Mary Rose Donadio
Although she was born in New York City on January 15, 1898, Mary Rose Donadio (always known as Rose to family, friends, and colleagues to distinguish her from her mother, whose first name was also Mary), lived all but two years of her life in Branford. The family lived on Chestnut Street for several years, and during this time Rose and her brothers and sister walked across town to Canoe Brook School for their elementary education. When the family moved to Brushy Plain, the walk became longer, as no transportation was available to the Center Street School where Rose graduated from high school in 1916. Upon graduation, she was accepted into New Haven Normal School (now Southern Connecticut State University) and received her teaching certificate in 1918. During this time Rose walked to catch the trolley into New
Haven and, except for rare occasions, also had to walk home. Her determination to become a teacher regardless of hardship was evident, and everyone admired until her retirement 40 years later. Rose was considered such a superb reading teacher that Superintendent Wescott literally overcrowded her room with students. She was also usually the one to whom youngsters of Italian descent who arrived in Branford with little or no spoken English were assigned, and she spent many hours after school with them using her own knowledge of Italian to help them become a part of the English-speaking community. Rose was a teacher of English as a second language long before it became part of the edu cational framework.
The school system, together with the Town of Branford, jointly celebrated Memorial Day and May Day with parades and pageants in which all the children took part; and Rose, always civic-mind ed, assisted with many of these events, which took place on the. Green and at Hammer Field. Former students remember piles of scrap metal in front of the Harrison Avenue School in the late '30s and early '40s, which represented the town's and the schools' efforts during World War II. The teachers at Harrison Avenue School even donated their bowling trophy!
During this period, Rose attended classes at Yale Music School, where she received a certificate in Music Education after four summers. She also spent some of her sum:ner time in her assignment of going into the homes of students who needed extra help in reading- a forerunner of summer school perhaps!
As a teaching principal, Rose was a mentor to many first-year teachers who were assigned to "her" school, and they remember fondly and gratefully the kindness and guidance she provided them. Her easy-going manner and patience, along with a great deal of common sense and compassion, helped these teachers to become competent professionals in their own right. At her retirement in 1968 after a fifty-year career in the Branford School System, Rose reflected, "I have taught under six super intendents, and many of the students I had went on to become teachers here in Branford. Some are doctors, others are lawyers." Looking back on her long experience with the school system both as a student and as a professional, Rose Donadio cited reading instruction as the greatest change she had witnessed, recalling that in her own first grade there had been no books and the children memorized poems. Although she had taught other grades as well, Rose always preferred first-graders. "I get great satisfaction seeing these children come in not knowing how to read, and after just three or four months they pick up a book and read it."
At the time of her death last fall, many remembered her vitality in the classroom and her gifted ability to inspire and encourage new teachers. One former teacher wrote, "Whenever I recall my ele mentary school days, Rose Donadio comes to mind. I'll always cherish my memories of her as a kind, patient, and loving teacher."
Haven and, except for rare occasions, also had to walk home. Her determination to become a teacher regardless of hardship was evident, and everyone admired until her retirement 40 years later. Rose was considered such a superb reading teacher that Superintendent Wescott literally overcrowded her room with students. She was also usually the one to whom youngsters of Italian descent who arrived in Branford with little or no spoken English were assigned, and she spent many hours after school with them using her own knowledge of Italian to help them become a part of the English-speaking community. Rose was a teacher of English as a second language long before it became part of the edu cational framework.
The school system, together with the Town of Branford, jointly celebrated Memorial Day and May Day with parades and pageants in which all the children took part; and Rose, always civic-mind ed, assisted with many of these events, which took place on the. Green and at Hammer Field. Former students remember piles of scrap metal in front of the Harrison Avenue School in the late '30s and early '40s, which represented the town's and the schools' efforts during World War II. The teachers at Harrison Avenue School even donated their bowling trophy!
During this period, Rose attended classes at Yale Music School, where she received a certificate in Music Education after four summers. She also spent some of her sum:ner time in her assignment of going into the homes of students who needed extra help in reading- a forerunner of summer school perhaps!
As a teaching principal, Rose was a mentor to many first-year teachers who were assigned to "her" school, and they remember fondly and gratefully the kindness and guidance she provided them. Her easy-going manner and patience, along with a great deal of common sense and compassion, helped these teachers to become competent professionals in their own right. At her retirement in 1968 after a fifty-year career in the Branford School System, Rose reflected, "I have taught under six super intendents, and many of the students I had went on to become teachers here in Branford. Some are doctors, others are lawyers." Looking back on her long experience with the school system both as a student and as a professional, Rose Donadio cited reading instruction as the greatest change she had witnessed, recalling that in her own first grade there had been no books and the children memorized poems. Although she had taught other grades as well, Rose always preferred first-graders. "I get great satisfaction seeing these children come in not knowing how to read, and after just three or four months they pick up a book and read it."
At the time of her death last fall, many remembered her vitality in the classroom and her gifted ability to inspire and encourage new teachers. One former teacher wrote, "Whenever I recall my ele mentary school days, Rose Donadio comes to mind. I'll always cherish my memories of her as a kind, patient, and loving teacher."