(Plainville, CT) Plainville Community Schools has named Plainville High School Math Teacher Mikayla Wells as the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year. Wells was nominated by Plainville High School faculty member Eileen Hebert.
The Plainville school district continued a tradition that began last year in honoring a school based teacher of the year in each of the five Plainville schools, in addition to ultimately selecting a district teacher of the year. The school based honorees were considered for the district recognition, and nominations had to reflect how candidates have demonstrated the school district’s core Portrait of the Graduate tenets, including being communicative, collaborative, innovative, mindful and resilient. The candidates were evaluated by the district’s Teacher of the Year Committee, and ultimately selected Wells as the 2023-24 Plainville Community Schools Teacher of the Year. Building level Teachers of the Year include: Mikayla Wells, Plainville High School, Laura Meehan, Middle School of Plainville, Courtney Caldwell, Louis Toffolon Elementary School, Laura Reed, Wheeler School, and Michael Boncimino, Linden Street School.
Wells has been a math teacher at Plainville High School for the past five years. In addition, she has been a class co-advisor for the past four years, for the graduating Class of 2023. She assists with all fund-raising activities as well as many school-related events. Mikayla also serves as a co-chair for the high school’s Student Rocks Award programming, coordinating all of the related logistics. Additionally, she is the PHS Girls JV basketball coach, a coach for the Unified Sports program, and also serves as an advisor to the high school’s Dance Club. Her passion for teaching led her to become a certified ECE Education teacher, and participate in many additional professional development opportunities to grow as a professional and share her knowledge of best practices and teaching strategies with colleagues.
Wells demonstrates all of the district’s Portrait of the Graduate tenets, with many examples cited in her nomination written by colleague Eileen Hebert, including being communicative, collaborative, innovative, mindful and resilient. “Being a life-long student of Plainville Community Schools, she is an outstanding example of the excellent opportunities our district provides to our students. Her love and passion for teaching and her community is unparalleled through her countless hours of devotion outside of the classroom to our school community,” explained Hebert. “Mikayla was among many other things, chosen to be highlighted in our Career Pathways Alumni video series. Her message to our students is outstanding, inspirational and an additional platform showcasing her ability to communicate her passion for teaching and the Plainville community.”
As Teacher of the Year in Plainville, Wells will also participate as a candidate for Connecticut’s 2023 Teacher of the Year Program. Each district Teacher of the Year will be individually recognized later this year by the Connecticut Department of Education.
“Congratulations must be extended to all of the current teachers of the year in Plainville, I feel so honored to stand next to them and to be considered one. Thank you to all of the district teachers, staff, administrators, coaches and community members who have guided me to where I am today. As a Plainville schools alum, this feels extremely special because the reason I am here is because of Plainville Community Schools, so I would like to extend my congratulations to this district,” said Wells.
“We have so many talented and exceptional teachers in Plainville, so this process is always so difficult. The teachers on the selection committees at each school and for the district did an incredible job selecting this year’s recipients. I want to congratulate all our school level teachers of the year, and give a special congratulations to Mikayla for rising to the top of all our talented teachers as the Plainville Community Schools Teacher of the Year,” noted Assistant Superintendent of Schools, David Levenduski.
“I extend my sincere congratulations to all of the school level winners as teachers of the year for each school. Each of these teachers is excellent in their own unique ways. I’m very happy for Mikayla Wells being named district Teacher of the Year because I was actually Mikayla’s principal during some of her high school years. I have followed her career journey toward becoming a teacher, and we were fortunate to hire her back home in Plainville. Since then, she has thrived and added so much value and positive energy to our high school and the entire district. Her love of children, support of all students to become their best, leadership in the Unified Athletics programs and in so many other facets of the high school is truly impressive. She will represent Plainville teachers very well, and I wish her the very best at the state level. We are fortunate to have wonderful teachers like each of the school level and district teachers of the year,” commented Superintendent of Schools, Steven LePage.
Wells holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Central Connecticut State University. She was honored at the June 5th Plainville Board of Education meeting.