Colleen Cote McDonald
Of French-Canadian descent, Colleen Cote McDonald was born in New Hampshire, the eldest child of Dominic and Annette Cote. She and younger brother Stephen were reared in Branford, spending their formative summers in New Hampshire and Maine, with their extended French family. In the summer cottages of her grandparents, aunts and uncles, loving all things French was developed. Colleen graduated from Branford High in 1970, where her interest in becoming an educator was born. She had the unique experience of taking French V with her dad. She experienced firsthand the methodology of her father's text book, Ecouter et Parler and embraced this innovative method of learning. She pursued her passion for learning and children at Central Connecticut State University. In 1974, Colleen received a B.S. in Education and minored in psychology. Her twenty-seven year career began in 1974, as a fourth grade teacher at Eades Street School, in an open classroom sharing seventy-two children with team teaching partners, Susan Swart and Barbara Gelo. During that year, Colleen met her future husband, Frank McDonald. They married and settled in Branford in 1976. Eades Street School was closed for renovations and Colleen spent the next few years teaching grades three and four at St. Mary's School, in town-rented classrooms and Pine Orchard School.
Colleen received her master's degree in 1979 from Southern Connecticut State University and returned to Eades Street, now called Sliney School. Here, with partner Sue Swart, she taught fourth and fifth grade, implementing an accelerated program under the guidance of Principal, Herbert Gruendel. Colleen was nominated for Connecticut Teacher of the Year in 1980. In 1982, Frank and Colleen welcomed home their son Eric.
In 1986, she returned to teaching, where an emphasis on language arts and higher order thinking had been implemented. A believer in the link between reading and writing, Colleen brought Writer's Workshop to Branford and implemented peer training sessions. Colleen served on many curriculum and interviewing committees. The last thirteen years of her career were at Tisko School. Colleen was again nominated as CCSU Teacher of the Year. At Tisko, Colleen and teaching partner, Terry Hammond, implemented a Multi-Age Program, combining third and fourth grade students for instruction, which became a model for other districts. Their philosophy was to track learning and progress over time, believing childhood should be a journey, not a race.
Since retiring, Colleen earned certification from CMED Institute and developed Turning Points, a consulting business. She served on the board of The Children's Community Programs of Connecticut, including six years as vice president. Colleen is active in the Advisory Board of The Women and Family Life Center.
Currently, Colleen is a Commissioner of the Cosgrove Animal Shelter. Recently, she trained a shelter dog for therapy work at Hospice and donates countless hours and resources to Labs4Rescue. Colleen is a weekly BHS mentor. Her commitment to lifetime learning is seen in ongoing study of French, her trips for small groups to France and Italy and oil painting. Colleen still cherishes learning and the challenges it brings to her life.
Colleen received her master's degree in 1979 from Southern Connecticut State University and returned to Eades Street, now called Sliney School. Here, with partner Sue Swart, she taught fourth and fifth grade, implementing an accelerated program under the guidance of Principal, Herbert Gruendel. Colleen was nominated for Connecticut Teacher of the Year in 1980. In 1982, Frank and Colleen welcomed home their son Eric.
In 1986, she returned to teaching, where an emphasis on language arts and higher order thinking had been implemented. A believer in the link between reading and writing, Colleen brought Writer's Workshop to Branford and implemented peer training sessions. Colleen served on many curriculum and interviewing committees. The last thirteen years of her career were at Tisko School. Colleen was again nominated as CCSU Teacher of the Year. At Tisko, Colleen and teaching partner, Terry Hammond, implemented a Multi-Age Program, combining third and fourth grade students for instruction, which became a model for other districts. Their philosophy was to track learning and progress over time, believing childhood should be a journey, not a race.
Since retiring, Colleen earned certification from CMED Institute and developed Turning Points, a consulting business. She served on the board of The Children's Community Programs of Connecticut, including six years as vice president. Colleen is active in the Advisory Board of The Women and Family Life Center.
Currently, Colleen is a Commissioner of the Cosgrove Animal Shelter. Recently, she trained a shelter dog for therapy work at Hospice and donates countless hours and resources to Labs4Rescue. Colleen is a weekly BHS mentor. Her commitment to lifetime learning is seen in ongoing study of French, her trips for small groups to France and Italy and oil painting. Colleen still cherishes learning and the challenges it brings to her life.