Jean Merriam
Jean Merriam was born in Bridgeport, CT and raised in Fairfield, CT, as the middle child of the late Robert and Marie Lukacsy. Her two siblings, James and Joan, live in Fairfield. Jean has been married to Ronald Merriam for forty-six years. Their son Michael, daughter-in-law Sarah and grandson Iver live in Rhode Island.
Jean attended Notre Dame High School in Bridgeport, CT, where a two-month European trip in the summer before her senior year inspired her love of travel and learning about other cultures. Along with thirty-two other high school students, Jean traveled throughout France and Italy and returned to focus on preparing for a career as a World Language (Spanish) teacher.
After graduation for Central Connecticut State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (major Spanish/minor French), Jean taught her first year at Daniel Hand High School in Madison, CT. She began teaching at Branford High School the following year and completed a 5th year program in Library Science at Southern Connecticut State University.
At Branford, Jean shared her enthusiasm for the education benefits of travel by escorting students on numerous trips to Spain. She also coordinated an Urban/Suburban exchange program with World Language students at Hillhouse High School in New Haven. As part of this experience, the Branford and New Haven high schoolers visited a bilingual elementary school classroom and used their Spanish to lead children in games. They also visited Casa Otonal (a community center for Hispanic senior citizens) in New Haven and delighted the seniors by dining with them and having conversations in Spanish.
Jean embraced the challenge of creating original, practical and fun activities for students to use their foreign language skills and sample the culture. Restaurant scenarios that highlighted student-prepared Spanish and Latin American cuisine were classroom favorites. Over the years, guests invited to engage her classes included a dance (tango and merengue) instructor and a Peace Corps volunteer (a former BHS Spanish student) living in Ecuador. One year, Jean’s Spanish IV students created their own Spanish language production of “Family Feud” and “The Price is Right” for presentation to students at Walsh Intermediate School. Jean and several BHS colleagues collaborated to present a workshop at the CT Council of Language Teachers annual conference sharing some of their ideas for performance based activities in the classroom.
Jean was dedicated to supporting students both in and out of the classroom, attending sports events, concerts and plays. Jean also was very involved and served for several years as assistant to Naomi Kantrow, faculty advisor for the award winning Milestone yearbook, a member of the National Honor Society Selection Committee and other school-wide and district committees. Students would often find her in the library, café or at any available hallway window sill for extra help sessions.
Teaching is a series of unique challenges and experiences every day. One of the most satisfying aspects of the profession is that the teacher has the opportunity to learn from the students. Those moments are truly memorable.
For fifteen years following her retirement from Branford High School in 1999, Jean worked part-time in the main office at Pond Hill Elementary School in Wallingford. In addition to her responsibilities as clerk, she was often able to use her language skills to interpret for parents at Planning & Placement Team meetings and also to help convey information to Spanish speaking parents whose children came to the school nurse’s office. After retiring fully in 2014, Jean has enjoyed traveling, spending time with her family, especially her first grandchild and volunteering at the North Branford Food Pantry. She also continues to serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at St. Monica Church in Northford.
Jean attended Notre Dame High School in Bridgeport, CT, where a two-month European trip in the summer before her senior year inspired her love of travel and learning about other cultures. Along with thirty-two other high school students, Jean traveled throughout France and Italy and returned to focus on preparing for a career as a World Language (Spanish) teacher.
After graduation for Central Connecticut State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (major Spanish/minor French), Jean taught her first year at Daniel Hand High School in Madison, CT. She began teaching at Branford High School the following year and completed a 5th year program in Library Science at Southern Connecticut State University.
At Branford, Jean shared her enthusiasm for the education benefits of travel by escorting students on numerous trips to Spain. She also coordinated an Urban/Suburban exchange program with World Language students at Hillhouse High School in New Haven. As part of this experience, the Branford and New Haven high schoolers visited a bilingual elementary school classroom and used their Spanish to lead children in games. They also visited Casa Otonal (a community center for Hispanic senior citizens) in New Haven and delighted the seniors by dining with them and having conversations in Spanish.
Jean embraced the challenge of creating original, practical and fun activities for students to use their foreign language skills and sample the culture. Restaurant scenarios that highlighted student-prepared Spanish and Latin American cuisine were classroom favorites. Over the years, guests invited to engage her classes included a dance (tango and merengue) instructor and a Peace Corps volunteer (a former BHS Spanish student) living in Ecuador. One year, Jean’s Spanish IV students created their own Spanish language production of “Family Feud” and “The Price is Right” for presentation to students at Walsh Intermediate School. Jean and several BHS colleagues collaborated to present a workshop at the CT Council of Language Teachers annual conference sharing some of their ideas for performance based activities in the classroom.
Jean was dedicated to supporting students both in and out of the classroom, attending sports events, concerts and plays. Jean also was very involved and served for several years as assistant to Naomi Kantrow, faculty advisor for the award winning Milestone yearbook, a member of the National Honor Society Selection Committee and other school-wide and district committees. Students would often find her in the library, café or at any available hallway window sill for extra help sessions.
Teaching is a series of unique challenges and experiences every day. One of the most satisfying aspects of the profession is that the teacher has the opportunity to learn from the students. Those moments are truly memorable.
For fifteen years following her retirement from Branford High School in 1999, Jean worked part-time in the main office at Pond Hill Elementary School in Wallingford. In addition to her responsibilities as clerk, she was often able to use her language skills to interpret for parents at Planning & Placement Team meetings and also to help convey information to Spanish speaking parents whose children came to the school nurse’s office. After retiring fully in 2014, Jean has enjoyed traveling, spending time with her family, especially her first grandchild and volunteering at the North Branford Food Pantry. She also continues to serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at St. Monica Church in Northford.