Teacher Grace Griffin has provided a wealth of educational opportunities for students at Church Street Elementary School, a Title I school in Hamden, Connecticut. She developed and coordinated numerous after-school enrichment programs including a CMT Club to help students prepare for the Connecticut Mastery Test, a chess club whose team members placed at the state chess championship, a debate club, a student-run school newspaper and a ballroom dancing program. In 2007, she created a schoolwide talent show, bringing staff and parents together to coach students, make costumes and scenery, find appropriate music and serve as masters of ceremony. Over 300 parents and staff members attended the show. Griffin has received grants from the Hamden Education Foundation for learning experiences such as a trip to New York's Lincoln Center and a schoolwide World's Fair, in which fourth graders demonstrate their skills, talents and knowledge of world cultures for parents and the school community. The number of Church Street fifth graders at or above proficiency on state math, writing and reading assessments rose significantly under Griffin's instruction, and the number of her students reaching their goal in reading on the CMT rose by 18 percent. Griffin has provided professional development workshops in technology for staff members and has served as a cooperating teacher for students from local universities. She is a member of the Hamden Public Schools Language Arts Committee and several other committees.
1994 Southern Connecticut State University, B.S.
