For the second year in a row, WICC Radio’s Melissa in the Morning is meeting members of the public in diners around Fairfield County to hear directly from people from all walks of life—including teachers. Educators are discussing budget battles, legislative priorities, and how teachers go the extra mile for their students every day.
One of host Melissa Sheketoff’s first guests at her first diner stop, Curley’s in Stamford, was Stamford Education Association President John Corcoran.
“Everything that the union does is not just about teachers,” Corcoran said. “Everything from working conditions to contractual language—those all tie in to helping kids. You don’t get into this profession for the fame, the glory, the money, or anything like that—you do it for the love of kids. And in the end, what we do as a union, our decisions, our negotiations, all are to benefit kids.”
Fairfield Education Association President Mick McGarry with Melissa Sheketoff.
At Curley’s Sheketoff also spoke with Stamford teachers Caitlen Sheeran and Michelle Pusser (pictured above right) and Greenwich Education Association President Lil Perone. Sheeran and Pusser discussed the current reality of cell phones in schools, the changes they’ve seen during their time teaching middle and high school, and Stamford’s introduction of the Tango Flight curriculum, which will bring the opportunity to build an airplane to students at the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering where Pusser works. Perone discussed how her wealthy community is looking to cut $4.5 million from the education budget.
At her second stop, Andros Diner in Fairfield, Sheketoff spoke with CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey as well as Westport teacher Faith Sweeney and Fairfield Education Association President Mick McGarry.
DeLancey discussed budget battles that are going on in towns around the state.
“Investment in public education is really critical,” she said. “In New London they’re flat funding their budget, which doesn’t allow for inflation or increases in contractual responsibilities, so cuts will have to come from somewhere. That will mean reductions in services and increased class sizes. You have to spend money to have a thriving school system.”
There are five more stops on the Melissa In The Morning Diner Tour on Thursdays through June 12, so tune into WICC 600 AM or 95.9 FM between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. every Thursday to hear from more educators about what’s going on in schools. CEA is a sponsor of the diner tour.
- May 15 – Pop’s Family Restaurant, Milford
- May 22 – Silver Star Diner, Norwalk
- May 29 – Plaza Diner, Shelton
- June 5 – Blue Sky Diner, Stratford
- June 12, Frankie’s Diner, Bridgeport
