NORWICH — Norwich Free Academy teacher Jessica Chapman sat in the packed school assembly Tuesday morning texting a fellow teacher to try to guess who was about to be named the surprise winner of the prestigious Milken Educator Award.
But her students surrounding her in the bleachers had it figured out even before Chapman’s name was called to screaming cheers and applause.
“I think she really deserves it. I’m really happy for her,” senior Cathleen Mai said about Chapman, who she said always has a positive attitude in class and is uplifting for students.
Senior Adiba Haque of Lisbon said Chapman creates a nice environment in her class, including the “amazing snacks,” and talks to students, rather than lecturing as a teacher.
“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Haque said. “I was saying to my friends around me, ‘it’s probably going to be Ms. Chapman.’ ”
Chapman, 34, an NFA social studies teacher since 2013, was one of 45 Milken Educator Awards nationwide this year, but the only one in Connecticut. The award is designed to inspire young and mid-career teachers and to encourage students to consider teaching careers.
Milken Foundation Senior Vice President and 1994 recipient Jane Foley called the award “the Oscars of Teaching.” She said it remains a surprise, because there is no application or nomination process.
“We find you,” Foley told the NFA crowd.
Before calling Chapman’s name, Foley enlisted the help of five students and state Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker to reveal another aspect of the surprise. Each was asked to hold a number to display the $25,000 unrestricted cash prize Chapman will receive.
Chapman will be invited to attend a red-carpet ceremony in Los Angeles in April.
Chapman initially could not speak and was shaky as she was guided to the podium.
Teacher Karen Cook, head of the NFA social studies and history department and a 2005 Milken Award recipient, said Chapman “would never, ever” seek such a recognition.
“But I’m so pleased that you chose to recognize her excellence,” Cook said, “because she really should shine her light. She’s an inspiration to so many of us, whether as a teacher, a coach, a colleague. She has contributed so much to this campus through her challenging of students, her support of students and her love of students.”
Chapman teaches University of Connecticut credit social studies classes and teaches new English learners at NFA, where students speak more than 30 primary languages at home. She also is the NFA girls’ golf coach.
“I just want to say, ‘I love you guys,’” Chapman said when coaxed to address the student body. “You guys are the reason that we’re here. All my kids past and present, I love you to death. Keep up the good work.”
Speaking to a cadre of media afterward, Chapman said she felt “a little overwhelmed, surprised, shocked.” She said she was speculating with colleagues that the award had to be for Cook, not knowing she had won it nearly 20 years earlier.
“I’ve been very fortunate to work in this program,” Chapman said. “This place has really made me who I am. Without these kids, this administration and the support that I have here, I couldn’t do what I do.”
Chapman said over the past few years, she has focused on being an advocate for students and providing a safe space for them to come to during times of trouble.
Chapman was asked to call her husband, Nicholas Tuper, at his job at General Dynamics to tell him about the award. Tuper was equally dumbfounded and gave a quick “OK. Congratulations.”
She said she would call her parents later. She and her husband live in Griswold with their 17-year-old foster son, whom she met when he was a student at NFA. He now attends a different school, she said.
Chapman said she has no immediate plans for her cash prize. She said she enjoys traveling and had spent a year in El Salvador to teach at a San Salvador school to improve her Spanish to help her with multilingual learners at NFA.
“Maybe I’ll go back and see those kids,” she said.
Chapman earned her bachelor’s degree at Eastern Connecticut State University, a master’s degree at Sacred Heart University and a sixth-year administration certificate at Quinnipiac University. She now is enrolled at the University of Rhode Island for a multilingual learner administration certificate.
She said her students mean everything to her.
“If you ask anybody in education, we don’t do this for ourselves,” she said. “We do this for them. … They give you as much support back as you give them.”
___
(c)2024 The Day (New London, Conn.)
Visit The Day (New London, Conn.) at www.theday.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
