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06/23/2021 08:30 AMEast Haven Public Schools has been a part of Susan Harkins’s life since she began her education. She attended school in East Haven, graduating in 1978 and then after graduating from college, she was hired as a teacher at East Haven High School (EHHS). She has served as assistant principal for the past seven years and recently announced her retirement.
“It still seems a bit surreal and though it’s been emotional, I don’t think it will really hit me until September,” says Susan. “I recently became a grandmother, so I plan to spend more time with my granddaughter and have more time to travel to see my son [Michael] who lives in California. It’s still very emotional because I love working here with the wonderful staff and being with the kids.”
While there have been challenging years throughout Susan’s 39-year career as an educator and administrator, she admits the past 15 months have been the most challenging. Though she has faced difficulties as an administrator, she knows that her stuff and students saw the biggest challenges.
“They say the first year of teaching is the hardest, but not now—teaching the past two school years in a pandemic, remotely and in person, and then doing both at the same time,” says Susan. “This year has been a challenge and I’m glad the end of the year is different than the beginning. We were able to have a prom, senior luncheon, and somewhat normal graduation. I do feel sorry for students who lost out on a typical senior year, but it makes all of us stronger knowing we can get through this and we can persevere. There will be stories to tell about what 2020-’21 was like.”
With a nearly four-decade career—plus her own education in East Haven schools—Susan has many stories to tell. She has seen many changes over the years in herself, EHHS, and the science department.
Growing up, Susan loved playing school and pretending she was teaching with her own blackboard. As she got older, she enjoyed being a part of study groups with friends, but she also always loved science—and the beach and its marine and plant life—so when she went to college, she double-majored in marine biology and chemistry.
After college, she returned to her hometown and while looking for a job, she came across a listing for a chemistry teacher at her alma mater. Susan was hired as a substitute and quickly realized her calling.
“I found my passion in teaching,” says Susan. “Chemistry was a shortage area back them so I was hired and then able to go back and get my teaching degree. Being in the classroom teaching science is something I love and that’s why I’ve been here in this school—and the old high school—for 32 years.”
Susan has seen the move from the old high school the construction of the current high school. She has also seen teaching change since her career began with more hands-on and real-world experiences being used in the classroom.
The curriculum and courses offered have also grown over the years. When Susan went to school at EHHS, there were only basic offerings such as biology and chemistry. Now there are many science electives to choose from, including forensics and marine biology, for which Susan was able to write the curriculum.
“The kids really enjoy the forensics classes and loved hearing stories I shared about my husband’s career as he is a retired FBI agent,” says Susan. “It’s been great to see the interest in the electives grow, especially great to see more females becoming interested in the sciences.”
Opportunities for those looking to pursue a career in the health field have also been added with a Certified Nursing Assistant course and Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA). Susan’s daughters both were involved in HOSA and went on to become nurses.
Susan taught while her three children—Michael, Ashley, and Sarah—attended EHHS. She enjoyed seeing them at school where they were involved in activities and sports and then go on to lead successful career. Susan has also seen many former students pursue careers in science or teaching.
“It was great being able to see my children grow and mature during their high school years, the friends they had, and the connections they were making in these very important years,” says Susan. “I’m also so proud of my students over the years. The principal and athletic director and some teachers are former students so it’s really coming full circle.”
Another area Susan saw come full circle was her athletic career. While she was a student at EHHS, she ran track and cross-country, captaining the latter, and was also a Pom Pom girl. When she was first hired as a teacher, her former coach was retiring and asked her to take over. She coached cross-country and track from 1982 to 1990. Susan was also active on her own. She became a national champion in power-lifting and was featured in Sports Illustrated’s ‘Faces in the Crowd’ feature in 1993.
Though Susan gave up coaching after Ashley was born, she continued to find ways to stay involved with students beyond the classroom. She has been the advisor of the Chess Club and a Class Advisor. The yearbook has also been dedicated to Susan twice throughout her career, which is something that means the most to her.
“You get to know their lives outside of classroom. There’s nothing like that and it’s something I’m going to miss,” says Susan. “The yearbook dedications were amazing because it came from the students. As teachers, you may not always know if you’re connecting with kids so to know the students know how much you care about them and the school, it’s really precious. I’ve also gotten emails years later that students have said, ‘I’m doing this because of you’ and it’s heart-warming to know you’ve had that kind of impact.”
As much as Susan loved her time in the classroom, she decided to go back to school for her sixth-year degree eight years ago. Then in 2014, the assistant principal position was posted and Susan decided to apply.
Susan has enjoyed her time as an administrator and continuing to work with the teachers, staff, and students at EHHS. She is grateful to her husband, Michael, and their children for their support, as well as Principal Vin DeNuzzo for his “leadership and vision.” Now, though, Susan plans to take more time to focus on her family, traveling to California, and playing with her granddaughter Cienna.
“The past seven years went by so quickly and in my heart, I know I’m truly going to miss being here,” says Susan. “This is something I’ve known for almost 40 years, most of my life, but there comes a time when there’s other plans for your life and other people who will fill this position with new ideas and how the school will grow.”