Stan Konesky
Known throughout Branford for twenty-four years as "Officer Stan," Stanley Konesky, Jr., has brought a unique background to his contributions to education in Branford. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Education from Southern Connecticut State University in 1972, he was hired by the Branford Police Department as a supernumerary and completed a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of New Haven in 1975 and a second masters in psychological counseling from Southern ten years later. Konesky's original plan of teaching was never far from his mind, and it wasn't long before he was able to combine his police career with classroom instruction.
Always a believer in being pro-active, Konesky was convinced that it was important to start changing the attitudes and behaviors of youngsters before they got into trouble. Toward this goal, 1976 saw the beginning of the Student Awareness Program, later recognized by the U.S. Congress as an exemplary program nationwide. When the program started, four times a year Officer Stan personally visited all kindergarten through sixth-grade classrooms and dealt at an age-appropriate level with the concepts of good decision making, positive values, and dealing with peer and self-pressure. At the end of each year, students received diplomas in recognition of their participation. In addition to helping youngsters understand that police are not as they are often portrayed, the program fostered the concept that police, parents, teachers, and other "authority figures" are there to help. One indicator of the success of the program is that from 1979 to 1983 incidents of vandalism and burglaries (two major areas of juvenile crime) dropped more than thirty percent. As the program evolved and as Officer Stan's first students moved through the school system, high school students took over some of the interaction with the lower grades, dealing with peer problems, drugs, and family troubles.
From the Student Awareness Program grew Konesky's sometimes formal, sometimes informal status as the liaison between the police and the schools. He presented countless programs to PTA groups on drug awareness, safety, youth development, and other topics. For four years he was also involved in professional development sessions on educational law, juvenile court, gangs, drugs, and youth violence. With the arrival of gangs in Branford, Stan again took the pro-active approach by forming the Community Action Team to educate parents, town officials, civic groups, and students.
A seldom-known contribution is Konesky's role in founding HELP (Handicap Education Learning Program), which raised money for the purchase of puppets. The special puppets are used for programs in the elementary and intermediate schools to help students learn to understand and appreciate those who are physically or mentally challenged.
But don't think for a minute that Stan Konesky limited his concern for youth to the schools and the police department. Athletics was not to be overlooked! Besides coaching baseball and basketball in the Branford Youth League, he chaired the Building Committee for the Branford Little League Headquarters/Clubhouse at Sliney field, raising more than $42,000 and overseeing the entire construction and implementation operations. In addition, he organized and recruited sponsors for Kids' Night at Branford High School basketball games, offering raffles, one-dollar soda with hot dog, and free admission. Beyond the Branford community, he was a certified member of the U.S. Olympic Drug Testing Committee, attending the 1997 Olympics in Atlanta, and serves as the 1999-2000 president of the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Tonight's induction adds another benchmark to the wide recognition Stan Konesky has received, among others: Branford Citizen of the Year (1982), United States Congressional Recognition Award (1982), Connecticut American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award (1984), and Branford Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Award (1990).
Always a believer in being pro-active, Konesky was convinced that it was important to start changing the attitudes and behaviors of youngsters before they got into trouble. Toward this goal, 1976 saw the beginning of the Student Awareness Program, later recognized by the U.S. Congress as an exemplary program nationwide. When the program started, four times a year Officer Stan personally visited all kindergarten through sixth-grade classrooms and dealt at an age-appropriate level with the concepts of good decision making, positive values, and dealing with peer and self-pressure. At the end of each year, students received diplomas in recognition of their participation. In addition to helping youngsters understand that police are not as they are often portrayed, the program fostered the concept that police, parents, teachers, and other "authority figures" are there to help. One indicator of the success of the program is that from 1979 to 1983 incidents of vandalism and burglaries (two major areas of juvenile crime) dropped more than thirty percent. As the program evolved and as Officer Stan's first students moved through the school system, high school students took over some of the interaction with the lower grades, dealing with peer problems, drugs, and family troubles.
From the Student Awareness Program grew Konesky's sometimes formal, sometimes informal status as the liaison between the police and the schools. He presented countless programs to PTA groups on drug awareness, safety, youth development, and other topics. For four years he was also involved in professional development sessions on educational law, juvenile court, gangs, drugs, and youth violence. With the arrival of gangs in Branford, Stan again took the pro-active approach by forming the Community Action Team to educate parents, town officials, civic groups, and students.
A seldom-known contribution is Konesky's role in founding HELP (Handicap Education Learning Program), which raised money for the purchase of puppets. The special puppets are used for programs in the elementary and intermediate schools to help students learn to understand and appreciate those who are physically or mentally challenged.
But don't think for a minute that Stan Konesky limited his concern for youth to the schools and the police department. Athletics was not to be overlooked! Besides coaching baseball and basketball in the Branford Youth League, he chaired the Building Committee for the Branford Little League Headquarters/Clubhouse at Sliney field, raising more than $42,000 and overseeing the entire construction and implementation operations. In addition, he organized and recruited sponsors for Kids' Night at Branford High School basketball games, offering raffles, one-dollar soda with hot dog, and free admission. Beyond the Branford community, he was a certified member of the U.S. Olympic Drug Testing Committee, attending the 1997 Olympics in Atlanta, and serves as the 1999-2000 president of the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Tonight's induction adds another benchmark to the wide recognition Stan Konesky has received, among others: Branford Citizen of the Year (1982), United States Congressional Recognition Award (1982), Connecticut American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award (1984), and Branford Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Award (1990).