Connecticut’s 2027 Teacher of the Year is sometimes known as the Berlin Batman—not because he fights crime, but because as a biology teacher he’s introduced students to an innovate research and invention project addressing white-nose syndrome in bats. Students, faculty, and guests crowded into Berlin High School’s gymnasium today to hear Christopher Wisniewski named Teacher of the Year and learned not only about his phenomenal science teaching, but also about his commitment to ensuring his school is a welcoming and safe place for all students.
Wisniewski’s Carpe Noctem initiative made the news last year as one of eight teams from schools nationwide that was selected for Lemelson-MIT’s InvenTeams program. The team combined field research and engineering to develop a bioenvironmental system addressing white-nose syndrome in bats. Their work produced a U.S. provisional patent application naming all 10 students as inventors.
Now Wisniewski is working to bring invention education into the school day so more students can participate.
“I hope to help educators across Connecticut make those opportunities possible in their own schools,” he says. “Carpe Noctem, take pride in what you have contributed. You have helped us imagine more for the students who will follow you.”
Berlin Board of Education member and Newington teacher Julia Dennis said that she and other Board members came away extremely impressed after the Carpe Noctem students presented their research at a meeting last winter.
“We were blown away at all that Chris’s students were able to produce and how he was able to scaffold students to get to where they are,” Dennis said. “They were doing doctoral level research that I did not even get to until I was a doctoral candidate myself. Their poster presentations were phenomenal. I walked out of there motivated, inspired, and ready to go finish my school year stronger than I started. I said to myself, ‘There’s so much more I can and will do,’ and then I finished up my school year doing exactly that. That’s what you look for in a teacher of the year—someone who can get up in front of fellow educators and inspire them, someone who makes students feel safe, trusted, and supported.”
CEA Secretary Gail Jorden, Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, Berlin Education Association President Evelisa Mayette, and CEA Treasurer Stephanie Wanzer congratulate Connecticut’s 2027 Teacher of the Year Chris Wisniewski.
“Chris Wisniewski knows how to make science make sense and inspire,” CEA President Kate Dias said. “His enthusiasm and creativity bring complicated ideas to life for his students, offering them experiences that enable them to connect knowledge across diverse subject areas. These real-world opportunities that require collaboration and experimentation are exactly what students need to awaken their passion for learning and thrive in their post-high school pursuits. Chris’s commitment to his students is also evident in his constant exploration of new courses, projects, and clubs to share with Berlin high schoolers.”
“Chris is really one of the most humble individuals,” says Berlin Education Association President Evelisa Mayette. “He just does everything right. His belief in the kids and what they’re capable of—I don’t think it occurs to him that there can be any limits to the possibilities of what kids can do. He thinks, ‘We’re going to try it and see what happens.’ And I think those lessons are what will stick with the kids long beyond the 2027 Teacher of the Year festivities.”
Carpe Noctem co-leaders Michelle Liu and Sydelle Holland thanked Chis Wisniewski for his trust, belief, and guidance.
“One of Mr. Wisniewski’s favorite things to tell us when we believe something is impossible is that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” Berlin High student and Carpe Noctem co-leader Sydelle Holland said. “This is a quote by hockey player Wayne Gretzky, and 90% of those times those tasks become possible with Mr. Wisniewski’s help. On behalf of the entire student population, we would like to thank you for not only putting up with our shenanigans, but also for believing in us, motivating us, guiding us, and most importantly, thank you for being our very own Wayne Gretzky. We trusted you with our shot at a great high school experience, and you’ve made it more unforgettable than anything we could have dreamed of.”
Holland and fellow Carpe Noctem club leader Michelle Liu said their journey with Mr. Wisniewski began back before the Carpe Noctem experience when they were students in his AP/UConn Early College Experience biology class.
“One of the first things we noticed as sophomores in his class was that his door was and remains open,” Liu says. “There is a silent invitation and sense of belonging that remains constant. Students from all grades often stop by his classroom to share their successes and seek advice, including students who have never had Mr. Wisniewski as an actual teacher. He is known for celebrating the good moments and helping students move forward after tough months.”
Chris Wisniewski with his Carpe Noctem team.
Wisniewski closed out his remarks speaking directly to the hundreds of students in the room about his own journey from high school student to first generation college graduate to teacher.
“To every student here, I was a C student in high school. Teachers saw more in me and expected a bit more from me, and there was a great deal about who I would become that my report card could not tell you,” he said. “Grades matter, and I want you to work hard for them. Your character matters to people who will remember whether they can count on you and how you treated them. They will notice how you respond when something goes wrong, and whether you’re willing to learn and try again. Those things will matter long after a particular test grade has been forgotten. You are more than just a grade. Keep giving yourself room to grow. We owe you that same room with high expectations and the support to meet them.”
He continued, “Your future may look very different from mine, but I want your education to help you build a life that you’re proud of. Being part of your growth has changed my teaching. Your questions made me reconsider explanations I thought were clear and your ideas take lessons in directions I hadn’t planned. To all of my students past and present, including alumni who took the time and made the trip back from their college campuses—thank you for being here. It means the world to me to share this day with you.”
