Bristol Board recognizes teacher-author, student leaders and veteran educator credited with saving lives
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Summary
The board honored Dr. Carlene Richardson for a new book, student Jacoby Frey for statewide CIAC appointments, and longtime alternative program leader Ed Mongeon with multiple alumni tributes describing his four-decade impact.
At the Oct. 1 meeting, Bristol Public Schools recognized several staff and students for recent achievements and long-term service.
Dr. Carlene Richardson, a health occupations teacher at Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern high schools, was recognized after publishing Bridging the Gap: Jaw-Dropping Approaches and Maintaining Engagement, a book that chronicles her transition from college professor to high-school teacher and strategies for student engagement. "I'm doctor Carlene Richardson, and I am the health occupations teacher at both Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern High Schools," Richardson told the board as she thanked students, family and colleagues for support.
The board also recognized Jacoby Frey, a Bristol Central student selected to serve on the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Student Athlete Advisory Board and assigned to the CIAC sportsmanship committee. Frey said he attended his first advisory meeting in Cheshire and would represent Bristol at statewide sessions and take suggestions back to the district.
The meeting included an extended recognition for Ed Mongeon, a longtime leader of the district—s alternative programming (formerly Westwood's Academy, later Bristol Prep). Multiple former students and colleagues told the board that Mongeon—s work over about 40 years changed their lives. One former student said a 10-year absence of formal recognition prompted a social campaign that gathered more than 400 signatures and stories urging the board to honor Mongeon. Speakers described Westwood's as a place that "saved lives" and credited Mongeon with persistent advocacy, individualized support and steady leadership across decades. Mongeon, who said he was not ready to retire, reflected on starting the alternative program in 1986 and called teaching "the best experience of my life."
The recognitions concluded without formal board action beyond the acknowledgments. The board chair and superintendent praised the honorees and invited them to brief the district or participate in future community outreach efforts.
Quotations in this article are drawn from remarks offered at the meeting and attributed to the speakers identified in the board transcript.