Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung – A Teacher Who Wanted to Make School a Better Place

Daughter remembers an inspiring teacher who strived to make school an inclusive space and help each child realize his or her full potential.

Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung lost her life trying to take on the gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut last December. She was known as an incredible wife, mother, grandmother and teacher – with many friends noting how her passion for teaching extended beyond work hours.

Hochsprung began her career as a special education teacher before receiving both bachelors and masters degrees before transitioning into administration, according to her obituary. She worked in various schools until being hired at Sandy Hook Elementary School as principal in 2010. “Dawn had such an immense love of children that it came as no surprise when she decided to become principal,” said Barbara Malkas of Webster Public Schools in Massachusetts, one of Hochsprung’s mentors.

She was well-regarded among students, parents and colleagues as a dedicated educator adored by all. She often referred to her students as her own children and was passionate about creating an enjoyable school environment where each could learn and flourish. Her special talent lay in reaching every child and motivating them towards greatness; evidenced in every classroom by her love and care for the students under her care.

On Dec. 14, Hochsprung and 20 first-graders were killed by Adam Lanza when he entered their school and opened fire, as well as killing his mother at home before shooting himself after police arrived. Hochsprung had served as principal at this school since 2010, and police believe she attempted to stop Lanza when he entered through its main entrance.

On her final day alive, Hochsprung welcomed her students with smiles and warm embraces. She took pains to improve security at school, creating the tradition of giving books out as the Book Fairy. “She always took time to get to know each child in her classrooms – she was such a caring individual,” according to Hochsprung’s daughter Erica Lafferty Garbatini.

Hochsprung’s family has established the Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung Center for Promoting Mental Health and School Safety at Russell Sage College, in New York, to foster research, training and community education to support mental wellbeing in students while creating safe learning environments.

Hochsprung was posthumously honored at The Sage Colleges graduation ceremony in Troy, New York last weekend with an honorary doctorate of educational leadership posthumously awarded in her name by Jerome Steele, assistant professor for doctoral program of Esteves School of Education of The Sage Colleges. “She was an incredible person with remarkable leadership ability. She will be missed.”