Jan Doyle
Though she’s now retired after 37 years as a teacher in West Haven, Jan Doyle hasn’t stopped teaching, or learning in the public sphere. Doyle, also a former member of the Representative Town Meeting, has combined aspects from the two for her show on Branford Community Television, called “Classroom Connections.” Her goal is to talk about education, and inform the electorate by having guests who are embedded in education, Doyle said.
When she was about to tape her first show in August 2007, a nervous Doyle was told to pretend she was in Starbucks having a conversation — and she’s done so at least three times a month since. Sitting in Branford’s Starbucks now, Doyle has no problem repeating the introduction to her show. “Hi, I’m Jan Doyle. Welcome to Classroom Connections,” Doyle says, changing her tone in conversation to show how she introduces her show. “I used to practice that for hours in the car; now I just say it.”
Doyle admits that as an RTM member, she appreciated camera time. She realized this, combined it with her love for education, and “Classroom Connections” was born. “My goal is not only to have a show that’s informative; my goal is to help the community at large understand education, see that our teachers really are hard-working, and that we’re all lifetime learners,” Doyle said. “I want to share that education is more than just test scores.”
Doyle was notified in June that she won an award from the Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards for her educational profile on John B. Sliney Elementary School.
The award comes from a series Doyle did on each of the Branford schools. Sliney was the third elementary school show Doyle did. School series are always the most energized and participatory shows she does, Doyle said. Doyle said the show started out simply geared toward elementary school children, bringing in authors and illustrators. “It then grew into the program I wanted it to — not just for education, but anything that affects learning,” she said. For the show, the principal brought on the school’s mascot, a larger-than-life giraffe — that Doyle said cinched the award. “I honestly think it was the giraffe who won everyone over; who cannot love that giraffe? Could you turn down a show with a giraffe? I couldn’t,” she said.
Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez, who has been a guest on Doyle’s show, said Doyle is so charismatic and interested in the subject matter; the shows provide a nice “give and take” about what’s going on. “She shows what is happening in our schools that might not otherwise be known in a board meeting or somewhere else,” Hernandez said. “She’s instrumental in brainstorming ideas, and eliciting responses from me and the other staff on topics that really pique the interest of the community.”
BCTV Station Manager Walter Mann, who notified Doyle that she had won the award, said she is most deserving, especially after all the effort she puts into the show. “I think it’s a unique program because of its focus on the education issues. You don’t see a lot of that out there, both on regular commercial TV or even PBS or community access TV. “I think the uniqueness provides a lot of information that people wouldn’t get elsewhere,” Mann said. Doyle’s show is broadcast on seven to ten stations around Connecticut and on AT&T UVerse Channel 99.
Speaking after just a year of retirement, Doyle still says it’s surprising to her that she taught for 37 years in different roles, all involving literacy or English. She’s hopeful one day she’ll be able to work for a network and offer her show to more people outside the immediate area. “I never expected to be doing anything for 37 years, even five years seems so long, but I loved teaching, and that’s exactly what I’m doing here. I’m teaching, I’m also learning, so I’m sort of a microcosm of my audience,” Doyle said. “I learn so many things from such gifted people on my show. I never would have had the opportunity to meet these people unless I had this show.”
When she was about to tape her first show in August 2007, a nervous Doyle was told to pretend she was in Starbucks having a conversation — and she’s done so at least three times a month since. Sitting in Branford’s Starbucks now, Doyle has no problem repeating the introduction to her show. “Hi, I’m Jan Doyle. Welcome to Classroom Connections,” Doyle says, changing her tone in conversation to show how she introduces her show. “I used to practice that for hours in the car; now I just say it.”
Doyle admits that as an RTM member, she appreciated camera time. She realized this, combined it with her love for education, and “Classroom Connections” was born. “My goal is not only to have a show that’s informative; my goal is to help the community at large understand education, see that our teachers really are hard-working, and that we’re all lifetime learners,” Doyle said. “I want to share that education is more than just test scores.”
Doyle was notified in June that she won an award from the Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards for her educational profile on John B. Sliney Elementary School.
The award comes from a series Doyle did on each of the Branford schools. Sliney was the third elementary school show Doyle did. School series are always the most energized and participatory shows she does, Doyle said. Doyle said the show started out simply geared toward elementary school children, bringing in authors and illustrators. “It then grew into the program I wanted it to — not just for education, but anything that affects learning,” she said. For the show, the principal brought on the school’s mascot, a larger-than-life giraffe — that Doyle said cinched the award. “I honestly think it was the giraffe who won everyone over; who cannot love that giraffe? Could you turn down a show with a giraffe? I couldn’t,” she said.
Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez, who has been a guest on Doyle’s show, said Doyle is so charismatic and interested in the subject matter; the shows provide a nice “give and take” about what’s going on. “She shows what is happening in our schools that might not otherwise be known in a board meeting or somewhere else,” Hernandez said. “She’s instrumental in brainstorming ideas, and eliciting responses from me and the other staff on topics that really pique the interest of the community.”
BCTV Station Manager Walter Mann, who notified Doyle that she had won the award, said she is most deserving, especially after all the effort she puts into the show. “I think it’s a unique program because of its focus on the education issues. You don’t see a lot of that out there, both on regular commercial TV or even PBS or community access TV. “I think the uniqueness provides a lot of information that people wouldn’t get elsewhere,” Mann said. Doyle’s show is broadcast on seven to ten stations around Connecticut and on AT&T UVerse Channel 99.
Speaking after just a year of retirement, Doyle still says it’s surprising to her that she taught for 37 years in different roles, all involving literacy or English. She’s hopeful one day she’ll be able to work for a network and offer her show to more people outside the immediate area. “I never expected to be doing anything for 37 years, even five years seems so long, but I loved teaching, and that’s exactly what I’m doing here. I’m teaching, I’m also learning, so I’m sort of a microcosm of my audience,” Doyle said. “I learn so many things from such gifted people on my show. I never would have had the opportunity to meet these people unless I had this show.”