Science teacher named finalist for 2023 National Teacher of the Year

BRISTOL — In a first for Bristol Public Schools district history, Bristol Eastern High School science teacher Carolyn Kielma has been named one of five finalists by the Council of Chief State School Officers to be considered for the distinction of 2023 National Teacher of the Year.

Many in the education community call the honor the highest such recognition a teacher can receive in the country. Gov. Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker announced the Bristol teacher was being considered for the title Wednesday.

“It’s incredible,” Kielma said. “It’s really an honor for my students and for my district and – of course – my city and state. It’s really for them and it’s exciting.”

The National Teacher of the Year Program’s Selection Committee will interview all five finalists and the top candidate is anticipated to be named in spring.

“I’m just happy to be considered in the top five,” continued Kielma. “It’s an honor that will never be forgotten. Bristol has been through a lot in the last year and it’s nice to be able to bring some happiness.”

On top of being a finalist, Kielma was named the Bristol Public Schools Teacher of the Year in 2022 and then named the Connecticut Teacher of the Year for 2023 last October.

“I think I try to make my content and my classroom acceptable for everybody and that it’s a safe place to learn,” she said. “There’s a lot of hate in the world right now and I try not to let any of it into my classroom. I won’t stand for it. I just want everybody to get along and have a safe place for them to come and learn, even if it’s not science.”

For the past decade and a half, Kielma has taught biotechnology and forensics, biology, environmental science, anatomy and physiology at Bristol Eastern. While being a teacher, she said she finds great purpose in being the AVID class coordinator for Bristol Eastern High School. The AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program seeks to close gaps in opportunities for students, regardless of their backgrounds. The coordinator said many of her students, but not all, came from families where they would be the first to attend a post-secondary educational program. AVID is about preparing students for success in life with organizational skills and more while also preparing them for future educational opportunities like college.

“We could not be more proud of Carolyn,” said Dr. Catherine Carbone, superintendent of Bristol Public Schools. “This is an extraordinary achievement for Carolyn and her family, Bristol Public Schools, and the State of Connecticut. She was well-deserving of the state’s highest teaching

“We are so proud and excited to have Carolyn Kielma represent Connecticut as a National Teacher of the Year finalist,”

honor and I know that she will continue to represent our district and state with pride as a finalist for National Teacher of the Year. Carolyn is a talented, dedicated, and exemplary educator and I am truly excited for the impact that she will continue to have beyond her classroom.”

Lamont lauded Kielma’s finalist status alongside Russell-Tucker.

“She has made a real impact on the lives of many young people, and I thank her for her dedication to Connecticut’s public schools,” he said.

“We are so proud and excited to have Carolyn Kielma represent Connecticut as a National Teacher of the Year finalist,” said Russell-Tucker. “Carolyn is a dedicated educator, focused on providing all her students the best possible, highest-quality learning experience. She believes that learning is not about knowing the right answer – it is a process of discovery. Carolyn is also a model of inspiration for her peers and is so deserving of this honor.”