Cindy starting her career teaching in Glastonbury at Gideon Welles Middle School in 1988. She went to GHS in 1998, went back to Gideon in 2019, taught a year at GW and GHS. In 2022, she went to full time at GW, where she has been ever since. Over the years, she has also coached field hockey and softball. I remember Cindy well from her high school years, a dedicated hard-working teacher who influenced the lives of so many students.

Jenn Spring says “Cindy has been a deeply committed educator and coach throughout her career, with strong roots in organizations that support Health & Physical Education and coaching.”

She has consistently volunteered for curriculum writing and has contributed meaningfully to the development of our program over time. At Gideon, she is known for her calm, steady presence and her ability to consistently support both students and colleagues with professionalism. She has also demonstrated flexibility and adaptability, particularly when traveling to GHS to support program needs.

Cindy has a long list of accomplishments:

1. She is a Past President of CTAHPERD (Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education and Dance) 2. Vice President of Health, Eastern District of SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators).

3. Presenter at National and District SHAPE America Conferences.

4. Interact Club Advisor GHS 20+ years (Associated with Glastonbury Rotary Club).

5. Coaching 35+ years at GHS, multiple sports.

Elena Juan

Elena’s journey to teaching was a bit different than many others in Glastonbury. She received her bachelor’s degree from Universidad de Grenada in Spain, and her master’s degree from the University of Houston. She taught in Spain from 1982-1984 in Spain, taught in a Montessori School in Houston, taught at the University of Houston, taught at Watkinson School in CT from 1997-2000, and then taught at Smith School from 2000 to 2017.  In 2017, she taught at Gideon Welles.

Director Amanda Robustelli-Price says, “Elena is a thoughtful, reflective, and dedicated educator who consistently collaborates with colleagues and supports students. During her time in the district, she has contributed to countless school and department initiatives, including supporting after-school soccer, our Venezuelan programs, and traveling with students to Spain. She will be greatly missed.

Principal Kent Hurlburt says Elena was instrumental in starting and supporting the Venezuelan Partnership that has benefited many middle school students. She is the club sponsor of:  International art, Green Growers, and Spanish Club. She volunteers at different school events as a face painter.

Finally, Kent says Elena approaches students using restorative practices, and that has been very transformative as a teacher.

Diane Troutman

Diane started teaching in 1975 in Farmington, then in Rocky Hill, and East Hartford. She started in Glastonbury in 1996 at Gideon Welles and then went on to Smith when it opened in 2001. In 2010, she went to GHS.

Principal Nancy Bean says, “Diane's dedication and heart have left a lasting mark on our community. During her time here, Diane has taken on new initiatives with enthusiasm and brought innovation into the classroom while remaining deeply committed to every student’s success. Whether staying here every day after school to offer extra help or finding creative ways to make math meaningful, she has shown time and again how much she cares about every student. Her impact will be felt for years to come and she will be greatly missed.

Director Brenda Gregorski says, “If you ever happen to be walking the GHS halls at 5 or 5:30 at night, you will see a light shining through on the second floor coming from the math workroom. In there, you will find Diane. Dedication to its finest. She always goes above and beyond for her students,  staying every day after school to offer help, except on the days  she has to go to Smith Middle School to run the Math Counts  Team (who have found much success over the past few years  with students and teams qualifying for states). Diane is always thinking about her students and has never stopped learning and growing as an educator, including becoming one of our leaders and professional development speakers on Building Thinking Classrooms. We will miss her wisdom on how students grow, having taught at both Smith and GHS, her calm nature in our department and with students, and, of course, her spherical cut fruit that is always a treat for Pi Day. 

Jean Trusz

Jean started teaching in Glastonbury in 1980 and taught Spanish in many elementary schools ever since. She went from part time to full time back to part time for many years.

At Buttonball, Assistant Principal Denise Proffer says that Jean continues to be a positive, reflective, and engaging educator. It is a pleasure to watch Jean teach in action. Her energy is amazing and the students begin their Spanish journey loving learning as a result of the efforts she puts into planning engaging lessons and activities for her students.

Principal Janet Balthazar says, “For almost 40 years, Senora Trusz has helped our students start their foreign language journey with incredible enthusiasm. No matter what grade, because she has taught them all, she engaged our young students in hands on, creative activities, often paired with a song. She could double as a Spanish music teacher. At Buttonball, she supported school events over the years, like International Night, and has raised thousands of dollars for juvenile diabetes through a JDRF Walk at Buttonball over the years.

Director Amanda Robustelli Price says of Jean, “Jean is a growth oriented and engaging educator who builds meaningful relationships with students. In the classroom, Jean fosters a joyful learning environment through clear routines, kindness, and fun - all in Spanish! As the longtime organizer of the Spelling Bee, Jean has continued a community tradition that celebrates both the Spanish language and our elementary program. She will be greatly missed!

Nancy Bean

Nancy started her career in 1997 in West Hartford as a health and physical education teacher. In 2006, she went to Canton High School as the assistant principal. In 2010, she started her years in Glastonbury as the principal of Eastbury School. In 2012, she surprised me when she applied to be principal of Glastonbury High School. She was selected for this position.

In all the positions she has held, Nancy brings her vibrant personality. She is appreciated by students and staff, who all appreciate her energy, her dedication, and her ability to work with all people. Managing one of the larger high schools in the state is not an easy job. Very often, we hear of principals being educational and curricular leaders. That is not possible in such a large high school. Nancy knows this, and she has used the Directors to ensure student learning and great learning opportunities for all her students.

