With that inspiration came success. Beaudet, pictured second from the right with her fifth grade teaching colleagues, has been named Berlin Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year for 2022.

“I feel so honored and humbled to receive this award with all of the talented and passionate teachers in my district,” said Beaudet. “I have the best team and colleagues who I get to work with every day, and I feel so lucky to be around so many inspiring educators. As teachers, we do what we do because we love kids, and this award recognizes our hard work.”

Beaudet began her teaching career in Berlin Public Schools, where she has been teaching fifth grade for the past seven years. She said she stives to create an environment where students feel loved, valued and important.

“Building relationships with each student and between students is the most important thing to me,” said Beaudet. “I work hard to make sure we all feel like a family and that the kids feel safe to take risks and make mistakes.”

The rigor of Quinnipiac’s School of Education programs and the continuous support of her professors is what Beaudet credits for her preparedness of the reality of teaching. She said that in addition to learning how to teach students, the program covered classroom management techniques that set them above interns from other teaching programs.

“All of the professors in the program wanted their students to be successful, and they gave us the skills and tools we needed to do so,” said Beaudet. “I still keep in touch with a few professors, and they are always willing to meet up and talk about teaching."

For future educators, Beaudet encourages them to remember that they don’t have to know it all when leaving Quinnipiac.

“Always ask questions. Teaching is a collaborative effort, and the first year is so difficult. Build relationships with your classmates, professors and colleagues,” Beaudet. “Having a job where we get to continuously impact children’s lives is a massive responsibility, but also an incredible privilege.”