Desi Nesmith , a graduate of Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford, Conn., earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from the University of Connecticut. He began his teaching career at Mayberry Elementary School in East Hartford, Conn., where he was named Teacher of the Year for 2005-2006. He served as a teacher in residence at the State Department of Education in 2006-2007, and is an Intervention Specialist in the Hartford public schools.

Chi-Ann Lin, a graduate of Newington (Conn.) High School, earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of Connecticut. She is teaching history at Staples High School in Westport, Conn.

Miguel Cardona (pictured above), a graduate of Wilcox Technical High School in Meriden, Conn., earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University and a master's degree in Bilingual/Bicultural Education from the University of Connecticut. He began his career as a fourth grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School in Meriden and has been serving as principal of Hanover Elementary School in Meriden since 2003.

Glenn Allen Jr., a graduate of East Hartford (Conn.) High School, earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of Connecticut. He is a special education English teacher and coaches football and track & field at Carson High School in the Los Angeles (Calif.) Unified School District.

Oscar Josue Rodriguez graduated from Bulkeley High School, Hartford, Conn., and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Connecticut. He is teaching English as a second language at East Hartford High School.

Giulietta Romero, a graduate of Windham High School in Willimantic, Conn., has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Connecticut and is pursuing a master’s degree in education at UConn.

Santosha Oliver, Ph.D., a graduate of Manchester (Conn.) High School, holds a B.S. degree in biology from Morgan State University and a Ph.D. in genetics and developmental biology from the University of Connecticut. She earned her Connecticut teaching certificate in the Alternate Route to Certification and is teaching biology, genetics and forensics at East Hartford High School.

Blenda Chau of Danbury, Conn., has earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education from the University of Connecticut.

Zakia Parrish, Ph.D., of Gary, Ind., holds under-graduate and graduate degrees in civil and environmental engineering from Purdue University. She earned her Connecticut teaching certificate in the Alternate Route to Certification and is teaching science at Hill Regional Career High School, New Haven, Conn.

Angelica Gibbs of New Haven, Conn., has a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College and a master’s degree from Lesley University. She is teaching and planning in a Citizen Schools program and is also teaching Spanish at Media Arts and Technology High School (MATCH School) in Boston.

Nadine Rosa of Meriden, Conn., has earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Southern Connecticut State University, and is a special education teacher at Platt High School in Meriden.

Han-Ya Annie Hsu holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree in education from Harvard University, and is teaching in Boston.

Annette Saunooke of Cherokee, N.C., earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree from William & Mary College and is teaching high school English in Swain County, N.C.

Priscilla Noriega of Brownsville, Tex., graduated from Yale University with a bachelor's degree in secondary education. She is teaching at San Benito High School in San Benito, Tex.

Ollie-Rubiah Williams, a graduate of Windsor (Conn.) High School, earned a bachelor's degree from Temple University in Philadelphia and a master's degree in education from St. Joseph College, West Hartford, Conn. She is teaching at the Farmington Valley Diagnostic Center operated by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC), in Avon, Conn.