Zenia Smolenski
Zenia Smolenski was an elementary teacher and principal in the Branford Public Schools from 1935 to 1970. She was a life-long resident of Branford. Her parents were natives of what would be reconstructed as the nation of Poland in 1918. Her father, Waclaw, also known as John, came to Branford in 1904. Like many immigrants from Eastern Europe at the turn of the last century, he worked at the Malleable Iron Fittings Company (MIF) as an iron molder. Zenia's mother, Stanislawa (Siemietkowski) was also born in Poland and came to Branford in 1906. They married in 1910, and Zenia was born on April 10, 1913, two years after her brother, Edward.
Zenia and Edward lived at 90 Ivy Street until they moved to Florence Road in 1977. She attended local schools, graduating from Branford High School in 1931. She began her higher education at New Haven Normal School which evolved into New Haven State Teachers College. Zenia received a B.S. degree in education in 1935. She was granted permanent teacher's certification for elementary grades K-8 on July 1, 1938.
Zenia began her teaching career in the Branford Public Schools in 1935 as a first and second grade teacher at the Stony Creek School. After one year she transferred to Center School to teach third grade from 1936 to 1939 and fourth grade the following year. This last year may have been at Laurel Street School since Center School received extensive damage from the 1938 hurricane. Zenia remained at Laurel Street until 1946, teaching fourth grade. Among her colleagues were other Education Hall of Fame members; Mary Margret O'Brien, Mary Petela and Mary Tisko. In 1946 Zenia transferred to Harbor Street School where she taught sixth grade and was principal until 1956.
Many of Zenia's former students came back later in life to express their appreciation for her exemplary teaching. Her abilities, so evident at Harbor Street, were surely evident throughout her teaching career. The sense of order and accomplishment in that school seemed to depend on her. Teachers of the other grades often depended on her to deal with the most severe discipline problems. As principal, Miss Smolenski maintained the proper daily schedule. She rang a bell by hand every morning announcing the arrival of school buses and calling students from the school yard. She also did that at lunch break and both morning and afternoon recess.
Students respected Miss Smolenski's authority from the time they entered first grade at Harbor Street School and by the time they reached her sixth grade class they were ready for an academically rigorous, well organized school year. Sixth graders were amazed at "how nice" she really was in that orderly setting.
Particularly noteworthy was the successful way she worked with students whose families were refugees from Eastern Europe after World War II. Most of these children spoke little or no English. She was able to set up lessons and individually instruct students who spoke only Polish, Ukrainian or Russian. These sessions took place during the regular school day while she had other responsibilities. Most of these students spoke fluent English by the end of the year.
In 1956 Zenia became a teaching principal at the Stony Creek School teaching sixth grade for one year and third grade the following year before being assigned to teach sixth grade at Branford Junior High School. She spent the last years of her career teaching fifth grade at Laurel Street School, retiring in 1970. She passed away in 1998 at the age 85.
Zenia and Edward lived at 90 Ivy Street until they moved to Florence Road in 1977. She attended local schools, graduating from Branford High School in 1931. She began her higher education at New Haven Normal School which evolved into New Haven State Teachers College. Zenia received a B.S. degree in education in 1935. She was granted permanent teacher's certification for elementary grades K-8 on July 1, 1938.
Zenia began her teaching career in the Branford Public Schools in 1935 as a first and second grade teacher at the Stony Creek School. After one year she transferred to Center School to teach third grade from 1936 to 1939 and fourth grade the following year. This last year may have been at Laurel Street School since Center School received extensive damage from the 1938 hurricane. Zenia remained at Laurel Street until 1946, teaching fourth grade. Among her colleagues were other Education Hall of Fame members; Mary Margret O'Brien, Mary Petela and Mary Tisko. In 1946 Zenia transferred to Harbor Street School where she taught sixth grade and was principal until 1956.
Many of Zenia's former students came back later in life to express their appreciation for her exemplary teaching. Her abilities, so evident at Harbor Street, were surely evident throughout her teaching career. The sense of order and accomplishment in that school seemed to depend on her. Teachers of the other grades often depended on her to deal with the most severe discipline problems. As principal, Miss Smolenski maintained the proper daily schedule. She rang a bell by hand every morning announcing the arrival of school buses and calling students from the school yard. She also did that at lunch break and both morning and afternoon recess.
Students respected Miss Smolenski's authority from the time they entered first grade at Harbor Street School and by the time they reached her sixth grade class they were ready for an academically rigorous, well organized school year. Sixth graders were amazed at "how nice" she really was in that orderly setting.
Particularly noteworthy was the successful way she worked with students whose families were refugees from Eastern Europe after World War II. Most of these children spoke little or no English. She was able to set up lessons and individually instruct students who spoke only Polish, Ukrainian or Russian. These sessions took place during the regular school day while she had other responsibilities. Most of these students spoke fluent English by the end of the year.
In 1956 Zenia became a teaching principal at the Stony Creek School teaching sixth grade for one year and third grade the following year before being assigned to teach sixth grade at Branford Junior High School. She spent the last years of her career teaching fifth grade at Laurel Street School, retiring in 1970. She passed away in 1998 at the age 85.