East Hartford schools have chosen Gaunet Davis as the district’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.

Davis is a 7th grade English and Language Arts teacher at East Hartford Middle School on Burnside Avenue. Chosen from among the top teacher candidates in every town public school, she will go on to represent East Hartford in the statewide Teacher of the Year competition.

School administrators surprised Ms. Davis in her classroom with the news Thursday, handing her a floral bouquet in front of her students.

“Gaunet Davis is an extraordinary educator and I couldn’t be prouder to have her represent East Hartford Public Schools as Teacher of the Year,” said Superintendent Nathan Quesnel. “From her first days in the district, she has made an impression on all of us around what it means to work hard, set high expectations for students and care about a job that’s so important to our community.”

Davis has been a teacher for 20 years, the last 8 in East Hartford. According to a press release issued by the schools, she said building trust with students allows her to set high expectations for them and to motivate them to be stronger readers, writers and communicators.

“Being in her classroom makes us feel safe,” stated one of her students, according to the announcement. “Ms. Davis always tries her best to meet us at our level to understand our thought process when completing assignments. She will correct us but then also guides us to come to our own conclusions,” the statement added.

Davis organized a successful Literacy Night in 2022 focused on bringing the community in to take part in literary-focused activities and resources. She also spearheaded an initiative with the East Hartford Public Library to provide library cards for students and to increase their access to books.

“She is an excellent example of someone who goes above and beyond for her students and teaching with her heart,” said East Hartford Middle School Principal Anthony Menard.

Menard added Davis has been an asset to her colleagues, serving on the middle school’s Diversity and Equity team, leading her instructional data team, and facilitating professional development on topics such as increasing independent reading and culturally responsive teaching.

Davis holds a master’s degree in English Education and a bachelor’s degree in English/Professional Writing from Lehman College of City University of New York. She is currently pursuing her Sixth Year Certificate from Central Connecticut State University and is an accomplished writer who published her novel Foreign this year.

Davis was nominated by her peers, then was interviewed by the East Hartford Teacher of the Year committee comprised of former district teachers of the year, Central Office administrators and school principals. Finally, the committee visited classrooms of three finalists before choosing the overall winner.

The East Hartford Board of Education will formally recognize all East Hartford school building Teachers of the Year at a luncheon at the end of May.