Betsy Oneill:  

Upon HS graduation, I went to Southern Connecticut. I received my degree in Special Education with a minor in Health. My first teaching job was at Schaghticoke, where I filled in for 6 months for the teacher that was on maternity leave. That class was a group of 8th graders with "emotional" needs...for lack of a better word. That was tough!! After that, I worked at Devereux Glenhome in Washington, CT. This was a private school for kids with significant emotional and learning problems. I stayed there for 7 months as the reading teacher and left after having had a chair thrown at me. I then was hired at Washington Primary School in Washington Depot in August of 1987. I taught grades kindergarten through fifth grade and really enjoyed it. My students had learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral needs, autism, down syndrome, etc. I stayed at the primary school for 15 years and then moved up to Shepaug Middle School where I taught 7th grade for 3 years and now 8th grade. My group this year was tough....all boys and 85% had behavioral concerns. I "looped"with them fro...Expand for more