Continuing a Life of Service: AFSCME Council 4 Member Vanessa Taylor Named Connecticut’s 2025 Paraeducator of the Year

AFSCME Council 4 is proud to recognize Vanessa Taylor, a paraeducator at Putnam Elementary School and a member of our union, for being named Connecticut’s 2026 Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year.

For Vanessa Taylor, public service has been a lifelong commitment—one that began with eight years of service in the United States military and continues every day in Connecticut’s public schools.

At Putnam Elementary School, Vanessa works with kindergarten students, including children with significant learning and communication needs. She goes above and beyond to support every learner. Her role places her alongside students throughout the school day, supporting instruction, helping students regulate their behavior, and ensuring they can participate fully in the classroom. She’s known for her warmth, creativity, and patience—qualities that have earned her the affectionate nickname of the “Baby Whisperer” among colleagues and families. Through individualized strategies like the “PowerWords” system, Vanessa celebrates student progress and inspires children to achieve more each day

Vanessa is known by her colleagues as someone who meets students where they are. One of the most powerful examples of Vanessa’s dedication came when she took it upon herself to learn basic Portuguese so she could communicate with a non-verbal student. It was not part of her job description. No one asked her to do it. She recognized a need, and she met it. That decision reflected her approach to the job: if a student needs support, she finds a way to provide it.

The Anne Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the Year Award honors one paraeducator statewide each year. Named for a paraeducator who died protecting her students at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the award recognizes sustained commitment to students and school communities. Vanessa’s selection reflects her daily work and the trust placed in her by students, families, and coworkers.

AFSCME Council 4 is proud to honor our member, Vanessa Taylor. Her career reflects a continued commitment to serving others, first in uniform and now in the classroom. Her work matters to so many students and families, whose lives she has changed forever, and this recognition is well deserved.