Three local educators were recently recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars for their commitment to educating students about patriotism and citizenship.
Dan Sacco, the chief of staff at the Veterans of Foreign Wars local Post 10059 said that the awards give recognition to educators that “promote Americanism, patriotism, and citizenship in the classroom and live the values that the Veterans of Foreign Wars represent.”
Each year the post, which serves Trumbull, Shelton ,Monroe, Easton and Redding. receives nominations for an elementary, middle and high school teacher to be considered for the award. This year’s honorees are JodiAnn Forte, and elementary school teacher at Samuel Staples Elementary School in Easton, Kevin Larkin, a middle school teacher at St. Augustine Academy in Bridgeport and high school science teacher Patricia Tivadar at Trumbull High School.
Forte said her teaching decisions about leadership and patriotism are inspired by the veterans who visit the school.
“We try to find real people who could tell us about their job and so it becomes a little more real than that abstract piece,” Forte said.
Last year, Larkin’s students at St. Augustine Academy participated in a Veterans Day assembly on Nov. 7 on the school campus where students participated by speaking on the different military branches, the POW and America’s White Table and by leading the prayers for the assembly.
“I think it’s a holistic approach to try to make sure that the kids understand, and they enjoy it,” Larkin said.
The ceremony took place on Dec. 11, at the River Valley Retirement Resort in Trumbull where the teachers were recognized for their teaching, presented with a plaque, certificate and cash award. Each teacher then spoke to the audience.
