Special Education teacher Mrs. Kathy Gavigan is bittersweet about leaving EHHS after working here for 38 years. In her time at EHHS, she began as a student at the old high school and came back to teach here. Over the years she has played an integral role in many classes through co-teaching in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies classes. She was also a resource teacher, which means students come in and get assistance from her. She helps students with their transition goals and thinking about what they want to do in the future.
Social Studies Instructional Leader Dr. Joseph Marangell co-taught with Mrs. Gavigan for many years. He also shared: “We also served as class advisors for the classes of 2008, 2012, and 2016.” Mrs. Gavigan has made a lasting impact on many students through her work in academic and resource classes as well as through her class advising. A class advisor at EHHS facilitates student council fundraising and planning for prom and graduation.
Mrs. Gavigan’s favorite thing about our school is all of the students. She even loves meeting new students on bathroom duty and “their energy,” she continues, “East Haven High School is a special place.. I work with wonderful colleagues.”
Prior to teaching, during her junior year in high school she worked in a dental office, she was an “errand girl” where she acted as an assistant before becoming a dental hygienist while still being a student at EHHS. Then, when she went to college, she worked at the Yale Computer Center, which was a place for all students to use computers before they had personal devices. Finally, she became a substitute teacher on her breaks while still finishing her degree.
Mrs. Gavigan’s favorite part about teaching is keeping a close relationship with her students, even after they graduate. She fondly remembers many experiences at former students’ high school and college graduations and their weddings, too. She also has formed many close and lasting relationships with her colleagues over the years.
Dr. Marangell shared that his favorite memory of teaching with Mrs. Gavigan was “when we taught Modern World History together. After class one day, a student came up to us and said, ‘I love your class–we laugh and laugh!’ It was a quick comment, but one we often repeated to each other over the years because it made us so happy to know a student felt that way. Former students often reach out to Mrs. Gavigan to say how much they enjoyed being in her class or appreciated her work as a class advisor. That kind of lasting impact says so much about the kind of educator she is.”
Something that Mr. Tolla said “When Mrs. Gavigan gets serious her tone changes into a high pitched voice and usually starts with the phrase “YOU KNOW”…..I would always chuckle to myself when I heard that coming from her room knowing that the student (or teacher) in question wasn’t doing what they needed to be doing.”
Mr. Gardner shard’ “Although I have never directly taught with Mrs. Gavigan, I have known her since my very first week at EHHS. She was one of the first people in the building to welcome me and to invite me to join a group that would later become some of my closest friends and colleagues. Mrs. Gavigan’s compassion and kindness toward others—both students and coworkers alike—are what set her apart. I am grateful to have called her a colleague for all of my 18 years here, but I am even more thankful to call her a friend.”
Mrs. Gavigan’s advice is that life moves very fast: “You want to really like what you’re doing because even though you’ve been doing it for a long time and a lot of people change careers now, not everyone likes the first thing they do. It’s important to enjoy what you’re doing.”
