“Enfield schools don’t just prepare students for the next grade, we prepare them for life by modeling kindness, resilience, and teamwork,” JFK Middle School teacher Janice Cerrato told Enfield Board of Education members at a recent meeting.
Cerrato is just one of the many teachers across Connecticut this spring speaking up as part of CEA’s public awareness campaign, Teachers Go the Extra Mile for Their Students Every Day. Teachers who speak up at board of education and other town meetings this winter and spring receive a CEA Teachers Go the Extra Mile t-shirt.
Cerrato’s colleague at JFK Middle School, Kelsey McGuire-Bruce (pictured above), also spoke at a recent Board of Education meeting as part of CEA’s campaign.
“As a community, we need to recognize and honor the fact that Teachers Go the Extra Mile every single day. Teachers don’t do it for recognition, but the recognition is absolutely deserved. Teachers’ commitment and hard work are what transform our schools into an environment of growth, understanding, and success,” she said.
“Tonight I’m recognizing all the dedicated teachers who I am fortunate enough to work with at JFK as well as across the district,” Cerrato said. “We do far more than teach assignments. We go above and beyond every day—whether it’s staying late to tutor a student, advising clubs, or simply offering a listening ear. We create an environment where every child feels seen, supported, and encouraged to grow. Beyond the classroom we show up in ways that make a difference. We might be screaming from the sidelines at a game and we volunteer at dances and chaperone field trips. Our presence at these events sends powerful messages to students: ‘You matter’ and ‘we care about you.’ The unwavering commitment of educators shapes the hearts of schools.”
JFK Middle School teacher Janice Cerrato spoke to the Board of Education at a recent meeting.
A proud graduate of Enfield Public Schools, Cerrato said that some of the ways she Goes the Extra Mile include by serving as a PTO liaison to strengthen bonds between parents and teachers and by acting as a LEAP advisor, supporting students and families with home visits or simply checking in to help reduce chronic absenteeism.
In the classroom, Cerrato teaches design and modeling.
“It’s a problem-based learning system where students step into roles such as doctor, physical therapist, biomedical engineer, medical engineer, or design engineer,” she explained. “Through this course, students learn all about cerebral palsy, that’s our big umbrella. Students then design devices for their ‘patient.’ Their projects foster empathy and innovation. Students collaborate and compromise, and they solve problems and decide on the optimum design. I’m constantly inspired by their teamwork, their eagerness, and their outcomes. Students build devices that meet criteria and constraints and actually work.”
“It’s not just about the special events in the classroom, it’s about the every-day actions big and small that make such a difference in the lives of our students,” McGuire-Bruce said.
She highlighted a middle school colleague who is consistently thinking of her students and their diverse needs.
“She takes the time to translate every single math worksheet, every single class note, into Spanish for her Spanish-speaking student who just arrived here, ensuring that they have the same opportunity to succeed as their peers. That kind of commitment doesn’t happen during the school hours. It’s a mindset that spills over into her personal time, and it’s something that many teachers do to ensure their students feel seen, valued, and supported.”
McGuire-Bruce continued, “At the elementary level, the love and care teachers give extends into the small but significant things. Have you ever thought about how many classroom teachers purchase boxes of Costco granola bars or other snacks to provide for students who might not have a snack that day? These small acts of kindness go unnoticed by many, but they make the world of difference to those students. It’s not in their job description, but it’s something that teachers do because they want to make sure every child feels taken care of.”
Join Cerrato and McGuire-Bruce and speak up at your next Board of Education or Finance meeting to highlight the positive work of teachers at your school. When you or a colleague speaks at a meeting, make sure someone takes a photo or video. Share photos or videos on social media and tag CEA’s accounts for a chance to be reposted. Email photos, videos, or a copy of a member’s statement to CEA Training and Organizational Development Specialist Katie Grant, and CEA will send the member a Teachers Go the Extra Mile Every Day t-shirt. Find out more.
“Let’s support educators and remember that the work we do, often unseen, makes a lasting impact, not only on the lives of our children, but on the community as a whole,” McGuire-Bruce said. “The success and growth of our students extends into families, neighborhoods, and beyond, creating a stronger, more connected community for all of us. Strong public schools equal a strong community.”
