UConn’s big 51–3 homecoming win over Florida International University was reason to cheer, but teachers didn’t wait for kickoff to start celebrating—they enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon before the game at CEA’s annual Teacher Tailgate.
“I’m a big football fan, and I love to tailgate, so this event is just perfect,” says Bloomfield educator Glen Spencer. “It’s also a great time to come together socially with other teachers.”
On the beautiful October Saturday, CEA members and their family and friends gathered at Rentschler Field to enjoy food fresh from the grill, catch up with one another, and play ladder ball, football toss, and cornhole.
While Spencer has attended the CEA Teacher Tailgate for many years, Monroe teacher Kimberly Petrafesa came out for the first time this year. Petrafesa and her husband are both UConn alumni, she from the Neag School, he from the School of Business, and they decided their sons, James, 10, and Evan, seven, are at good ages to enjoy an afternoon of tailgating and football.
“It’s a mix of the alumni thing with the teacher thing, and it’s been a great day,” Petrafesa says. “It’s a chance to get to talk to colleagues from across the state in a more casual setting. It’s relaxing. It’s a beautiful day. I think it’s just a great opportunity to connect outside of your own little hometown or teaching bubble.”
The tailgate included hamburgers and hotdogs grilled up by Red Rock Tavern, a variety of other food, music, and prizes that included CEA T-shirts.
“Public education is enduring a tough season, and we never lose sight of the important work before us, but we all need to recharge sometimes to be ready to continue the good fight,” says CEA President Kate Dias. “Today is about taking a breather—enjoying good food, good friends, and some UConn spirit. Each year we welcome new faces and catch up with old friends, and it’s always a joy.”
“Just being able to come together as teachers from around the state of Connecticut to enjoy a nice afternoon is a treat,” says Region 15 teacher Geri Ristow. “I’m a UConn alum, so it’s nice to be able to continue to support the UConn Huskies.”
While homecoming is the one football game each year Ristow reliably attends, she says she’s a frequent attendee at UConn men’s and women’s basketball games. CEA is offering discounted tickets to the rest of UConn’s home football games, and discounted basketball and hockey tickets will be available soon.
Retired Bridgeport teacher Ana Batista is another big UConn fan and enjoys attending the tailgate but also makes use of CEA member benefits discounts to the Yard Goats as well as when shopping and traveling.
“Now that I’m retired, I travel a lot,” she says, “so I frequently use the CEA discount at the Parking Spot when I fly out of Bradley. I’ve been to Puerto Rico, Sarasota, Miami, and Orlando this year, taking full advantage of my retirement.”
Even though she’s retired, Batista sees value in staying involved with her union and the teaching profession.
“Here at homecoming today, I walked from one parking lot to another, and I met a teacher from LEARN. She was telling me a couple of things that are going on there that are very different from what’s happening in other districts. I think it’s always important to be able to stay engaged, and, as a CEA-Retired member, I’m happy to still be part of the union.”
