The Bridge Family Center held its 28th annual ‘Breakfast on the Bridge’ Wednesday morning.

By Ronni Newton

Donna Namnoum was honored Wednesday morning as the 27th recipient of The Bridge Family Center’s “Build No Fences” Award at the organization’s 28th annual breakfast for school, civic, and community leaders.

Donna Namnoum, second from left, received The Bridge Family Center’s “Build No Fences” Award. She is pictured with (from left) Bridge Director of Community Services Judy Bierly, husband Bob Namnoum, and Bridge Executive Director Margaret Hann. Submitted photo.

Judy Bierly, director of community services for The Bridge, presented the award to Namnoum, who she called “a true collaborator as we all work on behalf of children and families.”

Namnoum retired from the West Hartford Public Schools in June. She worked in education for 35 years, 23 of them at Hall High School, and was most recently one of Hall’s assistant principals.

The annual Breakfast on the Bridge attracts more than 100 attendees each year, all of whom support the well-being of West Hartford children and their families, and is enjoyed as an informal kick-off to the school year. The Bridge also uses the event as an opportunity to recognize its staff members and thank its board and other supporters such as Panera Bread which provided the breakfast food and according to Bridge Executive Director Margaret Hann has contributed more than $70,000 over the years.

Bierly read words of tribute about Namnoum which were contributed by others who have worked with her over the years.

Hall Principal Dan Zittoun called Namnoum a “consummate professional” who “worked tirelessly for the benefit of the students at Hall High School. Her ability to cultivate a team model with Hall and the Bridge and other community organizations allowed for an outstanding support network for our students.”

Namnoum began her career as an art teacher, and recently-retired Superintendent of Schools Karen List praised her for her ability to “develop students’ aesthetic and creative abilities” in a way that released some of the pressures of high school. List also praised Namnoum’s efforts to reduce substance abuse through her dedicated work as a member of the West Hartford Substance Abuse Prevention Commission and Community of Concern.

Superintendent Tom Moore praised Namnoum’s ability to help children make the right choices. “She had very high expectations for children, and sought to raise the bar for them, not just in terms of behaviors, but in how they carried themselves, and thought of themselves. Donna always wanted her students to treat themselves with respect, which is a very important lesson for our students,” Moore said.

Donna Namnoum, recipient of The Bridge Family Center’s 27th “Build No Fences” Award. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

“As an administrator/AP, when meeting with a family or student for disciplinary reasons, Donna always seemed to know when to deliver consequences, when to offer clinical support, or when just a talk was in order. Whatever the situation, her follow through was impeccable and she was able to get to the root of the deeper issues,” commented Chris Bivona, social worker at Hall.

Assistant Superintendent Nancy DePalma called Namnoum “an educator of impeccable integrity with innate administrative talent.”

“Her leadership talents are many: she is insightful, incredibly well-organized, disciplined, a problem-solver, a community-minded collaborator, and most importantly, sensitive to the needs of others, especially students, while also maintaining a terrific sense of humor. Let’s face it … without the latter, you’re dead in the water when working with kids!” commented Conard Assistant Principal Keats Jarmon.

Namnoum is a native of Southington, and currently lives with her husband Bob in Canton.