Hawley School Welcomes New Teachers

By Tanjua Damon

First-year teacher Jennifer Smalley is enthusiastic about teaching fourth grade at Hawley School.

Miss Smalley is originally from western New York. She attended UConn in an integrated bachelors/masters program in education. She decided to stay in Connecticut to teach and chose Newtown for the atmosphere.

“I wanted to stay in Connecticut. I liked the area and the town,” she said. “I really liked their philosophy on education. It was on the top of my list.”

Jennifer Smalley brings a fresh perspective and energy Jennifer Smalley

Fourth Grade

into her job at Hawley School. She is enjoying teaching fourth grade early in the school year.

“[I’ll bring] a lot of enthusiasm and a new perspective,” she said. “I have a dedication to education and to the system in general.”

Fourth graders in Miss Smalley’s class are working on learning about different countries around the world. They are talking about Australia and the Olympics, adding to their geography lessons.

Jennifer Smalley admits when she first went to college teaching was not the first thing she thought about studying, but both her parents are teachers and everything started to lean toward teaching while in college.

“I enjoy the setting, seeing all the kids and hearing all their stories,” she said. “That’s the best part of education, watching them grow.”

Miss Smalley expects every day to be a different one as she continues her career as a teacher, and she looks forward to the many diverse things she will experience as a teacher.

“As an educator there are so many different things,” she said. “I look forward to the differences every day and not the humdrum of some jobs. I hope to make a difference.”

Jennifer Smalley teaches 19 fourth graders at Hawley School.

“We’re doing really well,” she said. “There are a lot of challenges, but they all seem enthusiastic.”

Miss Smalley lives in Southbury.

Erin Miller

Second Grade

Her excitement about teaching can be felt as you enter the classroom and her dedication to her students is obvious. Erin Miller joins the staff at Hawley School as a second grade teacher this year.

Miss Miller’s classroom is filled with decorations of her students’ accomplished work.

“I’ve always liked young kids,” she said. “They are like sponges. They absorb everything and are so innocent and spontaneous.”

Miss Miller taught fourth grade at a private Catholic school last year before deciding to teach in the public school system. Newtown has made her feel comfortable as a new teacher to the district.

“I felt really comfortable here,” she said. “They work closely with new teachers. They are very supportive as a district.”

Miss Miller has 19 students in her second grade class at Hawley. She speaks highly of them and enjoys the challenges that come with being a teacher. Her students are learning new words quickly.

“Things are going very well,” she said. “September was a challenge and October couldn’t be going better.”

She received her bachelor’s degree from St Joseph’s University in Philadelphia in elementary education and has received her teaching certificate.

Miss Miller loves to run and travel. She also enjoys arts and crafts and computers. She lives outside of Bridgeport.