Class of 2019

1998 graduate of South Windsor High School where she was an outstanding student athlete. Maura received All State recognition all four years (1994-98) in high school in three sports – Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track. In Cross Country she was also All New England (1995-98), Class L Champion (1995), CCC East Conference Champion (1995-98) and Team Captain (1997-98). Maura was the 3200 meter State Open Champion in Indoor Track (1995) and Outdoor Track (1996).

She was on the Honor Roll every year, a member of the National Honor Society, participated in Student Government and was a Choir Senior Officer. She graduated in the top 17% of her class in 1998.

Maura graduated from Connecticut College in 2002 where she was a Cross Country All American (1999-2001) and Captain (two years), Indoor Track All American in the 5000 (fifth place finish in 2001) and Outdoor Track All American in the 10,000 (third place finish in 2002). In 2002, she was voted the Connecticut Athlete of the Year by the Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance. At graduation she was the female recipient of the Anita DeFrantz award given annually to a male and female member of the graduating class whose athletic ability, leadership and sportsmanship best exemplify the qualities of Olympic Medalist Anita DeFrantz, class of 1974.

Maura received a graduate degree from Southern Connecticut State University in 2013. Her employment includes Elementary Teacher in Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut and Oakland, California; Special Education Teacher at Bassick High School and Park City Magnet Elementary School in Bridgeport, Connecticut (2013-2018) and is currently the Life Skills Special Education Teacher at Windsor Locks High School.

Maura founded the Unified Sports Program and was Head Coach at Park City Magnet School and served as Unified Sports Head Coach and Assistant Coach at Bassick High School (2013-16). She was also a Special Olympics Partner (2012-16).

Maura was a 2002 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier and in 2007 was voted into the Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Maura is married to Josh Schreier who ran Cross Country with her at South Windsor High School.

1975 graduate of South Windsor High School who attended daily dance classes including tap, jazz, ballet and acrobatics throughout high school. Bonnie also studied in New York City and Boston and was selected to demonstrate dance techniques with select instructors at major dance conventions. She completed her high school academic requirements in 3 ½ years to pursue her love of dance full time.

Upon graduation from high school, Bonnie auditioned and was selected for the cast of French Dressing at the former Chateau de Ville Dinner Theatre in East Windsor, Connecticut where she performed eight shows a week.

In 1975 Bonnie opened her own studio, The Bonnie Hayes School of Performing Arts at the Wapping Community House in South Windsor. As her business expanded she purchased a studio on Oakland Road in South Windsor where she has operated her business for forty-four years. Miss Bonnie as she is known by her students offers her students the latest techniques and brings in specialty dance instructors from across the United States. Her students have had opportunities to participate in dance conventions in New York City, Boston and Las Vegas. Miss Bonnie has been a guest judge at many dance competitions including the Dance Educators of America in Las Vegas.

Many of her students have utilized their dance skills on off Broadway shows, tours and scholarship pageants. Miss Bonnie has provided dance instruction through generations teaching children and nieces of former students.

Miss Bonnie donates to the South Windsor Rotary Auction and other community fundraisers including fundraising efforts for a seizure response dog for Malea Gerich-Grady.

Miss Bonnie is known as a teacher, mentor and friend to many. Bonnie resides in South Windsor.

1964 graduate of South Windsor High School where he played Varsity Basketball, Baseball and Soccer. Dennis was Basketball Captain and an All Star 1963-1964 and Baseball Captain and All Star 1962-64. In 1964, Dennis received the Hugh Greer Outstanding Athlete Award. In 1965, Dennis was the starting third baseman on the first South Windsor American Legion Baseball Team to win a zone title.

Dennis served four years in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. In 1967-68 he was stationed at the American Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam during the “Tet” Offensive and the attack on the American Embassy. He also served as a bodyguard for Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker at his residence and on a visit to Kathmandu, Nepal. In 1968-69 he was stationed at the American Embassy in Taipei, Taiwan and was promoted to Sergeant. He was a member of an all military All-Star Basketball Team which played national teams from Japan and China.

In the early 1970’s he coached South Windsor American Legion Baseball and South Windsor Senior League Baseball.

Dennis served twenty-four years with the Windsor Police Department for the period 1971-1995. He was a Crime Prevention Officer and received promotions to Detective and Sergeant serving as a Patrol Supervisor until he assumed the responsibilities of Detective Division Supervisor. Dennis received nine Police Merit Awards and one Department Citation. He received an award from MADD for outstanding contribution to eliminate drunk driving in 1991, served as a member of the Windsor Police Special Tactics and Rescue Team and as Union President for three years. Dennis initiated and coordinated the Windsor Police Golf Tournament for twelve years and raised approximately $30K for the Newington Children’s Hospital.

In 1988, Dennis served as a bodyguard for Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North during an event in East Windsor, Connecticut. From 1995 to 2009 Dennis was employed with The State’s Attorney’s Office - Manchester Superior Court as an investigator.

For the period 1986-89, Dennis served as an Eastern Board Baseball Umpire for high school and American Legion games.

Dennis resides in South Windsor with his wife Deborah and has a daughter Molly.

Dr. Wood has over forty years’ experience in Education including twenty years as the Superintendent of South Windsor Public Schools for the period 1986-2006.

Joe received a B.S. Degree in Foreign Language and a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Boston State College. In 1973, he received his Ed.D. in Educational Administration at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Additional education includes Pembroke College - Oxford International Roundtable in Oxford, England, University of Southern California – Instructional Technology, University of Washington - EDEA Fellowship and University of Rochester – Advanced Seminar for Superintendents. Joe has Connecticut Certifications as a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent and Teacher-Secondary French. His Massachusetts certifications include Superintendent, High School Principal, Assistant High School Principal and Teacher-Secondary French.

Joe began his career as a Teacher of Foreign Language and served as Chairman of the Foreign Language Department at Avon High School, Avon, Massachusetts. He served as principal at Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, Massachusetts for seven years, Adjunct Professor in Education at Westfield State College and Superintendent of Schools for the Berkshire Hills Regional School District in Stockbridge, Massachusetts for nine years.

While Superintendent of Schools in South Windsor, Joe provided leadership and supervision for a school system of over 5,000 students, 600 professional staff, 150 support staff and a budget over $50M. He instituted strategic leadership and long-range planning and developed and negotiated a merit pay evaluation system for administrators. He supervised and coordinated a study of early childhood education and reorganized staff, administration and curricula to increase building level autonomy. He established advisory committees for parents and teachers and supervised and administered the development of educational specifications for extensive expansion and renovations of school buildings. Joe provided leadership and support for referenda resulting in over $53 million for school construction. He developed training programs for Board of Education members and instituted data warehousing to facilitate data-driven decision making to improve student learning. He led development and implementation of three strategic plans resulting in improved curricula, professional development and increased student learning. Joe established a capacity for systemic self-renewal through strategic leadership.

After he served as Superintendent in South Windsor, Joe was an Assistant Research Professor and Director of the Executive Leadership Program at the University Leadership and Teaching-University of Connecticut and since 2010 he provides educational consulting services for the New England School Development Council in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Joe has served in various leadership roles on state and regional committees/organizations including the New England School Development Council, Connecticut Department of Education, Planning for Quality Integrated Education, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents and Hartford Area Superintendent Association.

Joe has facilitated numerous presentations and been a featured speaker at Education conferences/conventions throughout the United States. He has also served on committees and commissions for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. He also has several publication contributions.

Joe is a recipient of Emeritus membership in the Connecticut Association of School Superintendents, Recipient of the Cooperative Leadership Award of the National School Development Council, and recipient of Connecticut Association of School Superintendents Presidential Award.