Rocky Hill Elementary School Teachers Stay Busy in Summer to Prepare for Fall

When the school year ends, it doesn’t necessarily mark the beginning of a three-month bout of leisure for some Rocky Hill teachers. Many teachers used the summer months to prepare for the coming year, continue their own education and then catch up on some rest.

Several elementary teachers kept especially full schedules. If Lindsey Downie, a learning support teacher at West Hill Elementary, appeared exhausted after the first day of school it was due in part to her summer itinerary.

"I had meetings with other teachers throughout the summer, was part of the interview committee to hire the new special education teacher, and taught summer school at Stevens," she said ticking off items on her summer to-do list.

Downie’s colleague, Kelly Moore, who teaches second grade, spent the summer completing a master’s degree program in educational training, in addition to preparing for her incoming students.

"I spent a lot of time just familiarizing myself with all of my incoming students, so I was aware of their education levels and any special needs," Moore said

Lori Sebellius, a second grade teacher at Stevens Elementary, spent her summer immersed in "professional reading" and "investigating online educational resources." Sebellius also took some time for herself, on a European holiday with her family.

"We visited Paris, Budapest, Prague… it was an educational trip," she said with a smile.

Andrea Rossi, who teaches third grade at Stevens, enrolled in a smart board training class to become familiar with the new technology, as all of the Stevens’ third grade classrooms were outfitted with the boards this year.  

Over at West Hill, Kindergarten team leader Allison Dillon occupied a large part of her summer by "organizing the budget supplies" that she had ordered in May for the coming school year. Dillon did eventually find the opportunity to recharge a bit on a family camping trip.

Stevens' Carissa Lastrina, a fourth grade teacher, spent extensive time at West Hill teaching summer school. When her classes were not in session, Lastrina was back at Stevens, engaged in the laborious task of moving her entire classroom from the first floor to the second.