Oct-Nov 2019 Advisor

VOLUNTEERING

16 CEA ADVISOR OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019

TEACHERS GO THE DISTANCE TO HELP STUDENTS, COLLEAGUES From food tent to finish line, educators run, volunteer for Team CEF in Eversource Hartford Marathon

For the sixth straight year, Connecticut teachers came together in Hartford to test their strength and endurance, support one another, and—perhaps, most importantly— make a meaningful contribution to those in the education community who are struggling or striving. More than a dozen early-career and veteran educators from throughout the state ran or volunteered for Team CEF on October 12 at the 2019 Eversource Hartford Marathon, to benefit the Connecticut Education Foundation. “This is such a near and dear cause for so many of our members,” says CEF President Tom Nicholas, noting that since its inception in 1991, the Foundation has distributed more than a million dollars in assistance and scholarships to students and teachers in need. Through the Holiday Bear Project (see page 3), Children’s Fund, and Boland Fund, CEF supports children whose families are experiencing financial difficulties, as well as teachers facing extraordinary hardships. The Foundation also provides scholarships to students planning teaching careers. “We are proud to have logged our sixth year as an official charity of the marathon,” says Nicholas, “a truly energizing and positive event that allows us to raise much-needed funds to help Connecticut’s students, educators, and aspiring teachers.” Top fundraiser CEA Secretary Stephanie Wanzer, who has been running for Team CEF since the beginning, has raised almost $7,000 over those years. A special education teacher with Cooperative Educational Services, Wanzer recalls, “We had a student whose state and federal medical resources had been fouled up, and he wasn’t able to use any insurance for medication he needed badly. The family was using their own money for this one

“I find it very important to practice what you preach. I used this race— the training I put into it and the event itself—as a motivational tool for my students.” Holden, who teamed up with her school nurse to run for Team CEF in the half- marathon this year, said she learned about the charitable event in the CEA Advisor . East Hampton Education Association President Neil Shilansky, a longtime Team CEF runner and the chair of CEF’s Edward J. Boland Fund, took a unique approach to fundraising and spreading the word this year with #RedforEd Friday. “EHEA’s building reps distributed RedforEd T-shirts to interested teachers who didn’t already have them, and we encouraged members to wear them to school and make donations to Team CEF,” he says. The Boland Fund assists active CEA members experiencing extraordinary or catastrophic financial situations, and Shilansky exceeded his $500 personal fundraising goal this year, raising an estimated $600 to benefit the fund. Helping hands for tired feet A race of this magnitude would not be possible without the vast efforts of volunteers who rise before dawn to ensure that everything runs smoothly, start to finish. “For Team CEF, volunteers are the heart of the day’s events,” says Nicholas. “They are there to help with logistics and planning, and they ensure that runners are nourished and hydrated.” Westport literacy coach Faith Sweeney, who teaches at Coleytown Elementary School, has volunteered for the past five years in a variety of ways, including setting up paper goods to speed up the line in the food tent, serving food to race finishers, assisting with the relay station, cheering on participants, handing out water, and helping runners get to their next location. “Anything to support CEF,” she says, “because I know the funds help students in need and also go toward scholarships for future teachers. I encourage my teacher friends to volunteer because it’s teambuilding, and they will be helping Connecticut’s public school children.”

Before the starting gun, several teachers running for Team CEF gather outside CEA’s building.

prescription. CEF was able to help get them over the hump until his insurance was reinstated. The thank- you letter from the family would bring tears to your eyes. That’s why I do this every year—to give a hand to the families who may need a little help from their CEA friends.” While in some years she’s had a trainer, Wanzer says, “These past couple of years it’s all about fingers crossed and many laughs with my friend and fellow teacher Katy Gale to get over the finish line!” Wanzer and Gale compete each year to see who can raise the most for CEF. Besides running past CEA’s building at the starting line and crossing the finish line (“Just kidding—not really!”) Wanzer says the best part of the race is that “it shows how CEA members go above and beyond for their students.” Setting a goal—and an example Running the Eversource Hartford half-marathon for the ninth time—and for Team CEF every year since it became an official race charity—Darien teacher Katy Gale says, “I’m always excited to raise money for CEF, because I know that the money goes directly to public school children, teachers, and

aspiring teachers who are in real need. Children in need are identified by public school teachers who know their hardships. I think with some charities you may not know where the money goes, but with CEF you always do. This makes a real difference to help families through difficult stretches.” A teacher at Hindley Elementary School, Gale says, “My message to students is about being finishers and overcoming obstacles that come up. In the races I run, there will always be obstacles—weather, cramps, shoe or clothing problems—but you have to push through them. In our fifth- grade classroom, we study themes in the books we read, and we try to relate them to life. Many characters in literature face obstacles and struggle to overcome them. Finishing the half-marathon is a perfect connection.” Though this marks Gale’s twentieth half-marathon, she notes that it’s never too late to get in the race. “I didn’t start running until I was 50 years old.” Back on her feet For Schaghticoke Middle School physical education teacher Eileen Holden, this year’s race also marked a personal milestone. Not only was it her first time running for CEF, but it was a return to an activity people thought she might never be capable of again. Nine years ago, the New Milford teacher underwent a fairly routine surgery, after which she developed an infection. Though she sought treatment multiple times, the infection persisted. “Over the course of a year, doctors couldn’t figure out how to get rid of it,” she recalls. “Amputation of my left leg was discussed a few times.” Twelve surgeries and many years later, she was finally cleared to run again. “Although it’s tough sometimes, I’ve worked with my physical therapist to minimize the pain as much as possible. Completing this half-marathon was very important to me so that I could be an example to my students and others of how you can overcome obstacles.” Indeed, many teachers over the years have used their training and race experience as a tool in the classroom to stress the importance of healthy lifestyles and inspire students to set goals and work hard to accomplish them. “As a P.E. teacher,” says Holden,

Volunteering in the food tent are Manchester teacher Cathy Kapa, Westport’s Faith Sweeney, and CEA staffer Shannon Waxenberg.

Proud partners on the race trail, teacher Katy Gale and CEA Secretary Stephanie Wanzer (center) wave to their cheering section.

STILL TIME TO DONATE! Help CEF reach its annual fundraising goal. Lend your support at cea.org/cef .

Teacher and marathon runner Neil Shilansky (pictured at left, front, with educators from East Hampton Middle School) enlisted the help of his colleagues in raising funds for Team CEF.