East Hartford Public Schools is pleased to announce the selection of Drew Dunnack as the district’s 2026 Teacher of the Year. Mr. Dunnack teaches Spanish at O’Connell Elementary School – an IB World School. District leaders surprised him in his classroom with the news of his selection on May 15. He will represent the school district as an example of what is best in the profession in the statewide Teacher of the Year competition.
“Drew Dunnack is an impactful and talented educator and we are proud to have him represent East Hartford Public Schools as our Teacher of the Year,” said Superintendent Thomas Anderson. “He creates engaging and exciting lessons, while holding all of his students to high standards and maximizing their opportunities to learn the Spanish language.”
Mr. Dunnack has been in his role for 5 years, having previously served as the district’s EL/Bilingual Coordinator. He teaches all of O’Connell’s kindergarten through fifth grade students, more than 500 children in total, every week. He has built a rapport with each of these students who excitedly greet him in Spanish throughout the school day. In his classroom, he utilizes songs, games, artistic projects and technology to help students retain the language and meet their learning targets.
In her letter of recommendation, the parent of two of his students said, “Señor Dunnack makes learning Spanish fun for all of his students; whether they have family members who speak Spanish at home, or have never heard a word of Spanish before. Both of my daughters frequently come home from school singing songs they learned in Spanish class that day.”
Mr. Dunnack’s role is unique as he is the only elementary language teacher in the district. He has worked to design and implement a curriculum of his own that fits into the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and embraces the IB themes and approaches to learning.
“Drew has shown tremendous initiative to learn everything he can about world language instruction at the elementary level,” said EHPS World Language Supervisor Elizabeth Peczuh. “With consistent routines and expectations, he creates a safe space where students are willing to take risks in using the Spanish language.”
In addition to the language, Mr. Dunnack works to teach the many cultural traditions of Spanish-speaking countries to his students. This year, he engaged the entire school community in a Hispanic Heritage Month presentation featuring dozens of video and photo submissions from O'Connell families of diverse backgrounds. Beyond his classroom, he regularly supports staff, students and families by sharing Spanish resources and helping to translate.
“He has encouraged each and every student and teacher to embrace the Spanish language and integrate it into their daily learning and routines,” said O’Connell School Principal Greg Fox. “The impact he has made on the school community since he has started teaching here is incredible.”
Mr. Dunnack holds a master’s degree in Linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Central Connecticut State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Connecticut. He is a member of the National Network for Early Language Learning, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers.
Mr. Dunnack was selected after a rigorous application and interview process, which begins with nominations from his colleagues. Nominees then submit an application, resume and recommendations, and are formally interviewed by the East Hartford Teacher of the Year committee panel comprised of former district teachers of the year and current teachers of the year. Finally, a district committee visits the classrooms of its three finalists and selects the overall winner.