The Danbury Public School District has named the 2017-18 Teacher of the Year.  Beth Manning is a science teacher at Westside Middle School Academy.  Manning started out as a pharmaceutical representative, tasked with training co-workers in technological changes. 

She earned her masters at Western Connecticut State University.  Manning was a student teacher at Danbury High School in 2001 and then started teaching at Rogers Park Middle School. 

Last year she was chosen by the Connecticut Science Teachers Association to receive the “Excellence in Middle School Science Teaching Award.” 

Manning says it's great that the district has embraced creativity in teaching the required curriculum.  New state science standards were adopted last year.  Manning said she accomplishes this by helping students – rather than telling them – find the answers through science-based questions.