Teachers, we know you spend far too much of your own money on classroom supplies. That’s why Christine & Salt, along with their charity Rise and Shine Connecticut, are once again helping Clear the List!
🍎❤️Friday, August 21st Clear the List teacher is Mary Chenard, a special education teacher at Edison Middle School! Mary teaches in a self-contained classroom for medically fragile students, where learning goes far beyond traditional academics. Her students work on life skills, cooking, math, reading, science and social studies — and they even run a coffee cart, making and selling coffee to school staff while practicing real-world skills. Mary’s wishlist will help give these students the supplies and resources they need to learn, grow and become more independent. Click here to help Clear the List for Mary and her students!
🍎❤️Thursday, August 20th Clear the List teacher is Caitlin Klimczyk, an elementary special education teacher in the Intensive Learning Needs classroom in Simsbury. Caitlin’s students work every day on communication, independence, life skills and functional academics — including real-world job experience through their student-run coffee cart! Her wish list includes sensory, communication, vocational and hands-on learning materials to help her students build confidence and independence. Click here to help Caitlin Clear the List!
🍎❤️Wednesday, August 19th Clear the List teacher is Sara Mullins. Sara is a first-grade teacher at Langford School in East Hartford, where she teaches reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Langford has the highest population of multilingual learners in East Hartford, so Sara is hoping to fill her classroom with more visual and hands-on learning tools to help every student thrive. Let’s help Sara start the school year strong — click here to Clear the List!
🍎❤️Tuesday, August 18th Clear the List teacher is Amanda Welton from West Stafford School, where she’s in her fifth year teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten Special Education. Amanda actually lives in Stafford and has two kids of her own — including one who goes to West Stafford — so she loves running into her students around town.She has two classroom sayings: “progress over perfection” and “presume competence.” And because she gets to work with many of her students for three or four years, she really gets to watch that progress happen.This year, Amanda is looking for more accessible toys and sensory items so every student has the opportunity to learn, play and grow. Click here to clear her list!
🍎❤️Friday, August 14th Clear the List teacher: Amber Saporoso is a Special Education teacher at Sedgwick Middle School in West Hartford. Amber has spent nearly 20 years in special education — and as someone who grew up with her own learning disability, she’s passionate about teaching kids that learning differently doesn’t limit what they can accomplish. Her list has simple tools to help her students stay focused, organized and confident. Click here to help Clear Amber’s List!
Amber Saporoso ready for class!
🍎❤️Thursday, August 13th Clear the List teacher: Kelly Roman has been teaching in Meriden for 23 years and is a Media Specialist at Washington Middle School. While she teaches technology, she also knows when it’s time to put the screens DOWN! Kelly’s “Media Balance” days give students a chance to unplug, play games, laugh and connect face-to-face. She’s also hoping to bring her “Friends Not Phones” initiative to the school cafeteria, giving students fun ways to interact during lunch instead of scrolling. Click here to help Kelly create more screen-free moments for her students by clearing her list!
Kelly Roman with two of her students
🍎❤️ Wednesday, August 12th Clear the List teacher: Tiffany Buzzell is a special education teacher at the Manchester Transition Center, part of Manchester High School, and she’s building a brand-new program from the ground up for students with severe disabilities preparing for life after high school. And get this — she’s teaching full-time, working part-time at Vaughan’s in Hartford AND earning her Master’s in Special Education. Tiffany needs our help getting this new classroom up and running — click here to clear her list!
Tiffany Buzzell at work at the Manchester Transition Center
🍎❤️Tuesday, August 11th Clear the List teacher: Angela Egan is a Literacy Specialist at Marlborough Elementary School, supporting students and teachers in grades K–6. With 15 years in education, Angela is starting at a new school this year and building her literacy space from the ground up! Her list includes hands-on reading materials, classroom rewards, organizational supplies and everyday essentials to create a welcoming space where kids can learn and grow. CLICK HERE to clear Angela’s List!
Mrs. Egan welcomes you to Reading Room 352!
🍎❤️Monday, August 10th Clear the List teacher: Melissa Alford is a Pre-K educator at Memorial School in East Hampton! Melissa has spent 9 years teaching in public schools after 19 years in child care, and with East Hampton facing a tough budget year, she could really use our help getting her classroom ready. CLICK HERE to clear Melissa’s list!
