BERLIN — A longtime Berlin High School teacher was inducted into the National Teachers’ Hall of Fame for his contributions to statewide policy, mentorship of younger teachers and sharing his experiences from around the globe with students. 

Social studies teacher David Bosso is one of five teachers across the country being inducted this year.

Christopher Poulos, a teacher at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, said he nominated Bosso because of the the work they’ve done together to advocate for education. 

Bosso was named state teacher of the year in 2012, five years after Poulos.

"When he takes on projects, Dave sees it not only through the end, but beyond the end," he said. "He gives 110 percent to his teaching...”

Bosso, who also resides in Berlin, has also pushed for teachers to have a voice in creating educational policy.

"A lot of decisions are made without the on-the-ground feedback that's needed,” he said. "When I was named State Teacher of the Year in 2012 there were opportunities to get involved at the policy-making levels.”

Bosso will have the chance, along with the rest of the inductees, to give input to the National Education Association when he travels to Washington, D.C. for his induction. Past groups have also had the opportunity to meet with the president of the United States, Poulos said.

Katie Amenta, a fellow BHS teacher who wrote a letter of support for Bosso, told a room of teachers, administrators and state officials that she incorporates the lessons she learned from Bosso as a student decades ago.

"I've had the privilege to work alongside you, learn from you and grow under your tutelage,” she said during a ceremony at the school Tuesday. “Over 20 years later and your teaching never stopped.”

Principal Eileen Eustis said Bosso also deserves the honor because of his work broadening his knowledge outside of the classroom.

"I think it speaks to the caliber of teaching that we have in our school and we always want to provide the best teaching and learning possible for our students,” Eustis said.  

Bosso shared the accomplishment with his fellow teachers and others who guided him along his career. 

"There are so many people … who I look up to as exemplars and I hope to emulate them and they are deserving of some recognition,” he said. “So I see it in relationship to that, that this recognition, as amazing as it is, is a reflection of all of those who have impacted my life.” 

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