MONROE, CT — Monroe’s reigning Teacher of the Year Michael Ances had a surprise for everyone gathered inside the Masuk High School auditorium for the annual teacher convocation Monday morning, a pep rally of sorts for educators before the start of the new school year.
“This might be a good time for us to try to create something together,” Ances said from behind the podium. “So, I always did want to have my Oprah moment. So if you would all please reach behind your seat back, in between the back rest and your seat. You should find something. It’s a high tech musical instrument. Now I’ll tell you, I only got 500, so there’s got to be one for everybody.”
Taped to the back of nearly every seat was a kazoo, compliments of Creative Music in Monroe.
Standing onstage, Ances, a music teacher in the district, who is also Masuk’s band director, reached into an inner pocket of his suit jacket to pull out his own kazoo.
Moments later, members of the crowd hummed into their kazoos every time Ances jumped, before playing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” together.
After cheers and laughter filled the auditorium, they played a few riffs from “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple.
“That’s really good. But are we, dare I say, missing something?” Ances asked. “Mr. Lopuch, what does this need?”
“More cowbell,” Pete Lopuch, a science teacher, called out from the audience, before ringing a cowbell in rhythm with the kazoos.
Ances, who was introduced by former Teacher of the Year, Sean Serafino, showed humility over winning this year’s award, while praising the quality of the teachers in the school district, saying he is a reflection of them.
State Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe, and Sen. Jason Perillo, R-21st, presented a citation from the Connecticut Legislature in Ances’ honor, as well as one to Paraeducator of the Year Karen Gibbons of Masuk.
Masuk Principal Steve Swensen read comments about Gibbons from families, colleagues and staff praising her for always going above and beyond, for her big heart, positive attitude, patience, kindness, care for students and for doing her job without complaint.
Gibbons joked that she had a longer speech prepared, but Ances had asked her to leave more time for his. “But I really want to say, this really means a lot to me and I’d like to thank you all for all the kind words,” she said.
Speakers at the ceremony included First Selectman Terry Rooney, who told faculty members how pivotal they are to children’s development, including their decision making and critical thinking.
“That’s a big responsibility — far bigger than what I have,” Rooney said. “I’m looking forward to working with all of you in this 25-26 season and having a lot of success.”
Board of Education members Dennis Condon, Jerry Stevens and Greg Beno also attended the ceremony.
Assistant Superintendent Sheila Casinelli introduced all of the teachers who earned their tenure and Swensen, Jockey Hollow Principal Julia Strong, Fawn Hollow Principal Leigh Metcalf Ances, Monroe Elementary Principal Kelly Svendsen and Stepney Principal Ashley Furnari recognized those serving five, 10 and 15 years with pins.
At the beginning of the ceremony, children led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Masuk Quartet sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Members of the Class of 2026 were paired with children who will graduate from Masuk in the Class of 2038 to share what they are most excited about for the new school year.
‘The legacy of teaching’
Sue Dixon, president of the Monroe Education Association, shared how health issues over the summer made her reflect on her career. Despite all of the challenges of being a teacher, she decided to focus on the positive aspects of her profession, including how every day is different from the next, as well as the joy of working with children.
She recalled a “funny and honest exchange” with a fourth grader who walked up to her desk one day and said, “I like your new sneakers Mrs. Dixon. They are much better than the weird shoes you usually wear.”
“I laugh with my students every day,” Dixon said. “You need to be a people person. Our profession matters. We make connections with students and families. Thank you for showing up every day and being amazing.”
Superintendent Joseph Kobza shared the story of his youngest daughter’s move out of he and his wife’s Monroe home, into her new apartment in Charlotte at age 23.
Things did not go smoothly, with setbacks including a flat tire, an apartment that was not cleaned and a closet leak not repaired prior to moving in, a leaky washing machine, and an area rug that was larger than the room it was supposed to go in, to name just a few obstacles.
Kobza tried to walk his daughter through shutting off the water valve over FaceTime during the washing machine leak and when he and his wife arrived in Charlotte, both helped their daughter and tried to put her at ease.
Two months later, Kobza said his daughter’s panicked phone calls became less frequent, as she started to figure things out and gain more confidence and independence.
Kobza noted how there are many parallels between teaching students and parenting.
“We create environments where they will struggle and face setbacks,” he said. “Sometimes when problems develop, we’ll coax them through it. But the goal isn’t to solve every problem for them. The goal is to give them the confidence, the resilience and the independence to navigate challenges on their own.”
“As educators, we don’t just deliver lessons, we build confidence,” Kobza said. “We don’t just teach skills, we nurture independence. Each time a student wrestles with a tough problem, stumbles with a first draft or struggles to grasp a new concept, we’re standing beside them, coaching, encouraging and reminding them that they are capable.”
“And here’s the most important part,” he continued. “Just like my daughter’s frantic phone calls started to fade, one day our students won’t need us in the same way that they do now. They’ll carry the lessons, the resilience, the belief in their selves that we helped cultivate. That’s the legacy of teaching.”
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
