Prospect Elementary Lunch Aide Is Passionate About Helping Children

Naugatuck, Connecticut — Back-to-school season brings a mix of excitement and nerves — for students, parents and staff alike. Thankfully, Naugatuck is home to everyday school heroes who help make the transition smoother and the school year a little brighter.

From teachers and tutors to bus drivers, cafeteria staff, crossing guards and more, these caring individuals bring steady support and positivity to our schools. To recognize their many contributions — big and small — Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to salute the unsung heroes of back-to-school.

This submission comes from David Rossi, who nominated Joanne Rossi of Prospect Elementary School.

What is the school hero’s name?

Joanne Rossi

Where does this school hero work?

Prospect Elementary School

Please describe why this individual is a hero at your school.

Joanne Rossi is a lunch aide. Joanne moves the kids from recess to lunch and lunch to recess. She takes the children from third grade and fourth grade and fifth grade. She helps little kids with their meals, opening up juice and milk boxes, talking to them and understanding their lead. Joanne is a grandmother to these children. Joanne goes by Mimi. That’s what her grandchildren call Joanne and the children at Prospect Elementary call her Mimi. Also Joanne makes a lot of friends with her work that she does there and she goes above and beyond to help every student who needs a helping hand. Joanne works with five other ladies who are lunch also, and they all do a terrific job for Prospect Elementary School Region 16. The children are lucky to have these lunch ladies.

How do you know the school hero you’re nominating?

Joanne is my spouse of 54 years.

What should your community know about this person?

She does it for the load of the children and to help the teachers in Paris have their lunch and go about getting a break from the children. She loves to communicate with all the kids and they do ask for advice and she tries to give it to him as easily as she can to make them understand. And when she comes home, she tells me about her day and everything that the kids have done that day. She comes home with a smile on her face, and she puts a smile on my face with the stories that she tells me.

What three words best describe the school hero?

Intelligent, passionate and loving

If you know a school hero who deserves recognition, we’d love to hear from you! Simply answer a few questions, and we’ll take care of the rest.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.