After close to 23 years of teaching at EHHS, Mrs. Christine Sengstacken is approaching the final chapter of her career, leaving a lasting mark on the EHHS community filled with accomplishment and gratitude.
A graduate of Quinnipiac University and Trinity College, majoring in English Literature and Secondary Education, she worked as a librarian before returning to obtain her Masters Degree to teach.
Mrs. Sengstaken always knew she was going to be a teacher. When asked how she knew teaching was part of her journey, Mrs. Sengstaken offered the following: “I knew I wasn’t going to be a writer. I wanted to extend my passion for reading on to other students. I had really excellent teachers through school and I always loved diving into a book and understanding, no matter what the time period was, what makes people tick.”
Prior to joining the EHHS faculty, she taught at Hillhouse High School in New Haven and was a substitute teacher and student mentor at a magnet school in New Haven.
Upon her start at EHHS in the early 2000’s, she was part of the “freshmen team” a core group of teachers paired together to teach English, History, Science, and Math. For her first 6-7 years at EHHS were structured until incorporating Sophomore and Senior English.
Mrs. Sengstaken noted one of the biggest challenges as a new teacher is “classroom management: getting to know students, reaching them where they are, keeping the class moving forward, and keeping them engaged.”
Some of Mrs. Sengstaken’s most memorable moments are “pretty awesome field days and graduation days, always so full of energy, happiness, and relief.” She also notes the joy it brings to hear from former students, to catch up and see where they landed in life after graduation.
She too has left a footprint on the school community, leaving a legacy of love for literature. Mrs. Sengstaken would like to be remembered for “challenging students to do better and raise the bar for themselves, even though the work was hard in the output, over time realizing what all the hard work was for, but that I was fair and approachable.”
EHHS student Mike Aceto said, “She always pushes people to be their best.” Another student said, “I think Mrs. Sengstaken cares a lot about her students. I will always remember her homemade cookies on test days.”
Mrs. Lisa Veleas, Assistant Superintendent, reflects on her 20-year relationship with Mrs. Sengstaken. From sharing life stories of young children at home, their love of reading, and walks around the track at lunch, there is proof that work relationships turn into some of the best friendships. She said: “There is not one thing that stands out. There are a lot of little things that make her memorable. She is a kind and thoughtful person who pays attention to those around her. As a teacher, she is a consummate professional here, ready to go every day, she will do anything for her kids, whether bringing snacks, water, or whatever they need, like folders/pens. She treated every student like she wanted her kids to be treated. She makes the best chocolate chip cookies ever-hands down. [I] cannot say no to them.”
Mrs. Sengstaken has some plans on how to navigate the next, and hopefully just as rewarding, chapter of life. With plans to travel, sleep, bake chocolate chip cookies (and maybe deliver them to EHHS), she is “going to do something, whether it is education and tutoring or teaching yoga. I don’t plan on riding off into the sunset. I like to keep busy and keep learning. I like to help people and find what gives them joy and a sense of achievement.”
Mrs. Sengstaken will always be remembered and cherished by the EHHS staff and students for her bright, honest, and rigorous but fulfilling style of teaching (and her awesome cookies).
