By Lauren Dombrowski
Career Specialist Pamela Castro is retiring at the end of this school year after being at Branford High School since 2008.
At BHS, Castro has been in the career center, but she has also been in charge of BPS Mentor Program, BPS Monarch Initiative, and BHS Senior Internship Program as the Community Outreach Coordinator,and the school’s Pre-apprentice Program started last year.
Before Castro joined BHS community she worked as a logistic analyst at General Dynami, and was also a computer programmer at the Hartford Insurance Company, and a photographer’s assistant for a local architectural photographer, Bob Perron.
Castro has guided many students in Branford on a path in life with guidance along the way. The senior internship program helps place students in the community for the last part of their senior year in order to gain some professional experience.
“Castro always told me to believe in myself and never give up,” said senior Huda Shraiki, a part of the senior internship program.
“Ms.Castro always has wanted her students to achieve & give students opportunities. She has had a great impact on our lives…” said senior Giuliana Discher, who was also a part of the senior internship program this year.
The senior internship program has a lot of strenuous requirements leading up to the internship itself. Castro would meet with students once a week beginning in January to ensure they were committed to the internship program and made sure they had their paperwork in order.
Once the internship began in May she began to visit internships to observe the students in the internship.
“I am so proud of their accomplishments! It could have been very hard for this program to bounce back from a 3 year hiatus due to the pandemic,” she said. “But this year’s interns worked harder than ever to find and succeed.”
Castro has enjoyed working with the BHS community over the years. “I will miss it and all the fine people here! It has been my honor and my pleasure to hold these positions,” she said.
As Castro leaves for her retirement, she plans on spending lots of time with family and friends and even hopes to start her own tea party business. “Lola is Filipino for grandmother, and it will be called ‘Lola’s Tea Parties,’ ” Castro said.
It is clear to see Castro’s passion for students and help direct students on a life long path to success.
Students and faculty at BHS will miss Ms. Castro’s wise guidance, we wish her the best fulfilling retirement.
