Helen Elperina
Helen Elperina and her brother were born into a family of teachers in Belarus, Russia. Her grandparents, parents and an aunt and uncle were all teachers. After receiving a degree from the Minsk Polytechnic Institute, Helen started her career as an electrical engineer. She soon followed the call of her first love however, and earned a second master’s degree in teaching from the Institute. She married and had two sons before her family came to the United States in 1989. She became certified to teach mathematics, physics, technology and Russian in Connecticut.
Helen strengthened her English language skills as a teacher's aide at a New London Nursery school earning five dollars an hour. She later spent a year as a substitute teacher, and then taught an integrated math, science and technology program at New London High School. After answering an ad in the newspaper, she was hired to teach physics at Branford High School in 1994.
When Helen began teaching physics at Branford, there were thirty-one students, one honors section and no advanced placement classes. Now there are approximately one hundred sixty students, five honors sections and two advanced placement classes. She started the Physics Club the year after she began in Branford and in 2004, secured three grants to start the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative with parent Gunther Danneheim. Students involved with STEAM meet once a week to work on projects for a variety of competitions such as the Yale Physics Olympics and Odyssey of the Mind. She also created the Kids Teaching Kids program which brings high school and elementary school students together, with the older students teaching the younger students and recently began participating in the Science Olympiad with 9th and 10th graders.
In 2007-2008, Helen was chosen Branford's, "Teacher of the Year." She also traveled to Japan for three weeks through a Fulbright Japanese Memorial Fund Program. She worked with the Japanese Department of Education to learn about education in Japan and to strengthen the bond between Branford and Japanese teachers and students.
All of Helen Elperina's students soon learn that her classroom is a perfect place to learn. Many of her students have gone on to the science, engineering, or physics fields themselves. Most of her students whether in the science field or not, come back to visit when they can. They tell her how much they appreciate the incredible variety of opportunities to learn she made available to them - and to express their thanks - to a wonderful teacher.
Helen strengthened her English language skills as a teacher's aide at a New London Nursery school earning five dollars an hour. She later spent a year as a substitute teacher, and then taught an integrated math, science and technology program at New London High School. After answering an ad in the newspaper, she was hired to teach physics at Branford High School in 1994.
When Helen began teaching physics at Branford, there were thirty-one students, one honors section and no advanced placement classes. Now there are approximately one hundred sixty students, five honors sections and two advanced placement classes. She started the Physics Club the year after she began in Branford and in 2004, secured three grants to start the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative with parent Gunther Danneheim. Students involved with STEAM meet once a week to work on projects for a variety of competitions such as the Yale Physics Olympics and Odyssey of the Mind. She also created the Kids Teaching Kids program which brings high school and elementary school students together, with the older students teaching the younger students and recently began participating in the Science Olympiad with 9th and 10th graders.
In 2007-2008, Helen was chosen Branford's, "Teacher of the Year." She also traveled to Japan for three weeks through a Fulbright Japanese Memorial Fund Program. She worked with the Japanese Department of Education to learn about education in Japan and to strengthen the bond between Branford and Japanese teachers and students.
All of Helen Elperina's students soon learn that her classroom is a perfect place to learn. Many of her students have gone on to the science, engineering, or physics fields themselves. Most of her students whether in the science field or not, come back to visit when they can. They tell her how much they appreciate the incredible variety of opportunities to learn she made available to them - and to express their thanks - to a wonderful teacher.