Schools

West Hartford's Mastroianni Named Connecticut Teacher Of The Year

Teacher affectionately known as 'Mr. M' is the state's 2014 Teacher of the Year Award.

Instrumental music teacher and band director John Mastroianni was named the 2014 Connecticut Teacher of the Year at a lively ceremony at Hall High School on Tuesday.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, state Sen. Beth Bye and Mayor Scott Slifka were among those in attendance.

And, according to all those present, the recognition was well-deserved.

"John is the closest thing we have to a celebrity teacher in West Hartford," said Board of Education Chairman Bruce Putterman. "I know of families that actually moved to West Hartford so that their children could participate in the Hall music program."

Indeed, in addition to teaching and directing at Hall, Mastroianni, who lives in Southington, is a professional musician who has performed and recorded with notable artists such as Mel Lewis, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Smokey Robinson, and Louie Bellson.

But there is far more than Mastroianni's mini-celebrity status that makes him such an effective teacher.

"You are approachable, supportive, and exhibit a calm, understated passion that has connected with and inspired countless students," Putterman said. "You believe in your students, and as anyone who has ever been to Pops ‘N Jazz can testify, you get them to believe in themselves. You have been a leader in modeling relationship building with students throughout Hall, throughout our district, and now, you’ll be able to do so throughout our state. And we are thrilled to share you."

Junior Emily DiMatteo, an alto saxophone player, said that Mastroianni's passion is what sets him apart.

"You can tell he cares a lot about us," she said. "He puts so much time in. We have night rehearsal on Tuesdays, which he holds even after he's had a long day teaching. He cares about us so much and the music."

Principal Dan Zittoun said that Mastroianni has students take ownership of what they do.

Zittoun noted that at football games, the students choose the music and conduct their own pieces.

While he was named West Hartford Teacher of the Year in May, Mastroianni, for his part, was still in disbelief that he received the state honor.

"It's surreal," he said in the band room at Hall before the ceremony. "I think I'm still walking around mumbling. It hasn't sunk in yet. ... It's life-changing, awe-inspiring and exhilarating. It's been the greatest experience of my life."

Mastroianni said that caring is easy, because he loves what he does; he's been a teacher for 32 years.

"I never thought about doing anything else," he said. "My teachers were so inspiring to me."

Mastroianni, 52, came to Hall from New Canaan High School 15 years ago. In 2002, he was named one of the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” by School Band and Orchestra Magazine.

Going into teaching has made Mastroianni "the biggest spoiled brat in the world."

He said he teaches the best students at the best school during the day, then play with the best musicians at night and go home to the best family.

Mastroianni said that he counsels his students to find the one thing they love to do and they will never feel like they are working.

He added that the award is a "celebration of the arts."

Part of that celebration included a performance at the ceremony by the William Hall Jazz Band and the Rittenberg Big Band from Germany.

As much as it's an honor for Mastroianni, the award is quite a feather in the cap for West Hartford public schools.

Indeed it's the second time in four years that a West Hartford teacher was named Connecticut Teacher of the Year.

In 2010, Kristi Luetjen Laverty, a Whiting Lane teacher the time, was named Connecticut Teacher of the Year.

As teacher of the year, Mastroianni will join a council that advises on policy. He will also travel the state and the nation as one of the 50 teachers of the year in the country. He will travel to Washington, D.C., in the spring to meet with President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan, according to a press release. He also becomes Connecticut’s representative for National Teacher of the Year, whom the president will select in late March and honor in April 2014.

Mastroianni was chosen from among four finalists, 15 semifinalists, and over 100 district-level Teachers of the Year. In March 2004, the Connecticut Music Educators Association chose Mr. Mastroianni as the Secondary School Teacher of the Year. Most recently, he was a quarterfinalist for a 2014 Music Educator Grammy Award, according to a press release from the state.

"West Hartford has been leading the way in public education for years," state Commissioner of Education Stephan Pryor said.

"I'm jealous of teachers every single day," Malloy said. "To be a teacher is a calling. To be a great teacher is a gift. ... Thank you for what you give on a daily basis."

Slifka (Hall High '92) said that it wasn't too much of a surprise that another West Hartford teacher was recognized.

"If West Hartford had an official religion, it would be education," he said. Slifka said that teachers don't get into the profession for awards or the money. But on a day like Tuesday, Mastroianni's recognition serves "as a reminder of how special each an every one of them is."

But the most powerful statement on Mastroianni came from Ethan Swain of the Hall High Student Association.

Swain is a senior and has had Mastroianni as a teacher for four years playing the bass guitar.

Swain said that Mastroianni instructs his rhythm section that it is "driving the bus."

"But there would be no bus without Mr. M," Swain said. "You don't only teach us to be better musicians. You teach us to be better people."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here