"My classroom operates with the philosophy that all students can achieve excellence and we continually aim high," says Raymond Johnson, a fifth-grade teacher at Hockanum School in East Hartford. Last year, Mr. Johnson joined colleagues in his district to pilot Family Portfolios, a project that directly involves parents in their children's academic progress. The project's at-home efforts so dramatically improved classroom performance, that Mr. Johnson has implemented it again this year and has introduced it to other educators throughout the district. Currently, Mr. Johnson's students are participating in an innovative, experiential learning unit on Westward Expansion in the 1800s that he developed. He invites all students at Hockanum to hone their writing and computer skills in the afterschool, multi-age newspaper club he heads. An educator for 31 years, Mr. Johnson received the Connecticut State Department of Education's 1988 Celebration of Excellence Award.
1966 Central Connecticut State University, B.A.
