Kathy Nelson
Kathy Nelson grew up in New Britain, daughter of a factory worker and stay at home mom. Her grandparents emigrated from Iran and Austria in the early 1900's, coming to American to follow the American dream, like so many of our ancestors. Her parents and grandparents were an inspiration to her as she grew up, instilling in Kathy the love of family, friends and the ethic of hard work.
Kathy graduated from New Britain High School in 1969 where she was very active in the music club. She was also a drum majorette and marched in Yankee Stadium during her senior year at halftime festivities for the Philadelphia Eagles football game. She knew at a young age that she wanted to work with children and volunteered for various head start programs in her hometown. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, was active in her church choir, taught Sunday school and was Sunday school superintendent for a short time, as well as volunteering for various church activities. Kathy holds a BS degree in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University and MA degree in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University. Upon graduating from Central she began substitute teaching in area towns; one of them being Branford.
In 1974, she began at the Damascus School, now the Mary R. Tisko School, teaching first grade, second grade and now kindergarten. She certainly has come a long way from the leadership of Mary Tisko to her principal to date, James O'Connor! In her thirty-eight plus years of teaching, Kathy has served on many committees. As a new teacher she began a Super Reader Club at Damascus, to foster the love of reading in her school, has been a Branford Education Association representative, BEA toy drive representative, is active in the school's PTA and has organized and co-chaired, along with her colleague and friend, Sharon MacKinnel, the annual elementary school softball game, raising over 25,000 dollars for the Joey Children's fund, Childhood Leukemia and the Myelin Project here in Branford. In November of 1983, she helped plan the festivities to honor Mary Tisko with the re-dedication of Damascus School to the Mary R. Tisko School. Kathy has also been a committee member for the Branford Festival, a volunteer for Special Olympics, volunteers for the annual Myelin Triathlon and helps run the annual town spelling bee. Kathy has also been voted to Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
Kathy has been married to her junior high school sweetheart, John Nelson for thirty-nine years. Upon marrying in 1975, they moved to Branford. John was an elementary physical education teacher here in town for nine years. They have a daughter, Sarah, who is a certified ultrasound sonographer and a beautiful granddaughter, Paityn Kathryn, who is the love of their lives.
Kathy will be retiring at the end of June and has loved her career in teaching. She will fill her days with enjoying life with her family and friends and pursuing other interest now that time allows.
Kathy graduated from New Britain High School in 1969 where she was very active in the music club. She was also a drum majorette and marched in Yankee Stadium during her senior year at halftime festivities for the Philadelphia Eagles football game. She knew at a young age that she wanted to work with children and volunteered for various head start programs in her hometown. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, was active in her church choir, taught Sunday school and was Sunday school superintendent for a short time, as well as volunteering for various church activities. Kathy holds a BS degree in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University and MA degree in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University. Upon graduating from Central she began substitute teaching in area towns; one of them being Branford.
In 1974, she began at the Damascus School, now the Mary R. Tisko School, teaching first grade, second grade and now kindergarten. She certainly has come a long way from the leadership of Mary Tisko to her principal to date, James O'Connor! In her thirty-eight plus years of teaching, Kathy has served on many committees. As a new teacher she began a Super Reader Club at Damascus, to foster the love of reading in her school, has been a Branford Education Association representative, BEA toy drive representative, is active in the school's PTA and has organized and co-chaired, along with her colleague and friend, Sharon MacKinnel, the annual elementary school softball game, raising over 25,000 dollars for the Joey Children's fund, Childhood Leukemia and the Myelin Project here in Branford. In November of 1983, she helped plan the festivities to honor Mary Tisko with the re-dedication of Damascus School to the Mary R. Tisko School. Kathy has also been a committee member for the Branford Festival, a volunteer for Special Olympics, volunteers for the annual Myelin Triathlon and helps run the annual town spelling bee. Kathy has also been voted to Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
Kathy has been married to her junior high school sweetheart, John Nelson for thirty-nine years. Upon marrying in 1975, they moved to Branford. John was an elementary physical education teacher here in town for nine years. They have a daughter, Sarah, who is a certified ultrasound sonographer and a beautiful granddaughter, Paityn Kathryn, who is the love of their lives.
Kathy will be retiring at the end of June and has loved her career in teaching. She will fill her days with enjoying life with her family and friends and pursuing other interest now that time allows.