Berlin Community Celebrates its Own: David Bosso Named State Teacher of the Year

Berlin Connecticut is very proud to celebrate one of its own as Connecticut's 2012 teacher of the year. Social studies teacher David Bosso is not only a 14th year teacher at Berlin High School, but is also an alum, and the son of an alum, of the school.

Bosso's ties to his community run deep. During the ceremony held at Berlin High School which introduced Bosso as Teacher of the Year, Mayor Adam Salina spoke about playing on the basketball team with Bosso in high school.

Former Berlin superintendent of schools Richard Paskiewicz spoke about playing football at Berlin High with Bosso's father, and about knowing Bosso as a student. Paskiewicz also knew Bosso's wife Jennifer as a student when he served as her middle school principal in Rocky Hill. He later hired both Bossos to teach at Berlin High — which is where they met. "David, you never officially thanked me for hiring Jennifer," Paskiewicz joked.

Speaking about the honor of being named Connecticut's Teacher of the Year Bosso said, "As you might imagine, this is an incredible thrill. But it is even more significant because it happened here. Berlin High School means a lot to me. My father went to school here, my brother went to school here, I went to school here, I met my wife here, and I've taught here for 14 years. I've traveled around the world because I am a teacher at Berlin High School."

As a social studies educator, Bosso has been able to enrich his teaching about world history and cultures with trips to Ghana, China, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Egypt.

On his blog, Global Wanderings, Bosso writes, "I have a keen desire to not only educate my students about the world around them, but also to learn as much as possible to better inform my own knowledge base."

"Mr. Bosso is a world traveler. He has taken what he has learned from classrooms across the globe and shared his insights with us," student Lia D'Amato told students and officials. "When he learns something new, so do we. Through his travels, he inspires all of us to break out of the confines of our small town of Berlin and look beyond at all that is good in the world."

State Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said, "I am pleased to introduce as the 2012 Teacher of the Year an educator who has developed his students' cultural awareness and fostered global understanding in the classroom — essential skills for graduates entering a diverse and global economy."

David Erwin, Superintendent of Berlin Public Schools, spoke about Boss's many contributions to the school community, which include being co-advisor to student government, head coach of the boy's varsity basketball team, a BEST and TEAM mentor, and host to many student teachers.

D'Amato added, "His students can't help but be engaged. He encourages us to be the best we can be, because that is what he expects of himself — the best. Through his example, he reminds us we are capable of anything we set our minds to."

Bosso will travel to Washington D. C. in the spring to meet with the President and U.S. Secretary of Education. As Connecticut's Teacher of the Year, he will automatically become a candidate for National Teacher of the Year.

Kristen Record, Connecticut's 2011 Teacher of the Year, said, "Dave is a fantastic example of the great public school teachers we have here in Connecticut and will represent us well in the coming year (and beyond!) What a wonderful honor for Dave and his community!"