Educators know how important it is to recognize and celebrate their students’ identities, cultures, and backgrounds and many set an example by sharing their own pride in who they are with students.
A recent parade, part of the Dia de Portugal Hartford Festival, gave teachers a chance to showcase their Portuguese heritage and connect with students who are also Portuguese-American.
This was the second year CEA members have marched in the Dia de Portugal parade, and this year they carried two banners that read “Because of a Teacher, Every Profession is Possible”—one in English and the other in Portuguese.
Jennifer Rodriguez, a Portuguese-American first-grade teacher at Anna M. Reynolds Elementary School in Newington and a Connecticut Teacher of the Year finalist said that last year, when the group first marched, many students realized for the first time that their teachers were Portuguese-American.
“Even the kids on stage, a lot of them are our students, and when they see us all together and they see the signs they make the connection,” said Rodriguez, referring to Portuguese-American students who attended the event and sang both the American and Portuguese national anthems.
Rodriguez said that the event allows for representation of teachers’ Portuguese heritage, allowing students and families to make connections between their education and their culture.
“During a time where we’re having challenges with teacher retention and recruitment, I think it’s really important for organizations and teachers to get out in the public in ways like this,” said Rodriguez. “We hope to promote future educators or aspiring educators in this process.”
The years following the pandemic have seen a rise in teacher turnover rates, with over 20% of teachers leaving their positions in the 2022-23 school year.
“As teachers, we always honor and respect the students in front of us, and we value the fact that they’re multicultural,” said Meriden teacher Angela Fragoso, a 2024 Teacher of the Year finalist “For Jen and I, this is a particular day of pride because we’re representing the Portuguese culture and heritage.”
She added, “It’s great for the community to see that their teachers that are in the classroom also have a cultural identity and background. That’s reflected here today, and it’s just a day where we appreciate the community.”
According to Rodriguez, the festival and parade died off for a time in the early 2000s. It was thanks to the Portuguese Club of Hartford that the event is once again hosted annually. After the parade, local families could enjoy Portuguese cuisine and music in celebration of their heritage.
“I think this event is important for these young children to have someone to look up to,” said Maria Sparmer, a recently retired university professor who participated in the parade. “The more representation educators have, the better for the profession, and the better for the community.”
