This year, Watertown High School celebrates a teacher who has dedicated 26 years to the classroom: Mr. Genua. His resume includes teaching social studies, UConn courses (Early College Education/ ECE), and freshman history; last year, he also taught Unified Civics and MLL (Multi Language Learners). He has guided generations of students through lessons that go far beyond academics. Before entering education, he studied at both SCSU and Guilford College in North Carolina. He has worked in both the U.S. government and the manufacturing industry. After losing his government job at age 39, he started his teaching journey, a path he had long been interested in as a coach. His student teaching began at Crosby High School, and he later continued to inspire young people here at WHS.

His favorite part of teaching is helping students navigate life. He brings his own life experiences, the pros and cons, into the classroom to connect with students. He also enjoys learning about their interests. His classes are known for creativity and innovation, but he credits his students both inside and outside the classroom as the biggest reason behind winning Teacher of the Year. Outside of teaching, he coached Girls Basketball last season, enjoys reading, and loves spending time with his grandchildren. Looking ahead, he sees himself retired in the next ten years, but for now he remains an important figure at WHS.