Hartford's 2021 Teacher of the Year, Victoria Shears, likes to laugh a lot. And if you've got a case of the blues, she's determined to get you to laugh, too.
In fact, she considers her humor the trait that sets her apart.
"I'm very into self care," said Shears, at a Thursday evening event in the auditorium at Weaver High School, where she was named the winner. "So, if I see you looking down... I'm gonna try to make you smile, because it's important for us to take care of us as individuals as well as professionals."
Shears is a resource teacher at SAND Elementary School, where the principal says she delivers a lot more than humor.
"Being a great human being put her on top," says SAND School Principal Gerardo Heredia. "Being a great teacher, being a great resource, being a strong woman, that's what put her on top. She's the best."