Community Corner

Stratford Mayor Wants to Rename School After Vicki Soto

If approved, an elementary school in Stratford will be named in honor of the 27-year-old teacher who was killed protecting her students at Sandy Hook School on Dec. 14, 2012.


Stratford's Honeyspot Elementary School could be renamed in honor of Victoria Soto.

The change would take effect under a proposal by Mayor John Harkins, if approved by the Town Council at its next meeting on Jan. 14, according to a report by WFSB.

Soto, 27, was killed on Dec. 14, 2012, trying to protect students in her first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. She was among 27 people killed that day by Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old police identified as the shooter and who ultimately took his own life. One of the victims was his mother, Nancy Lanza; the others were 20 students and six educators, including Soto.

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The oldest of four siblings, she was described by her family as an energetic, funny, fearless, sarcastic and inspirational person who loved being together with her large family. Indeed, Soto's story of heroism on that tragic day has spurred a petition to rename a street in her hometown of Stratford in her name — and .

Harkins, who has met with Soto's family over the past few weeks, was not immediately available for comment Monday afternoon.

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Currently, Honeyspot is home to kindergartners through second graders. A project is underway to build a new school in its place, and construction is expected to start this summer.


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