Norwalk - As an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, Robert Killackey Jr. spent the first part of his career living by the principles of honor, courage and commitment. It is those same principles that earned him acclaim as this year’s Norwalk Teacher of the Year in his second career as a civilian Navy JROTC teacher at Brien McMahon High School.

Killackey, a Torrington resident, began working at Brien McMahon in 2005 taking over a JROTC program that was on probation. Since then, he has turned that program around, receiving the highest inspection rating from the U.S. Navy every year since, and even receiving the Unit Achievement Award twice.  The program size has more than doubled from 60 cadets in 2005 to 130 this past school year. The cadets now put in annually more than 900 hours doing community or school support service such as maintaining the Brien McMahon High School Veterans Memorial Garden, organizing Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day presentations at the school, supporting American Legion Veteran Flag Appreciation ceremonies andproviding color guard support for many Norwalk Public School activities.   

Brien McMahon Principal Suzanne Koroshetz says Killackey is a compassionate and dedicated educator. “Bob has taken our JROTC program 180 degrees.  It is due to his experience, drive, great organizational and teaching skills, but above all concern for his students, that our program has shined, allowing our cadets to receive over $600,000 in scholarships, including one Naval Academy appointment and two four-year Navy ROTC college scholarships. He has also contributed a great deal to our School Safety Committee, helping us to expand and use best practices in ourschool emergency preparedness planning.”

Killackey will be recognized by the Norwalk Board of Education in August. He will now be considered for the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Award that will be announced in the fall.

Norwalk Public Schools ensure that the 11,000 students in its schools succeed academically and achieve their full potential preparing them for post-secondary learning and a life of meaning and purpose. Through rigorous classroom instruction based on the Common Core Standards, high expectations, and excellence in instruction, NPS builds upon Norwalk’s diversity through a collaborative culture, partnership with parents, and commitment to individuality and growth.