Jason Bakoulis honored as NFA Teacher of the Year
Aug. 28—NORWICH — Jason Bakoulis said he feels honored every day he arrives to teach at Norwich Free Academy, his alma mater, so when he was named as the school's 2023 Teacher of the Year, that feeling soared to a new level.
"This place is so special to me," Bakoulis, a 2004 NFA graduate, said. "My entire family graduated from here. There's no place like NFA. To be honored as teacher of the year, I don't have words to describe how I felt when they told me."
Bakoulis, 37, head of the Physical and Health Education Department, was celebrated Monday as Teacher of the Year during the opening day for staff at Slater Auditorium.
Bakoulis graduated from Springfield College in 2008 and started coaching football at NFA that year while teaching in Lyme. After one year in Lyme, he became a physical education and health teacher at New London High School and was a football and indoor track coach.
He was hired as physical education and health teacher at NFA in 2012 and became NFA head football coach in 2017. He stepped back last fall, he said, "to be a dad," and now serves as strength and conditioning coach for multiple NFA sports. He and his wife, Maura Bakoulis — his high school sweetheart — have a 4-year-old son, Evan, and twin 2-year-olds, Matthew and Dean.
Bakoulis credits his entire family as inspiration for his work ethic and dedication to NFA and Norwich youth. His father, Steve Bakoulis, is a retired Norwich police officer and his mother, Karen Bakoulis, is a retired Norwich Public Schools teacher. His sister, Stephanie Robillard, teaches science at NFA and brother Josh works at Electric Boat.
"I feel so honored to teach at NFA whether I was teacher of the year or not," Jason Bakoulis said. "I'm super excited for this year. My plan is to just continue to do my part to move NFA forward. We're always moving forward. You can't be in a place where we are today, starting in 1854, without having that as your goal."
Fellow physical education teacher Anthony Turgeon, who co-nominated Bakoulis, cited his passion and dedication to students. Turgeon has taught with Bakoulis, coached with him and now shares coaching duties in the weight room with him.
"He is extraordinarily passionate about what he does," Turgeon said. "Every day he comes to school he's always thinking about what he can do to help kids. And he is working to move us forward on how we can create events that are engaging for students."
History teacher Lorraine Dooley might be a bit removed from the physical education department, but as student government adviser, she finds herself working with Bakoulis on activities for students. Bakoulis also is planning a community meeting with students to discuss various issues.
Dooley, a 27-year NFA teacher, said she did not have Bakoulis in class when he attended NFA, but she knew about him even then. She called it "a perfect fit," when he returned to NFA as a teacher and coach.
"He's a problem solver," Dooley said. "He has so many different connections, and people respect him. He's the guy who can make it happen. He always has the best of NFA in mind. He's an alum, a coach and leader."
