Connecticut State Department of Education

Teacher of the Year Ceremony
Due to inclement weather, the Teacher of the Year Ceremony has been postponed to December 16, 2025 from 5-7pm. Doors will open at 4pm. The Ceremony will take place at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, and the order of events will remain the same.

CT Grown for CT Kids Week

The 2025 theme—“Fresh Starts with CT Grown”—invites schools across the state to celebrate local food and its role in healthy beginnings. This week is a time to recognize the essential role school nutrition professionals play in connecting students with fresh, locally grown food. Whether planning menus, managing kitchens, or leading school wellness efforts, school nutrition professionals make a lasting impact on students’ health and their connection to Connecticut agriculture.

CT Grown for CT Kids Week is an annual event held in Connecticut during the first full week of October, aligned with National Farm to School Month. This event was established by Section 22-38d of the Connecticut General Statute and is dedicated to elevating local agriculture, public education, and the importance of healthy, nutritious meals in schools. Each year, legislators, food service directors, farmers and students gather together through farm to school activities and consumption of local products. Multiple organizations across the state support this effort to help their local schools bring CT Grown for CT Kids Week into classrooms and the home.

Program sponsors are key to bringing this initiative to life by featuring CT Grown foods on menus, hosting taste tests, spotlighting local farms, or incorporating educational elements in cafeterias. Participation can be as simple or creative as desired. The 2025 theme encourages schools and districts to kick off the school year with healthy habits, strong local partnerships, and a renewed commitment to fresh, nutritious food.

CT Grown for CT Kids Grant