by Maya McFadden The New Haven independent
JCD preschool educator Susie Iovanne: Small treats go a long way.
JCD’s Mrs. GG, Patricia McGovern, Cassandra Diaz, Asst. Principal Robert Manghnani, Principal Yesenia Perez, and Heather Doraz.
Susie Iovanne, a veteran preschool educator at John C. Daniels (JCD) school, headed back to class after taking a bite of Oreo and pretzel ice cream — that was served up as part of a districtwide celebration of New Haven teachers.
Iovanne was one of dozens of JCD teachers who took an ice cream break Tuesday to participate in an event marking the latest national Teacher Appreciation Week.
Tuesday’s visit from the Ice Cream Emergency truck was one of the ways JCD arranged to celebrate the school’s educators for working so hard every day.
Each year, library media specialist Patricia McGovern and first-grade paraprofessional Cassandra Diaz organize their school’s celebration for Teacher Appreciation Week.
The two JCD educators told this reporter on Tuesday that this is not a one off celebration for their school. All year long, they said, JCD Principal Yesenia Perez and Assistant Principal Robert Manghnani make sure to show and tell the school’s educators and staff that they are appreciated.
Tuesday’s pick-me-up was one of many happening around the city’s school district that celebrated educators. New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) spokesperson Justin Harmon told the Independent that other schools also embraced the university love of food, by providing staff with snack carts, pizza, and tacos. Also, at Metropolitan Business Academy, students gathered to write notes of appreciation for their teachers.
At JCD, Diaz and McGovern said they hosted the Ice Cream Emergency truck for Teacher Appreciation Week before the Covid pandemic, as well. Because it was such a hit with the school’s educators, they decided to bring it back this year for the week’s theme of “How Sweet It Is to Be Taught by You.”
Each day this week, Diaz and McGovern are also leaving sweet treats and “thank you” reminders in educators’ mailboxes. Throughout the remainder of the week, they plan on providing cupcakes and coffee, a candy bar, and cookies and soda stations.
Susie Iovanne, who has been a teacher for 32 years, said that while Tuesday’s ice cream snack was a simple one, it made her feel special. The thoughtful celebrations of her and her colleagues and the daily notes from administration saying that she’s doing a good job are meaningful to her. The bowl of Coffee House Oreo and pretzel ice cream Tuesday was just the cherry on top.
Ercole Casella, a physical education teacher of 19 years, agreed that the Coffee Oreo ice cream was a highlight of the day.
Perez, the school’s principal, noted Tuesday that every single day educators make it happen for the school’s students. “This is us making it happen for them,” she said.
She said that JCD does well with retaining its veteran educators of 15 or 20 years because of the school community’s respect for educators. The week-long celebrations were made possible in part thanks to donations.
In Perez’s role as school leader, she said it’s important for her to ask for constant feedback from staff, listen to them, clearly explain why decisions are made, and then work to find different solutions if one plan doesn’t work out.
She also supports educators by covering classes, helping to plan lessons, offering feedback, and sitting down with them during parent-teacher conferences.
“The most important part of my job, besides the kids, is to make sure they enjoy coming to work everyday,” Perez said about the school’s teachers.
Diaz, whose children attend JCD, said that when the school celebrates educators, her children get in the car at the end of the day “so excited to talk about how their teacher got treats.”
“The positivity overall just makes the school even better for everyone,” she concluded.
McGovern said that when you know your school’s leadership and families support you, “professionally and personally, you want to come to work.”
“When it starts from the top it makes you want to be here,” McGovern said — before enjoying chocolate ice cream scoops topped with her favorite, Peanut M&Ms.
NHPS Supt. Madeline Negrón and Mayor Justin Elicker joined Tuesday’s celebration at JCD to serve ice cream to the school’s educators. With every scoop, some decorated with toppings like M&Ms and caramel syrup, Negrón told staff, “Thank you for what you do.”
As educators entered the ice cream truck, Elicker invited them to step up and pointed them to the list of flavors.
Negrón and Elicker served ice cream alongside Hill Alder Angel Hubbard and Ice Cream Emergency truck staffers Theresa Copperthite and Josie Bailey. The truck stayed parked outside of JCD Tuesday for two hours. The Ice Cream Emergency business has expanded to 16 buses that travel to nine states.
Copperthite, a “certified resident scoopologist,” noted that educators — especially New Haven’s — hold a special place in her heart because, while living in Ansonia years ago, her children attended Co-op, Betsy Ross, Mauro-Sheridan, and Hyde schools.
As educators loaded up on sweets on Tuesday, Copperthite told them, “We’re here to save your life one scoop at a time.”
PE teacher Ercole Casella.
Gifts of appreciation that were left in JCD teachers’ mailboxes Tuesday.
JCD custodial staff got in on the gratitude, too.
JCD Teacher Appreciation Week leads Diaz and McGovern.
McGovern (right) picks up chocolate ice cream from Mayor Elicker.
Tuesday’s ice cream serving team.