House
Republican Press Release
March 20,
2008
Press
Office: 860-240-8700
Rep. Jeff Berger
(D-Waterbury), Rep. Selim Noujaim (R-Waterbury), Rep. Anthony J.
D’Amelio (R-Waterbury, Middlebury) and Sen. Joan Hartley (D- Naugatuck, Prospect and Waterbury)
presented a legislative “Teacher of The Year” citation to Martin Sagendorf, a
physics teacher at Warren Fox Kaynor Technical High School (Kaynor Tech) and
toured areas of the school undergoing construction.
Mr. Sagendorf has taught at
Kaynor since 2003. He was selected as the Teacher of the Year in 2007 by
Superintendent Abigail Hughes. Mr. Sagendorf also does volunteer work
including lectures, displays and demonstrations relating to historical aspects
of telegraphy, telephony, and radio communications.
"The importance of vocational training is essential to the overall
training and education of our 9-12 model. Good paying jobs and high quality
vo-tech education is part of Connecticut holding a competitive edge national
and internationally and helping create jobs and revenue for our state,”
Rep. Berger said. “What we are doing here today will set the mark for what
we do in the future.”
“W. F. Kaynor Technical High School has always been near and dear to my heart. Over the years, the Noujaim
Tool Company, where I work, has hired many of their graduates,” said state Rep.
Selim Noujaim. “We have been recruiting Kaynor Tech students through the
State of Connecticut’s apprenticeship program for several years and we’ve been
very pleased with their ethics. After they graduate, they become full-time tool
and die makers at our company. I am proud of the educational opportunities
Kaynor Tech provides to young people in the Greater Waterbury area and I will
continue to give the school my enthusiastic support.”
"My personal
congratulations to Mr. Sagendorf for having been named legislative Teacher of
the Year. Mr. Sagendorf has touched the lives of Kaynor
Technical high school graduates who have learned more than just the
standard high school curriculum but have mastered a skill or a trade which
is crucial to the quality of life in this state but equally important to the
overall competitiveness and to the economy of the State of Connecticut.
Mr. Sagendorf's graduates and all of Kaynor Technical high school students
are vitally important to maintaining a skilled Connecticut
workforce. Our profound thanks to Mr. Sagendorf!" Sen.
Hartley said.
“For many years, W. F. Kaynor
Technical High School has been providing a well-trained and dependable pool of
graduates who are well-regarded by area manufacturers and other employers,”
said Rep. Anthony J. D’Amelio. “With companies throughout Connecticut having difficulty finding well-qualified workers to fill vacant positions,
Waterbury-area young people can be confident that as Kaynor Tech graduates,
there will be a steady demand for their skills for years to come. Our state’s
vocational-technical schools play a vital role in keeping Connecticut’s economy
growing - and Kaynor Tech is one of the best of them.”
Kaynor Tech is undergoing
renovations and expansion as part of a $60 million state package the Waterbury delegation has worked to secure. Located at 43 Tompkins Street in Waterbury, the
school was established in 1953 and hosts students from a number of
municipalities including Naugatuck, Prospect, Watertown, Wolcott, Beacon Falls,
Middlebury, Southbury and Woodbury.
Kaynor Tech offers instruction
in many trades including construction, auto, electrical and electronics,
heating/air conditioning, and hairdressing. Instruction is rotated every three
weeks to include support courses in math, science, art and computers as well as
traditional academic courses.
Programming in supportive
remedial reading, math, and English is also provided. A full time school
psychologist is available as well as a full time registered nurse. Since its
opening in 1953, Kaynor Tech has undergone three expansion projects to keep
pace with technology.
The school also partners with area trades-people who meet
regularly with shop instructors to share knowledge about the latest trends and
techniques in their fields. Through cooperation of local industries, students
are provided with an opportunity for hands-on experience in their selected trades.
Many alumni return for additional training in the adult education program.
