Schools
Health Educator Nicole LaCroix is North Branford's Teacher of the Year
She is a 1992 graduate of North Branford High School and some of her colleagues who nominated her are her former teachers.
North Branford’s 2011-'12 Teacher of the Year received some ribbing when the news of her selection was announced.
That’s because Nicole LaCroix’s husband, David, was named Teacher of the Year three years ago. "Everybody was teasing us," she said.
LaCroix, a health teacher at , also happens to be a 1992 graduate of the school. She said she was especially honored by the recognition, since some of her colleagues who supported her nomination were her former teachers.
Find out what's happening in North Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"That was very special," she said.
When she was in high school, health education focused on first aid and basic information, but now it is about health literacy, sexuality, nutrition, fitness, mental and emotional health, substance abuse, character issues and making good decisions.
Find out what's happening in North Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
She said originally she wanted to be an English teacher. Midway through college, she dropped out to help take care of a family member who got sick and during that time, she took an introductory public health class at Southern Connecticut State University that caught her interest.
"It opened up my eyes to a new calling," she said. So she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public health with a focus on education and prevention. During her studies, she interned at Planned Parenthood in New Haven and followed the health educators when they spoke at schools.
That convinced her to go back to school at night and get her master’s degree in health education.
She was hired seven years ago to teach at , and switched to the high school after taking time off to have her two children.
LaCroix met her husband along the way. "I was a trainer at World Gym and David was a regular," she said.
He is a special education teacher at The Bridges program at .
She thinks she was chosen at Teacher of the Year because of her involvement in the high school student culture. LaCroix also serves as the advisor to the Class of 2014, the advisor for Students Against Destructive Decisions and the Gay-Straight Alliance.
Previously, she was the assistant coach of the girls' volleyball team and then the head coach of the middle school girls' volleyball team.
