Occupation: I am the assistant superintendent for Newtown Schools. I do all of the curriculum and instruction development. I supervise teacher professional development, do orientation for new teachers and manage the Best program for teachers. I am also the Title 9 officer for on the job sexual harassment. I’ve taught every level from kindergarten through high school. I made sure I’ve taught a lesson in each school in Newtown to see what the children here are like and what their needs are.

How Long Have You Worked In Newtown: I worked at Newtown High School from 1985 to 1988. I left Newtown to work at Yale for four years doing curriculum development in the psychology department. I worked in Wallingford for nine years, again on curriculum development and came back to Newtown in 2001.

Biggest Change You Have Seen In Town: The school system from when I left in 1988 to now is much larger; and yet still is able to personalize, for the most part, like they did when we were a small district.

Family: My husband Raymond is the love of my life. I absolutely adore my husband. I could not have had the kind of career I’ve been able to have without his support. He is the best husband in the whole wide world. Also I have a 12-year-old step-grandson, Jordan, who thinks that his grandma is pretty neat because she drives a sporty Mini-Cooper.

Pets: We have a Brittany spaniel named Pollyanna who is 13 years old and a double-clawed cat named Calamity Jane who helped to raise the dog. She cleans the dog and they snuggle together and are the best of friends. We don’t go anywhere without the dog.

Hobbies: I paint a fairly decent watercolor. I play the piano. I’m pretty good at that. I play mostly classical. I’m a gardener, mostly perennials and wildflowers. I don’t have much time so it pretty much has to look after itself. I also like to hike.

Favorite Books: I am an avid reader. I read a lot of professional materials. I usually read a couple novels a month.

Favorite Vacation Spot: My very favorite spot is Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. We stay in a cabin there. The population there is one person to every five miles of land. It’s like turning the clock back in time to the fifties.

Favorite TV Show: I love American Idol. I like to watch them grow. That’s the teacher in me. I get a kick out of it. I also like Northern Exposure; those are my two favorites.

Most Vivid Memory About Newtown: Coming down Wasserman Way and seeing a hot air balloon over the high school in the early morning.

Personal Philosophy: Be open, honest, and direct and try to live each day as if it were your last.

Snapshot: Alice Jackson