During Nancy’s year as GHS principal, she has managed the school with continual learning during the Covid years, when students went on-line Monday after the closing of the school on Friday. She has overseen the construction of the STEAM labs, followed by many new courses in this area. She oversaw construction of the locker rooms by the stadium field, and the construction of the strength and conditioning center. Sometimes we take for granted the use of technology in our schools, but it takes the support of principals to make it happen. When we first started with one-to-one iPads, neither students nor staff were enthusiastic. Nancy’s support was instrumental.

As Nancy looks back at her career, once she actually gets some free time to think about it, I know she will be proud of her many accomplishments. And Nancy, if you see me on the beach, feel free not to stop as you go by. That is an inside joke. Nancy says this to faculty every year if they see her on a beach at the Cape.

Kris Garofalo

Kris started her career in Berlin Public Schools teaching in grades 3,4, and 5 from 1991 to 2004. She next went to Hebron as a math specialist. After that, she stayed in Hebron to serve as an assistant principal. In 2013, she accepted a position as assistant principal of CREC Discovery Academy. She left there in November of 2014 to accept the position of Nayaug Elementary School principal, where she has been ever since. 

One of Kris’ supervisors described her as dedicated, tireless, and courageous. As principal of our largest elementary schools, she has additional responsibilities with our Open Choice students and the program for autistic children. Kris faces more challenges than most. What everyone has always said about Kris, is that she puts children first.

Kris has always been an instructional leader. She has been involved in many new initiatives, the latest being purposeful play in kindergarten and first grade. Her work has been remarkable, and I would guess that all of our kindergarten and grade one teachers love it.

I knew that Kris was one of two principals who could retire at the end of this year. I never said a word to either of them about it, hoping that maybe they didn’t realize it. They did, and here we are.

Christina O’Brien

Christina started her teaching career in 1988 at Hopewell School. She taught grades 1,2,3,4, and 5 during the next 18 years. In 2011, Christina became the Language Arts Resource Teacher at Eastbury. In 2013, she asked to transfer to Naubuc as a LART. In 2017, she was selected to be the Special Ed Supervisor at  Naubuc and Hebron Ave. In 2024, she accepted the position of Curriculum Director of Language Arts and Library Media.

Assistant Superintendent Kate Lund says, “Christina’s career reflects a deep and authentic commitment to literacy and student learning. Her experience as a classroom teacher, literacy coach, and assistant principal/special education supervisor has given her a uniquely well-rounded perspective that she has brought to her role as Director of ELA and Library Media.”

There are many memorable moments in Christina’s career. Most memorable is 2012 when Christina was chosen as Glastonbury’s Teacher of the Year. I remember the celebration in her school.

Christina had her students there showing off a class program. I always thought that was special. We were so fortunate to have Christina as the EA Director. I can’t think of anyone who could or will ever be more proficient in helping students learn to read and write.

Linda Provost

Linda started her teaching career in 1987 in Hartford. From there, she went to Forestville, St. Bridget’s in West Hartford, and then spent eight years as a teacher in Simsbury. In 2000, she as appointed to be a middle school assistant principal. In 2001, she was chosen to be the Hebron Ave. principal.

Linda has had a remarkable career in Glastonbury. It really didn’t matter who her evaluator was. She was always considered exemplary. She is truly an instructional leader. Her expertise in language arts is known to all her teachers. At the same time, she co-taught classes with her teachers in both math and language arts. When not co-teaching, she spends much of her day observing classes, helping her teachers to be better.

There are all kinds of stories I can tell you about Linda. I remember observing her on one of the reading days in her school.  She came to school dressed as Gumby, maybe eight feet tall all in green. She certainly left an impression on her students that day.

Linda is known for selecting new teachers and molding them into outstanding teachers. This may be her greatest skill. The achievements of the staff at Hebron Ave have always been exceptional, and that is a tribute to Linda. I would add the loyalty of her staff is absolute. They are proud of their work, their school, and their leader.

It will be hard to imagine Hebron Ave. School without Linda Provost. I know there will be many tears as the school year ends.

Alan B. Bookman

As Bookman finished his last retiree, it was time for him to be honored as board chairman Douglas C. Foyle spoke about his 55 years in education, the last 20 leading Glastonbury schools.

“It’s hard to capture what 55 years in this profession really means,” Foyle said. “That’s generations of students, countless educators and an entire community shaped in ways both visible and behind the scenes.”

Foyle said Bookman always went back to his roots as a math teacher.

“If you’ve worked with him...you know that that part never really went away,” he said.

Foyle said former Superintendent Jaqueline Jacoby, who preceded Bookman, reviewed his final year as principal.

“She described him as a leader whose intellect, knowledge, energy, work ethic, passion, commitment and heart significantly changed the school and community culture in Glastonbury.”

Foyle said as superintendent, Bookman’s work “shaped the way schools operate.”

“New schools were built, existing spaces were expanded and improved, programs grew to meet student needs from early learning through high school. Systems that families rely on today were introduced and refined. None of that happened overnight. None of it happened without his steady and consistent leadership.

“One of the things Dr. Bookman has done best is to keep the focus where it belongs,” Foyle added. “He has always brought the conversation back to students. What they need, what will help them succeed and how we support the people who work with them every day.” GL