Joyce Proto Igo
Joyce Proto Igo was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the younger child of Alphonse and Gertrude Proto and sister to brother Bob. Joyce attended New Haven and East Haven schools before graduating from St. Mary's High School in 1964, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society. Joyce continued her education at Southern Connecticut State College where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in both Special Education and Elementary Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education, majoring in Learning Disabilities. Her inspiration for focusing on special education is best described in her own words, "As a child my next door neighbor had down syndrome. I watched him growing up and experiencing struggles at home, in school and in the neighborhood. Seeing this made me want to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs."
Joyce's stellar career with the Branford Public School system began in 1968 and continued until her retirement in 2001. During her early employment at the elementary level, Joyce was considered a pioneer in the field of Special Education, as Connecticut laws were not adopted until 1975. Her knowledge, innovations and calm approach earned her great respect from colleagues, parents, and most importantly, her students. Ever the student advocate, Joyce had major concerns for isolation of special needs children, leading to her greatest accomplishment, the development of an educational setting which allowed students with special needs to access the least restrictive environment. With Joyce's support, they were included in the regular education environment with both the classroom and special education teachers working together to meet not only the educational, but the social and emotional needs of students. This approach began at the Indian Neck School and continued under Joyce's direction at the John B. Sliney School and at the Walsh Intermediate School. This model was later adopted by the State Board of Education and known as "inclusion".
Joyce currently resides in Clinton with her husband Bob, who retired from the Connecticut Department of Rehabilitation Services. They have two daughters; Jennifer and Sara. Jennifer lives in Clinton with her husband Bryant Coogan and is a Speech and Language Pathologist for the Old Saybrook school system. Sara, a teacher in the Waterford school system, also lives in Clinton with her husband Steve Egan and has provided Joyce and Bob with two grandchildren; Ryan, age eight and Jake, age three. Besides their grandchildren occupying much of their time, they enjoy traveling, gardening, reading and mentoring.
Joyce's commitment to her students never wavered. Her decisions were made with their best interests in mind. Her contributions to the Branford Public Schools have earned her recognition as a consummate educator.
Joyce's stellar career with the Branford Public School system began in 1968 and continued until her retirement in 2001. During her early employment at the elementary level, Joyce was considered a pioneer in the field of Special Education, as Connecticut laws were not adopted until 1975. Her knowledge, innovations and calm approach earned her great respect from colleagues, parents, and most importantly, her students. Ever the student advocate, Joyce had major concerns for isolation of special needs children, leading to her greatest accomplishment, the development of an educational setting which allowed students with special needs to access the least restrictive environment. With Joyce's support, they were included in the regular education environment with both the classroom and special education teachers working together to meet not only the educational, but the social and emotional needs of students. This approach began at the Indian Neck School and continued under Joyce's direction at the John B. Sliney School and at the Walsh Intermediate School. This model was later adopted by the State Board of Education and known as "inclusion".
Joyce currently resides in Clinton with her husband Bob, who retired from the Connecticut Department of Rehabilitation Services. They have two daughters; Jennifer and Sara. Jennifer lives in Clinton with her husband Bryant Coogan and is a Speech and Language Pathologist for the Old Saybrook school system. Sara, a teacher in the Waterford school system, also lives in Clinton with her husband Steve Egan and has provided Joyce and Bob with two grandchildren; Ryan, age eight and Jake, age three. Besides their grandchildren occupying much of their time, they enjoy traveling, gardening, reading and mentoring.
Joyce's commitment to her students never wavered. Her decisions were made with their best interests in mind. Her contributions to the Branford Public Schools have earned her recognition as a consummate educator.