What do you remember most about elementary school? Who do you remember most from elementary school? Your friends? Your Principal? Your special teachers?
I would bet that you remember that teacher who changed your life. Here in Stratford, we have wonderfully devoted, committed, and courageous teachers. Recently, I sat down with two local teachers who some of you may know: Marc Maignan, or Mr. M, as many know him by, and his mom, Sharon Maignan (Ms. M), both currently at Franklin Elementary School.
I met Mr. M when he taught art at Wilcoxson School, where my daughters attend. And then our paths crossed again as we were both presenters at the MLK Day Event hosted by the Sterling Community Center earlier this year, and again when he attended an art opening at my bookshop with his mom.
Both teachers have very different journeys to the profession, but their love for our children is clear. Sharon told me, “Our children are the future. They are like tender plants needing nurturing. An outstanding teacher exemplifies patience, consistency, fairness in discipline, flexibility, knowledge of subject matter and the ability to convey that subject matter masterfully so that students will understand and process the information with ease.” Sharon has been a teacher for over fifty years.
Sharon grew up in the Bronx and began her career after relocating to Stamford in 1976, where she took her first teaching job. She told me that for a short time she was a real estate agent. “I took pride in knowing I had skills in other areas, but my true heart was in teaching and not sales. When I was about eight years old, I would line up my dolls on the bed and play school. That is when I sparked the desire to help students learn and become productive.”
Marc, who never considered becoming a teacher, is in his fifth year teaching art in Stratford. Born and raised here, he attended Eli Whitney Elementary, Flood Middle School, and Bunnell High School. He shared with me, “I never had any plans to become a teacher. It really wasn’t until I began working at St.Vincent’s Special Needs Services as a paraprofessional that my perception changed. I was always adamant in pursuing a career in the visual arts, but I wasn’t sure how. Having had the reward of providing care for students with disabilities and complex medical needs, it made me think that I can teach art to school-age children. So, that’s what led me to earning my teaching certification in art education (K-12).”
In Connecticut this 2025-2026 school year, there are over eight areas within the school system that need teachers. There is a teacher shortage throughout the state, and for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), there is even a greater shortage, locally and nationally. Between 2015 and 2023 there was a slight increase of a little over 3% (or 2,000+) of new hires who were teachers of color. That means it took eight years to recruit approximately 2,000 teachers of color in the entire state of Connecticut, according to a report from the Connecticut State Department of Education.
Mr. M shared something else that struck me during our conversation. He said, “I am still a paraprofessional at St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services. I usually work my summers there. I’ve also been a graphic designer for Whole Foods Greenwich, a broadcast media intern for News 12 CT, and a marketing associate for American View Productions. I’ve also performed voice-over for local productions.”
Teachers have long been underpaid, and his statement here speaks to that in some capacity. I am wholly certain (even though I didn’t ask him), that Mr. M enjoys his other jobs enough to spend his summers working them. But ‘need’ may also be a part of that.
We know Mr. M and Ms. M are educators because they love and believe in our young people, but do you know the starting salary of a new teacher in Connecticut? No? It’s $50,000. And for a more seasoned teacher, the range is between $86,500 – $90,897, according to Teach Connecticut.
What is it like teaching in the same place as your mom (or son)? Learn more about Mr. M and Ms. M in our April 27th issue of the Stratford Crier.
And don’t forget – Teacher Appreciation Week kicks off on May 4th and runs through May 8th. Be sure to send your favorite teacher a note, give a great gift card to your kids’ teachers, or something to show how much they matter to you, as well as to your kids.
