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2024 Westbrook Hall of Fame Award Honorees Announced

Press Release from Dr. Kristina J. Martineau, Westbrook Superintendent of Schools

Westbrook Public Schools is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Westbrook High School (WHS) Hall of Fame Award to honor WHS graduates who have excelled in their careers and serve as role models for the children of Westbrook and future generations of graduates.

This year, the new WHS Hall of Fame Committee reviewed more than 30 nominations from its school and alumni community. After careful consideration, the committee selected two distinguished graduates who are both role models through their success in their chosen careers: Ms. Bernadette Carver (Class of 1977) and Ms. Heather Vogell (Class of 1992). Carver was also selected for her extensive and ongoing commitment to community service in Westbrook.

The 2024 WHS Hall of Fame honorees were recognized by the Westbrook superintendent of schools, Dr. Kristina Martineau, at the WHS Class of 2024 graduation ceremony on June 14.

Bernadette A. (Pagano) Carver—WHS Class of 1977

Ms. Carver began her career with Essex Savings Bank as a high school junior through an internship program. After high school, Carver attended The Stone School of Business in New Haven and completed the accounting program, graduating early with honors. In 1978, she accepted a job with Essex Saving Bank as a teller and has been with the bank for 45 years, holding many positions, including high level leadership and management positions. Currently, she holds the position of vice president, corporate secretary & compliance officer. She was instrumental in implementing the Operations and Lending departments at the bank. While working at the bank, Carver also attended the Connecticut School of Finance and Management and The National School of Banking.

Carver has always been very loyal and involved in her community. Her current involvements include the Bankers Compliance Association of Connecticut, Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce, Exchange Club of Old Saybrook/Westbrook, Westbrook Daisy Dash, Beach Jam for Cancer Patient Care, Shoreline Soup Kitchen, and Connecticut River Museum. Carver has been an active volunteer in the community of Westbrook in many ways, with the Westbrook tree lighting, Westbrook Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and Vista Life Innovations to name just a few. As a result of her loyalty and service to her small town and surrounding areas, she is a pillar in these communities, earning an award from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County as a “Behind the Scenes Unsung Hero.”

Heather Vogell—WHS Class of 1992

Ms. Vogell is an investigative reporter at Pro Publica, an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Vogell has had a highly successful and award-winning career in journalism. She has exposed abuse at group homes for the developmentally disabled and high schools which push out low achievers to raise their graduation rates. A series she co-authored, “Cheating Our Children,” which examined suspicious test scores in public schools across the nation, was a 2013 finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. She has also received several other prizes.

After attending WHS, Vogell attended Georgetown University, where she received a BA in English. Vogell continued her education and earned two graduate degrees from prestigious programs in her field: an MS degree in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a second MS degree in public administration from the CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Inspector General program.

Nominations for the 2025 Westbrook Hall of Fame Award will open in the fall of 2024. Honorees will be selected in the spring of 2025 and then be recognized at the WHS Class of 2025 graduation ceremony in June.

Westbrook Public Schools

Westbrook High School Hall of Fame Award Nomination

Nominations and applications are now open for the Westbrook Hall of Fame Award. Westbrook Public Schools is looking to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates as a model for our current and future students. We are proud of our graduates and look forward to sharing and honoring their accomplishments with our community as well as with our graduating Class of 2024 as they consider their own future after graduation and how they will contribute to their profession and community.

Please consider nominating a Westbrook High School alumnus who has excelled in their career, vocation, business, community service, sport, performing arts, or other interests that would serve as a model for our students to aspire to on their own journeys in the future after high school graduation.

Anyone may nominate a Westbrook High School graduate who has graduated at least ten years prior to the nomination. All nominations will be reviewed by the Westbrook High School Knights Hall of Fame Committee. One alumnus will be selected each year and will be publicly recognized at the graduation ceremony at Westbrook High School on Friday, June 14, 2024.

Nominations are made in one of the following ways:

Email Dr. Kristina J. Martineau, Superintendent of Schools, at kmartineau@westbrookctschools.org with the following information: name of the candidate, year of graduation, candidate’s contact information, your name and contact information, and the reason why you believe this candidate should be recognized as an alumnus who has excelled in career, vocation, business, community service, sport, performing arts, etc.

Complete the online application form that can be found here.

Nominations are due no later than Friday, March 1, 2024, to be considered for June 2024 recognition.

Westbrook Public Schools

Westbrook Board of Education Receives Leadership Award 2nd Year in a Row at Major Education Convention in Connecticut

For the second year in a row, the Westbrook Board of Education was presented with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) Leadership Award. This award was presented during the annual CABE / CAPSS (Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents) Convention held at the Mystic Marriott. “CABE believes that Boards of Education which exhibit the most effective leadership are characterized by their ability to work together as teams.” The CABE Board of Education Leadership Awards are designed to recognize boards which work effectively in this manner. In order to be considered for this award, boards had to fulfill 22 of 30 criteria in four areas; community relations, board operations, policy and board member professional development. A minimum of three criteria in each area had to be met in order to receive the award.

