Kennedy High School in Waterbury Celebrates National Teacher of the Year

The 2016 National Teacher of the Year is one of Connecticut’s own—Jahana Hayes of Waterbury’s Kennedy High School and the school celebrated the news of Hayes’ award on Friday with a pep rally.

Hayes, a Waterbury native and social studies teacher, has been at Kennedy for the last decade after spending two years teaching at New Haven’s Hillhouse High School.

Hayes was named Connecticut teacher of the year last fall and beat out more than 50 teachers around the country to take the national award.

She said she’s excited for the opportunity to bring the national spotlight on her hometown for something positive.

“Big things are going to happen here. These kids have a charge. They know that every single one of them has something big coming,” Hayes said.

She attributes her success to relating to her students and being real.

“I’m here to learn from you just like you’re here to learn from me. There are no levels here. They get that,” she said.

As part of her award, Hayes will spend the next year out of the classroom, traveling around the country as an education advocate and spreading her teaching philosophy.

The celebration of her award is just getting started.

Next week Hayes heads to Washington, DC for a ceremony in her honor at the White House.

Gov. Dannel Malloy was one of the people at the rally on Friday to say congratulations to Hayes.

“We live in one great country and you live in a great city that has produced America’s teacher of the year you should be proud of that,” Malloy said.

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