Schools

DARIEN, Conn. – Frank Keen, a Middlesex Middle School social studies teacher, retired this week after 34 years of teaching. Keen has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to education over the years, including receiving the 2001 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Award.  

To commemorate his commitment to lifelong learning and dedication to all that is best in the education of young people, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson proclaimed Jan. 31 Frank Keen Day in Darien.

Keen’s extensive knowledge and love of history and world culture have made ...

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – School superintendents in Fairfield County are praising education reform proposed by Gov. Dannel Malloy to streamline the hiring of teachers even as his plan earned low marks from teacher unions across the state.

“Making the teacher certification process less burdensome is crucial to hiring teachers and administrators from out of state and is a very worthy goal,” said Fairfield Superintendent of Schools David Title. “Currently, there are far too many testing requirements that out-of state teacher candidates have to meet. It’s very ...

DARIEN, Conn. – Darien students got a lesson in Internet safety when Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo stopped by Middlesex Middle School for a presentation.

Colangelo informed the sixth-grade students this week about the dangers that exist on the Internet, including predators. He warned students never to reveal personal information, because they don't know when they are exposing themselves to potential danger. Colangelo also showed how someone could find personal information about them, such as where they live, from photos posted online.

He also spoke ...

DARIEN, Conn. – Darien High School’s weight room could be getting a major upgrade. The Blue Wave Booster Club is starting a fundraising campaign to buy new exercise equipment and to add a new room for sports teams to do more intensive workouts.

The weight room is used by nearly all sports teams as well as by physical education classes. The Booster Club, in its ongoing mission to support Darien athletics, saw a need to replace equipment and improve the facility.

“A lot of the equipment is well used,” said Heidi Naughton of the Booster Club. “A lot of it was given to the ...

DARIEN, Conn. – Young Beethovens and Mozarts from Darien will have an opportunity to get their musical compositions played in concert in the spring. The Darien Schools’ Music Department is now accepting pieces for the 12th annual Darien Young Composers Concert.

Students from any grade level should record their pieces on a CD or DVD and submit them, along with the application form, to one of the school music teachers or the District Music Office no later than March 8. Students whose compositions are chosen for the concert will be notified by March 16. The concert will take place ...

DARIEN, Conn. – The town and its teachers have reached an agreement on a contract for the next three years, with the teachers receiving wage increases of 1.25 percent the first year, 2.02 percent the second year and 3.36 percent the third year.

The Representative Town Meeting approved the new contract between the Board of Education and the Darien Education Association on Monday night. Though many expressed unhappiness about the cost, particularly the 3.36 percent wage increase in the third year, many agreed that the deal would be the best Darien could get.

Teacher ...

DARIEN, Conn. – Darien’s Board of Finance wants the Board of Education get its spending under control, especially when it comes to special education. Board of Finance Chairman Liz Mao said that she wants more openness and collaboration from the Board of Education.

“We’re obviously concerned that, in an era of flat enrollment, and with the pressure to come in with good teacher and administration contracts, we’re continuing to see rises as high as 5.6 percent,” Mao told the Board of Education this week.

Mao said that she understands that special education is a difficult ...