Hartford's Teacher Of Year Named

June 24, 2006
By ANNIE TASKER, Courant Staff Writer

When her students at University High School started attending the University of Connecticut's mini-medical lectures, biology teacher Susan Matthews rearranged her curriculum to make sure they went into the seminars prepared.

Then, she attended the lectures with her students.

It's that kind of dedication to students and subject that earned Matthews the title of Hartford Teacher of the Year for 2006 - her second time being so honored.

This year's teacher of the year plaque is going up on the office wall of Matthews' Canton home alongside the one she got for winning the same title 25 years ago, when she was a teacher at Quirk Middle School.

Matthews is known around University High as one of the best that students have ever had, said University High Principal Elizabeth Colli. Colli said Matthews' approach of long labs for each topic gives students a real-life biology experience.

"She's passionate about what she does," said Colli .

Matthews has taught in Hartford schools for 35 years.