Joseph Fazzino, Jr.
Allison J. Kelaher Young, Ph.D., a graduate of Branford High School and a teacher educator at Western Michigan University, contributed a chapter in The One We Remember: Scholars Reflect on Teachers Who Made a Difference. In dedicating the chapter to Joe Fazzino, she explains the enormous influence that he had on her growth as her BHS physics teacher.
"My work with Mr. Fazzino remains a critical juncture for me... I had learned how to learn. I learned to organize my thinking in a logical way, to preserver and look for multiple avenues to solve problems, to look for connections between different ideas... I learned that mistakes helped me to learn. I learned how to work with others and I learned to be confident in myself."
Allison's words represent the sentiments of a multitude of BHS students who encountered Joe Fazzino and his unique way of teaching. As a physics teacher, athletic coach and administrator, Joe's influence for good is beyond calculation.
Joe Fazzino was raised in Essex, Connecticut, and was graduated from Valley Regional High School in 1964. He continued his studies at Thames Valley Technical Institute, earning an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering. He enrolled at Southern Connecticut State University where he earned a Bachelor f Science Degree, Master of Science Degree, Sixth Year Diploma as a Science Classroom Specialist and a second Sixth Year Diploma in School Administration.
A veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as senior system analyst, Joe also served at SCSU as an Adjunct Lecturer. Active in town activities, Joe has served as an officer in the Shoreline Credit Union, Branford Administrators Organization, Branford Lions Club, Branford Italian American Club, Branford Retired Teachers Association, the Branford Education Association and the Branford Festival. He has been elected Chairman of the Branford Board of Assessors and a member of the Branford Democratic Town Committee.
For most of his adult life, Joe has been devoted to the Branford Public Schools as a high school physics teacher, indoor and outdoor assistant track coach, class advisor, science department chair and assistant principal. Most recently, in the years before his retirement, "Fazz" as he is known to teachers and students alike, was the administrator in charge of the Horizons Program, the BHS alternative school for "at risk" students that has become an exemplar across the state. His no-nonsense approach, distributed with an equal measure of wisdom and compassion, earned the love and respect of the students and teachers in the program.
As a physics teacher, Joe was demanding and creative. He compelled his students to go beyond the obvious and think "out of the box", to consider divergent thinking as a mode of operation. As Allison wrote, Joe not only taught his students physics, he taught them to think. Joe's challenging assignments were legendary and produced meteoric growth in most of his students. They loved to complain about the "unreasonably tough" assignments, as much as they loved having him as their teacher.
Joe's approach to coaching field events in track mirrored his classroom teaching. Joe's talent, tireless devotion to getting a task completed correctly and passionate commitment to high school track was recognized by the CIAC, as they invited him to become a member of the CIAC Track Committee, eventually becoming its administrative chairman.
Joe Fazzino retired in 2007, but returned to Branford High School to teach physics on a part-time basis for the 2008 school year. He currently serves as the leader of the Branford Retired Teachers Association.
Joe and his wife Micky, a chemistry teacher at BHS, have two children, Anthony and Maria.
"My work with Mr. Fazzino remains a critical juncture for me... I had learned how to learn. I learned to organize my thinking in a logical way, to preserver and look for multiple avenues to solve problems, to look for connections between different ideas... I learned that mistakes helped me to learn. I learned how to work with others and I learned to be confident in myself."
Allison's words represent the sentiments of a multitude of BHS students who encountered Joe Fazzino and his unique way of teaching. As a physics teacher, athletic coach and administrator, Joe's influence for good is beyond calculation.
Joe Fazzino was raised in Essex, Connecticut, and was graduated from Valley Regional High School in 1964. He continued his studies at Thames Valley Technical Institute, earning an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering. He enrolled at Southern Connecticut State University where he earned a Bachelor f Science Degree, Master of Science Degree, Sixth Year Diploma as a Science Classroom Specialist and a second Sixth Year Diploma in School Administration.
A veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as senior system analyst, Joe also served at SCSU as an Adjunct Lecturer. Active in town activities, Joe has served as an officer in the Shoreline Credit Union, Branford Administrators Organization, Branford Lions Club, Branford Italian American Club, Branford Retired Teachers Association, the Branford Education Association and the Branford Festival. He has been elected Chairman of the Branford Board of Assessors and a member of the Branford Democratic Town Committee.
For most of his adult life, Joe has been devoted to the Branford Public Schools as a high school physics teacher, indoor and outdoor assistant track coach, class advisor, science department chair and assistant principal. Most recently, in the years before his retirement, "Fazz" as he is known to teachers and students alike, was the administrator in charge of the Horizons Program, the BHS alternative school for "at risk" students that has become an exemplar across the state. His no-nonsense approach, distributed with an equal measure of wisdom and compassion, earned the love and respect of the students and teachers in the program.
As a physics teacher, Joe was demanding and creative. He compelled his students to go beyond the obvious and think "out of the box", to consider divergent thinking as a mode of operation. As Allison wrote, Joe not only taught his students physics, he taught them to think. Joe's challenging assignments were legendary and produced meteoric growth in most of his students. They loved to complain about the "unreasonably tough" assignments, as much as they loved having him as their teacher.
Joe's approach to coaching field events in track mirrored his classroom teaching. Joe's talent, tireless devotion to getting a task completed correctly and passionate commitment to high school track was recognized by the CIAC, as they invited him to become a member of the CIAC Track Committee, eventually becoming its administrative chairman.
Joe Fazzino retired in 2007, but returned to Branford High School to teach physics on a part-time basis for the 2008 school year. He currently serves as the leader of the Branford Retired Teachers Association.
Joe and his wife Micky, a chemistry teacher at BHS, have two children, Anthony and Maria.