O'Rourke started her teaching career in Bloomfield and came to Charles Wright in 1999. Over the last 10 years, she has presented to staff on Action Research, 1st Grade Reader's Workshop, Character Development, Memory Boxes, Memoirs, Mentor Text and Literacy and Music Connections. She secured a $500 grant from the CT Reading Association in 2003 and 2005, published a report with INTASC on Arts Education Standards, and had her Arts Integration lesson published by Dr. Sue Snyder.
O'Rourke earned her undergraduate degree in political science and French and her master's in education from St. Joseph College. She also went on to earn a Master's +30 at the University of New England.
As Charles Wright's Teacher of the Year, O'Rourke's message is that "all children can learn if we set high standards and keep students motivated. As we move into a global society," she says, "it is important to expose students to different cultures, traditions and ideas so they can more easily adapt to the ever-changing society."
Candidates for Teacher of the Year were selected at each school by their colleagues. Nominees were chosen "who have inspired a love for learning in their students and who have distinguished themselves in the profession." They were also honored by the superintendent and board members at the Sept. 22 meeting.
They are Ann H. Barton, a Spanish and French Teacher at Wethersfield High School; Lisa Corcoran, a Grade 2 Teacher at Hanmer School; Giselda Forst, a Grade 1 Teacher at Emerson Williams Elementary; Pamela Klein, a Grade 8 Reading Consultant at Silas Deane Middle School; Cindy Wahl, a Grade 2 Teacher at Highcrest Elementary; and Karen Wilson, a Grade 2 Teacher at Samuel B. Webb Elementary.