SOUTHINGTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC.

Instilling a love of learning.

Board Members

Paula Knight, Board of Directors

BS Elementary Education, Preschool Concentration, MS, Art Education, Art Therapy Concentration

Working in the field of Education has been a life long passion for Paula. Dedicating thirty-seven years immersed in leading children through their own personal educational journey has been a privilege. Paula’s experiences range from preschool learners through the elementary grades. This tenure is complemented with regular classroom and the special area instruction.

Seven years of her career focused in the regular classroom concentrating in the personal and educational growth of children. The remaining twenty-eight years were focused on guiding learners from the ages of five to eleven years of age to challenge their critical and creative thinking to a depth and breadth commensurate with their accelerated learning capabilities.

Paula’s personal educational foundations start with a BS in Elementary Education, concentrating in Early Childhood Education from the Western Connecticut University, a Masters in Art Education concentrating in Art Therapy from Central Connecticut University. She continued postgraduate work in Gifted and Talented at University of Connecticut through the NEAG Education summer Confratute program, completing four summers of conference work.

Work in the area of Gifted and Talented continued outside the classroom as a guest speaker at parent seminars, teacher professional development, consulting for district professional development in New England and abroad.

The privilege of working with this unique learning population is an exhilarating adventure. Their nimble minds present an open pallet ready to be challenged and create pathways to new learning opportunities. The wonderment in learning is filled with possibilities.

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Jerry Belanger, Board of Directors

Jerry has been an educational advocate for many years. He served two years as PTA president at North Center and from 1996 to 2003 he was involved with the Southington Parent-Teacher Council, serving as a member, Vice-President and President. During this period, he served as ex-officio member of the School System’s Redistricting committee, was a member of the advisory committee which interviewed candidates for the position of Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Learning, and served on the School Improvement Council at Southington High School.

Jerry is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Connecticut State PTA, where he was honored with both the Elaine Boulay Award for Outstanding Service as well as an Honorary Life Membership Award. He was also a member of the Nutmeg Statewide PTA, where he received the 11th Annual Distinguished Leadership Citation for Outstanding Service. While his daughters were part of the Southington Blue Knights Marching Band, he served as Publicity Coordinator and Webmaster for the Southington Band Backers. In addition, Jerry served as a judge for the Miss Hometown, Miss Nutmeg and Miss Watertown Pageants.

Jerry was a Southington Board of Education board member from 2003-07 and was also a member of the Plantsville/South End Schools Building Committee. He a current member of the Southington Board of Assessment Appeals, current member of the Southington Democratic Town Committee, and Board Member for the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) Foundation. He has served as a Board Member for the Southington Education Foundation since its inception.

A 1976 graduate of Watertown High School, Jerry and his wife Martha moved to Southington in 1989 and raised two daughters, Maegan and Jocelyn who both attended and graduated from Southington Public Schools. Jerry has been employed in various technology roles at The Institute of Living, Hartford Hospital and Hartford HealthCare since 1978, and is currently a Senior Web Developer with the Web Strategy team. Jerry also volunteers his time with Hartford Hospital's United Way campaign, and in 2013 he was selected as a finalist for Hartford Hospital's “Employee of the Year”.

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Jan Galati, Board of Directors

A lifelong commitment to education and an interest in community service drew Jan Galati to the Southington Education Foundation prior to her retirement from a career in education. Jan began her career teaching third grade. She left the classroom to spend time with her young family and to pursue a master’s degree in special education. Jan later accepted a position in the special education department at Southington High School where she remained for twenty-five years in the role of co-teacher and educational evaluator. Jan strongly believes in the importance and benefits of life-long learning and appreciates the time she now has to read and expand her knowledge.

Jan has found that involvement in the Southington Education Foundation has been another avenue for expanding her knowledge and honing new skills. She believes that volunteer work not only allows for giving back to the community, but also provides a means for personal growth and satisfaction. Jan believes that through the work of the SEF, she is able to partner with like-minded individuals committed to providing enriching opportunities for Southington Public School students. Jan’s involvement in the SEF further emphasizes her belief that together individuals can work for a greater cause.

Jan met her husband, Bob, while both were attending CCSU. Bob is a retired math teacher and guidance counselor. Their sons, Michael and Matthew, were actively involved in Southington High School sports, went on to graduate college, and are now engaged in successful business careers. Together Jan and her husband enjoy their expanding family, travel, biking, and landscaping.

Jan previously served as chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary.

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Joyce McAloon, Board of Directors

Joyce McAloon has been a resident of Southington since 1977, along with her husband and 3 sons. She has been involved in many organizations over the years.

Joyce has been a teacher since 1973 and has worked for our school system since 1984. She has taught grades from 2nd to 6th. She has worked in all of the schools while substituting but has had permanent positions in Hatton and Flanders Schools. She has been at Flanders for the last 23 years and is teaching Grade 5 and is a member of their PTO. Joyce has been on many committees throughout her career as a teacher for our school system. She has worked on all of the curriculum committees as a curriculum writer, presenter for Professional Development, and grade level supporter. Other committees she has worked on include the Veterans Committee, Professional Development, STEM, and STEPS to name a few. She has been awarded Walmart Teacher of the Year as well as Connecticut Elementary Science Teacher of the Year for her educational contributions,

Joyce is involved with our community as well. As a teacher, she is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa Organization which is an International Women’s Teacher Organization. She has held positions in her local chapter as President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Membership Chairman. On the State Level, Joyce has held the following positions: President-elect, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Historian and President of Presidents’ Council. Joyce will become State President for the biennium of 2018-2020 and has been awarded the President’s Award for 2017 for outstanding work for this organization. On the Regional Level, Joyce held positions as Recording Secretary and Conference Booklet Chairman. On the International Level, Joyce was on the Balloting Committee.

In our Town, Joyce serves on the School-wide committee for Veterans, Along with the local veterans and our school system, this committee works hand and hand to promote awareness for our Veterans locally and nationally through school programs and visitations to our schools by Southington’s own Veterans.

Being a cancer survivor, Joyce has been involved with Relay For Life of Southington. She has chaired this event individually or with a co-chair since 2008. Joyce continues to works with community members to find a cure for Cancer.

In earlier years, Joyce had been involved with St. Dominic’s church by teaching Religious Instructions and volunteering at their Apple Harvest Booth; Kelley School as a parent as well as a PTO Officer, Boy Scout Cub Master for a den and head Boy Scout leader for the school and at Hatton School she was a teacher and PTO member.

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