Bob Gaiser
I would like to take this opportunity to nominate Robert Gaiser to the Branford's Education Hall of Fame.
Bob was the administrator who had the vision to help form what is now the Horizons Alternative Program at BHS. As a leader, he helped pick the staff, with whom he worked hand in hand, in formulating policy, establishing a meaningful curriculum and establishing a relationship with those students who truly were in need of an alternative approach to education.
It is often said today that educators must try to "meet the needs of their students" and this was really the foundation of Bob's philosophy. Indeed, some twenty years on for the Horizons program finds that many of Bob's policies are still in effect and still have educational relevance.
I can't emphasize the importance of his leadership enough; he truly worked side by side with his staff, always encouraging, always supportive.
The Horizons program can now boast a long list of successful graduates, some with college degrees, many with families of their own and all many making meaningful contributions to their communities.
I can't help but wonder what would have happened to those kids, as they were then, if this program did not exist.
The program that he was an important part of is now a model for alternative education; educators from other systems visit us each year. We all pushed for it, but Bob was the true leader in those early days.
I think it's time that he was recognized for his efforts.
Bob was the administrator who had the vision to help form what is now the Horizons Alternative Program at BHS. As a leader, he helped pick the staff, with whom he worked hand in hand, in formulating policy, establishing a meaningful curriculum and establishing a relationship with those students who truly were in need of an alternative approach to education.
It is often said today that educators must try to "meet the needs of their students" and this was really the foundation of Bob's philosophy. Indeed, some twenty years on for the Horizons program finds that many of Bob's policies are still in effect and still have educational relevance.
I can't emphasize the importance of his leadership enough; he truly worked side by side with his staff, always encouraging, always supportive.
The Horizons program can now boast a long list of successful graduates, some with college degrees, many with families of their own and all many making meaningful contributions to their communities.
I can't help but wonder what would have happened to those kids, as they were then, if this program did not exist.
The program that he was an important part of is now a model for alternative education; educators from other systems visit us each year. We all pushed for it, but Bob was the true leader in those early days.
I think it's time that he was recognized for his efforts.
Bob Gaiser founded, oversaw, built and led the Horizons program from its infancy as a 2 pm-4 pm program for disenfranchised students. It began as a program that served a handful of students, and became to a full-fledged model of Alternative Education that serves 60 students a year and over 1000 students over the past 25 years that the rest of the state has recognized and in many cases used as a model for their program. He made numerous contacts in the state of CT that allowed the faculty in the program, to have an outward-bound team building experience at Deer Lake for years. He started a work study program for our students and guided them into believing that the "Tassel Is Worth the Hassle".