Carol Sutton, a social studies teacher at GHS since 1987, has received the
Connecticut Education Association's 2010 Mahatma Ghandi – Martin Luther
King, Jr. Peace Award. See attached for more information.
Kim Eves
Director of Communications
Greenwich Board of Education
290 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
www.greenwichschools.org
Phone: 203-625-7415
e mail: kim_eves@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Fax: 203-869-8003
PRESS RELEASE:
Carol Sutton, a socialstudies teacher at GHS since 1987, has received the Connecticut Education Association’s 2010Mahatma Ghandi – Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Award. Carol has been recognized by the CEA forher work in transforming what is currently Diversity ‘Week’ from a one-day program, creating NamesDay at Greenwich High School – the CT Anti Defamation League’s (ADL) Names Can Really Hurt Usprogram, and her ongoing work in the classroom with students promoting peace education.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sidney A. Freund said, “Carol Sutton exemplifies the attributes that weexpect for our students in achieving the Vision of the Graduate. Specifically, collaborating with othersto produce a unified work and/or heightened understanding, and recognizing and respecting othercultural contexts and points of view.
I appreciate all that she contributes to our school community andcongratulate her on receiving CEA’s Ghandi-King Peace Award.”In 1995 Greenwich High School celebrated its first Diversity Week. Fifteen years ago, a one-day eventat the high school - Holocaust Remembrance Day - was transformed into a week-long celebration ofand exploration into our diverse community. Working with administrators, teachers and students, CarolSutton, led the charge for this school-wide initiative.
The Diversity Club at GHS plans and organizesthe week’s program guided by its pledge: “We, the students and staff of Greenwich High School,promise to build a community that promotes mutual respect. We will celebrate our differences and notlet them divide us. We will work hard to understand, to educate, and to listen to each other.”
DiversityWeek plans assemblies, speakers, suggested readings, and other activities that focus on exploring avariety of topics including gender, race, ethnicity, religion, etc. Greenwich High School’s DiversityWeek will be held this year during the week of April 4-8, 2011.
Greenwich High School Headmaster Chris Winters said, “Carol inspires her students and the greaterGHS community to act respectfully and responsibly. Her beliefs and actions, and those of her GHScolleagues, have made a significant impact in supporting the goals of the school to provide a safe and respectful environment."
In 1999, Ms. Sutton took a leave of absence for a semester to work with the Anti-Defamation Leagueand to receive further training in peaceful conflict resolution.
In 2000, again working closely with highschool students and staff, she initiated Names Day (Names Can Really Hurt Us), targeting all incomingfreshmen students. As described by Ms. Sutton’s former supervisor, Michael Batcheller, “Thisprogram (seeks) to target bullying by not only exposing students at the start of their high school careerto the devastating effects it has on young people, but moreover equipping them with strategies tohandle it should it rear its ugly head. Carol chose this program because it empowered students to teachstudents.”
Michelle Pincince, Director of ADL’s A World of Difference Institute, said, “ The programemphasizes peaceful resolution of conflicts and challenges each student to move from being bystandersin the face of prejudice and bullying to being allies to each other. I consider Carol Sutton to be one ofthe top Names Program Coordinators in the State. Her organizational skills and dedication to theprogram are truly exceptional.”
In 2005, the ADL presented Ms. Sutton with a Distinguished EducatorAward for her commitment to their mission of “fighting hate, building hope, and safe-guardingliberty.” Greenwich High School’s Names Day will be held on November 18, 2010.Carol Sutton teaches World Themes and Contemporary America classes at the high school.
Herlessons consistently address peace education – the study and exploration of peaceful conflict resolutionand the ability of individuals to make choices and decisions to avoid the use of violence. Fellowteacher and Ms. Sutton’s co-nominator for the Ghandi-King Peace Award, Kimberly Steinhorn, notedthat “students feel Ms. Sutton’s tangible sense of justice and many end up standing beside her as theyreach towards a place where harmony and nonviolence dominate.”Colleague and co-nominator, Ms. Rae Baczek, said, “Carol’s dedication to (these programs) and toeverything else she does for our district is a tribute to her commitment on educating our students tobecome better citizens of the world.
”The Connecticut Education Association’s Human and Civil Rights Commission sponsors the AnnualCEA Awards program. The Mahatma Ghandi – Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Award was inspired bythe commitment of these world leaders to non-violent activism in the promotion of human and civilrights. Eligibility for this award requires the development of a school-wide or community-wideprogram promoting peace education and nonviolent conflict resolution. ==============================
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