A Redding Elementary School educator has been named as the state Department of Education's 2020 Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year.  Jaime Bairaktaris, or Mr. B as he's known to his students,  is in his third year at RES which he attended as a student. 

The award was renamed in 2013 to honor of Anne Marie Murphy, a special education paraprofessional who was killed at Sandy Hook School. Redding Elementary School’s principal, Natalie Hammond, survived the shooting and was a friend of Murphy.  The celebration this week not only honored an exceptional paraeducator, but also acknowledged the commitment of Hammond in her continued dedication to students. 

Bairaktaris had a vision to transform some under-utilized space in the school cafeteria into ‘The Living Room’, a space where students can relax in a safe, supportive environment and meet their Social/Emotional needs during lunch.  Students can read in handmade reading boxes, collaborate with other students to solve puzzles, or get creative and work on art projects.  Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona took a tour of the space Tuesday. 

The Westport resident provides support to students in math, assists with students who need 1:1 support, and has been trained to assist behavior technicians.  Bairaktaris believes that age does not affect one’s ability to help others as long as they are passionate. State officials say his passion for helping others was built during his own childhood by his teachers and paraeducators, and he now strives to instill that same sense of kindness and confidence in his own students. 

The Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year Program selects one exceptional paraeducator - narrowed down from approximately 14,000 public school paraeducators - through a rigorous process that includes interviews conducted by representatives of the School Paraprofessional Advisory Council and representatives from educational organizations and collective bargaining.