Norwalk Teacher Continues Family Tradition

Second-grade teacher Caryn Czarnecki is continuing a long family tradition. Her parents and maternal grandparents were all teachers. Just like her mother before her,  Caryn is a second-grade teacher at Cranbury Elementary School, where she herself went to school. Caryn's grandfather Benjamin Isenberg was assistant superintendent of Norwalk schools and principal of Nathan Hale. “Teaching is in my blood,” she says.

The students don’t know that Caryn has this deep teacher pedigree. They do know, however, that she is fun and caring. “She is a passionate teacher filled with love and energy for her job,” says Debby Denke, a mom of three boys who nominated Caryn for TheDailyNorwalk.com’s Star Teacher award. The boys “still talk about her and the year they spent with her very fondly, even now that they are in ninth, seventh and fifth grades."

“Sometimes I sing to get the kids’ attention. Or make my speech more exciting,” says Czarnecki, who spends her days focused on reading, writing and math. “I try and put a fun spin on learning.”

Though fun is important in the classroom, respect is key for Czarnecki. “I try and show the kids respect both as children and students.” She, in turn, expects the same from them. “You have to create the teacher-student distinction.”

From her family, she has learned that “patience and a love of kids” are characteristics of a good teacher. Caryn has also learned the importance of parent involvement. “I work to get parents on board to support their kids. I communicate through notes, phone calls and emails.”

The tight budget has presented a challenge this year for Caryn. “I just don’t have the variety of materials I need — books, crayons, paper. I’m aware of every sheet of paper, that’s the reality.”

Caryn, who has been at Cranbury for the past 15 year, says,  “This was my first job, and this is it.”

Who are your favorite teachers in Norwalk? There’s still time to nominate them for our Star Teacher contest. Send along suggestions for more profiles to mnoor@mainstreetconnect.us.

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