As part of the nomination and application process, the Westbrook Board of Education reflected on their collaborative work to continually grow as community leaders and in service to the children and Town of Westbrook:

“The Westbrook Board of Education is a more effective board of education than it has been in previous years due to its commitment and deliberate attention to professional growth as both individual members of the board and as a cohesive, collaborative governing body. The Board is actively engaged with professional development and highlights the importance of these opportunities every Board of Education meeting as a standing agenda item. This dedicated time in each meeting to share new learning and to promote future professional development opportunities continues to strengthen the collaborative, active growth mindset and the relationships of the Board members to act as an informed and unified governing body in the best interest of students, families, and staff.

The Westbrook Board of Education is a very active Board with the school community. It is a standing agenda item at every board of education meeting to provide members with an opportunity to share recent school events and activities that they have participated in to promote our schools and to encourage membership ongoing participation in our schools. The majority of the Board attend school events and activities on a regular basis, which is valued and appreciated by staff, school leadership, and families. The presence of the Board at school events has created a culture of mutual respect, support, and collaboration. The Board is also highly visible in the community at major Town events, such as the Tree Lighting- providing access to families and a clear commitment to serving as community leaders.”

Dr. Kim Walker, Westbrook Board of Education shared, “I am so proud of the work and ongoing commitment of my board members on behalf of our students and our Westbrook community. Our board works smoothly together as a team that focuses on student achievement for ALL students.”

Westbrook Board of Education

Westbrook Middle School Named 2023 ESPN Honor Roll School

Early in 2023, Westbrook Middle School was recognized by Special Olympics North America as a nationally recognized Unified Champion School. Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting inclusion through participation in athletics experiences. Unified Sports brings people with and without intellectual disabilities together in the spirit of teamwork and social bonding. Their philosophy is that by practicing and competing together, the path to friendship and understanding will be paved.

Under the leadership of Daniel Jennings, Special Education teacher and Unified Sports head coach, and Westbrook Dean of Students Amy Gallagher, Westbrook Middle School (WMS) applied to be a Special Olympics Unified Sports Champion School in 2022. The application process was rigorous, and WMS had to demonstrate that they met the ten rigorous national standards of excellence stipulated by the Special Olympics. In April of 2023, WMS received notification from Special Olympics North America that our school's application to the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools National Recognition Program had been approved. When asked what being a Unified Sports Champion School meant to WMS Dean of Students Amy Gallagher, she stated, “It feels good for the nation to be made aware of what we’ve known for a long time. Our school community is inclusive, connected, and making a difference in the lives of so many students. We are very proud to be recognized as a Champion school and try to live up to that standard every day.”

According to the National School Recognition Program, WMS received national banner recognition and noted that WMS has built “... an inclusive school climate and exudes a sense of collaboration, engagement and respect for all members of the student body and staff. A Unified Champion School receiving national banner recognition is one that has demonstrated commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 national standards of excellence. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community.” Upon recognition, Director of Special Services, Fran Lagace emailed Coach Jennings and said, “Great work! The benefits for the kids goes way beyond the banner. It has really improved the culture and climate for students and staff.”

In mid-October, WMS was once again recognized as a leader in Unified Sports by ESPN. Westbrook was named a 2023 ESPN Honor Roll School. WMS was one of ten schools in the Northeast region and the only school in Connecticut to be awarded this prestigious honor. In a recent announcement by ESPN, Westbrook’s Unified program along with the other Honor Roll Schools were thanked for building more inclusive schools and a more inclusive world. Mr. Jennings has been leading the charge with regard to inclusion and belonging at Westbrook Middle School for years. When he learned that his program had been named a 2023 ESPN Honor Roll School, he said, “This is an incredible honor! I am very proud of our Unified Sports program, and how it continues to positively shape our inclusive school community. Unified Sports plays a major role in contributing to everyone’s sense of belonging in Westbrook Middle School. Way to go Unified Knights!!”

Westbrook Middle School Principal Matt Talmadge commented, “So many stakeholders have come together to make this a reality. Coach Jennings and athletic director Gallagher leveraged the support from both the Connecticut Association of Schools and our director of special services as they worked with our students and families to bring the true spirit of inclusion to life through Unified Sports. They made a difference in our community, and that is what it is all about.”

Dr. Kristina Martineau, Superintendent of Westbrook Public Schools added, “Unified Sports fosters social inclusion and youth leadership. That powerful combination is highly valued for all of our students. Our growing Unified Sports program continues to make a tremendous impact increasing positivity and belonging in both the Westbrook Public Schools and the Westbrook community at large. We are proud of our teacher leaders for making this happen for our community and so proud of all of our students involved in this important program.”

Mr. Robert Hale, the Director of Unified Sports at Special Olympics Connecticut, leads the team that organizes the school-based Unified Sports program for Connecticut. This program is sponsored cooperatively by Special Olympics Connecticut and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Association. Mr. Hale personally came to Westbrook Middle School on October 27, 2023 to present a banner to Westbrook Middle School during their annual fall pep rally. The banner and presentation by Mr. Hale allowed the entire school community to celebrate being named a Unified Champion School as well as a 2023 ESPN Honor Roll School.

Westbrook Middle School

Westbrook Veterans Day Ceremony

The Westbrook Veterans Day Ceremony will take place on the Westbrook Town Green at 11:00am on November 10th. Many students from Westbrook Schools will make contributions to the ceremony such as personal reflections, singing, and concert band performances. Review the attached flyer for a breakdown of the event.