Diane Kaczynski
Diane was born on November 4, 1950, in Waterbury, CT. She has two younger siblings, her sister Carole and her brother, Richard. Her dad, Peter, who is almost 90 year of age, is her inspiration and strength. Her mom, Helen, passed away in 2010. She grew up in a close-knit Italian family where there was always love, good food, and family unity. She was taught the importance of a strong work ethic. Diane attended both grammar and high school in Waterbury, graduating from Sacred Heart High School in 1968 where she was very involved in the school yearbook and school newspaper. She was also a member of the National Honor Society. It was one of her English teachers, Sister Elizabeth, who instilled in her the love of teaching and arranged for her to volunteer at the elementary school affiliated with the high school. Immediately she knew teaching was in her future and her college goal was set. She wanted to be a teacher and instill in children a love of learning. Diane graduated from SCSU, Southern Connecticut State University, in 1972. In the spring of her senior year, prior to graduation, she interviewed in Waterbury and was offered her first teaching position, a first grade at Duggan School. Her first class consisted of twelve students and her name, Miss Mini, pronounced “Meany” drew many giggles. In 1977, while employed, Diane received her Master of Reading and Language Arts degree from SCSU. While at Southern, Diane met her husband, Ted, and they married in 1974. They resided in Waterbury where Diane continued to teach first grade for six years being active in the PTA and tutoring inner city students. In the fall of 1977 they moved to Branford where their two children, Kara, and Jeff were born. Diane continued teaching by volunteering to teach religious education at St. Elizabeth Church while her children were young.
In 1983, Diane substituted for Nancy Jones at the Mandana Armstrong Nursery School, which eventually became more permanent when she was offered a position to co-teach the four-year-old program alongside Mary Lou Welch and Nancy Kahl. In 1985, she taught the Pre-K program, sharing the position with Tina Iaccarino. During this time, Diane was ready to go back to the classroom and was hired as an instructional aide at Branford Hills School. In the summer of 1987, she was fortunate enough to be offered a second grade teaching position at Indian Neck School where Marilyn Collett was a teacher/administrator. When the new elementary schools were ready, Marilyn and Diane decided to team-teach at Mary R. Tisko under Principal Mark Rabinowitz. In 1998, she became a reading specialist at Tisko when Joan Albinger retired. At that time, she went back to school and received her Sixth Year in 2002 as a Reading and Language Arts Consultant and enjoyed working alongside Mary Manware, Sue Swart, and Joni Thomas. In 2002, Both Diane and Sue Swart received a commendation from the Branford Board of Education for demonstrating a high level of professionalism and teamwork to enhance the learning environment at Tisko. Colleagues were close and the dedication to excellence in teaching was a priority. Diane enjoyed giving workshops, modeling lessons, setting up a leveled book room and organizing the Parent Lending Library. In 2002, Diane organized a fundraiser based on the book, “Beatrice’s Goat”, for Heifer International. Tisko students raised $1800 by collecting their spare change and raising awareness of third world poverty and educational disparity. Her then principal, Jim O’Connor, graciously agreed to kiss a goat to celebrate their accomplishments.
Diane retired in 2012 and enjoys traveling with Ted, her husband of 40 years, working out, antiquing, gardening and walking the dogs. She and Ted are so very proud of their daughter, Kara, who has been a school counselor for twelve years at Carrigan School in West Haven and their son, Jeff, who is a paramedic and firefighter in Branford. She is extremely grateful to all her family and friends who have made her teaching career fulfilling and memorable.
In 1983, Diane substituted for Nancy Jones at the Mandana Armstrong Nursery School, which eventually became more permanent when she was offered a position to co-teach the four-year-old program alongside Mary Lou Welch and Nancy Kahl. In 1985, she taught the Pre-K program, sharing the position with Tina Iaccarino. During this time, Diane was ready to go back to the classroom and was hired as an instructional aide at Branford Hills School. In the summer of 1987, she was fortunate enough to be offered a second grade teaching position at Indian Neck School where Marilyn Collett was a teacher/administrator. When the new elementary schools were ready, Marilyn and Diane decided to team-teach at Mary R. Tisko under Principal Mark Rabinowitz. In 1998, she became a reading specialist at Tisko when Joan Albinger retired. At that time, she went back to school and received her Sixth Year in 2002 as a Reading and Language Arts Consultant and enjoyed working alongside Mary Manware, Sue Swart, and Joni Thomas. In 2002, Both Diane and Sue Swart received a commendation from the Branford Board of Education for demonstrating a high level of professionalism and teamwork to enhance the learning environment at Tisko. Colleagues were close and the dedication to excellence in teaching was a priority. Diane enjoyed giving workshops, modeling lessons, setting up a leveled book room and organizing the Parent Lending Library. In 2002, Diane organized a fundraiser based on the book, “Beatrice’s Goat”, for Heifer International. Tisko students raised $1800 by collecting their spare change and raising awareness of third world poverty and educational disparity. Her then principal, Jim O’Connor, graciously agreed to kiss a goat to celebrate their accomplishments.
Diane retired in 2012 and enjoys traveling with Ted, her husband of 40 years, working out, antiquing, gardening and walking the dogs. She and Ted are so very proud of their daughter, Kara, who has been a school counselor for twelve years at Carrigan School in West Haven and their son, Jeff, who is a paramedic and firefighter in Branford. She is extremely grateful to all her family and friends who have made her teaching career fulfilling and memorable.