40 Under Forty alumni: Sarah Connell Sanders, Class of 2020 - co-authored a book on teacher burnout
Sarah Connell Sanders in 2020 and 2024
Photo | Jaime Flores
A handful of married couples – each in their own right – have won the 40 Under Forty award over the years, including (from left) Jake and Sarah Connell Sanders (Classes of 2014 and 2020) and Olivia and Leonard Jusme (Class of 2024), pictured here at Moore State Park in Paxton.
- Class of 2020
- Then Media specialist at Pop It; writer; and teacher at Worcester Public Schools
- Now Co-author of “Small Teaching K-8” and teaching librarian at Worcester Public Schools
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In the four years since her original recognition, Connell Sanders has experienced many firsts.
She co-authored her first book, “Small Teaching K-8”, a book focused on decreasing teacher burnout through increasing instructional efficiency. In 2022, it was published by Jossey-Bass, an imprint of internationally-known Wiley. Still an educator within Worcester Public Schools, Connell Sander has targeted her efforts to better prepare herself and her fellow teachers for the learning practices of the future. During the 2023-2024 school year, she became an inaugural member of WPS’s first future-ready task force, Spark Team, and later joined Wellesley-based AthenaK12 Educational Consulting, offering professional development for school districts looking to utilize artificial intelligence. She has spoken at conferences for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Computer Using Educators, and the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Connell Sanders holds positions on eight boards, including the UMass Memorial Medical Center Patient and Family Advisory Council and the American Antiquarian Society.
What did getting the 40u40 award mean to you at the time? Growing up in Worcester, I moved from Vernon Hill to Park Ave. to Grafton Hill to Tatnuck, and as a result, I never really felt a sense of permanence. Receiving the 40u40 award in 2020 gave me the acceptance and belonging I was craving from my hometown.
What does it mean to you now? Now, I am a mom. My husband Jake and I have a 2-year old daughter and a son on the way. It’s important to me we model community engagement and civic pride for our kids.
What advice do you have for this year's 40u40 winners? Never read the comments.
How has Central Massachusetts changed since you won the 40u40 award? My husband and I both graduated from Doherty Memorial High School. The original building was demolished to make room for a new state-of-the-art school, set to open this fall.
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