STRATFORD– First grade teacher Victoria Soto courageously protected students during the Sandy Hook tragedy, and she was one of the 26 who lost their lives on that December day in 2012.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Friday at the new Victoria Soto School in Stratford. The tributes and personal touches can be seen throughout the sparkling new school.
The new $16 million magnet school will serve 280 pre-K to second-grade students. The Victoria Soto School will replace a school originally known as The Honeyspot House.
“It’s a way for our town never forget who Vicki was,” said Jillian Soto, one of Vicki’s two younger sisters.
Town officials say Soto deserved to the honor because of her courage, dedication and self-sacrifice.
"Victoria defines the word hero, and this school ensures her sacrifice is never forgotten," said Stratford Mayor John Harkins.
The new elementary school on the campus of Stratford Academy was constructed to provide a quality education to students of the same age as those that Victoria Soto gave her life protecting.
Much of the school's design is cheerfully-colored, with bright colors evoking a sense of joy and kindness, not fear.
"The natural light and colors reflect the joy of learning that will now be legacy of Victoria Soto for generations of Stratford children," said Janet Robinson, Stratford Public Schools superintendent.
After graduating from Stratford High School and earning her bachelor’s degree in both education and history at Eastern Connecticut State University, Soto pursued a career in education as a first grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
Carlos Soto said his daughter would love the building that has her name, from a mural with her motto "Be kind," to her love of flamingos, symbolized by a single pink chair in each classroom.
"She loved flamingos. In her classroom and in bedroom in the house was flamingos," said Carlos.
A number of paper flamingos were cut out and posted on bulletin boards, along with flamingo-related books in each classroom and one flamingo pink-colored seat for each teacher.
"That made me very happy because the teachers will sit there and be reminded of Vicki," said Carlos.
The new school is a short drive from Soto's childhood home.
"We always get to come by and see it and be a part of this journey," said Jillian.
The Soto family still lives in Stratford and is growing larger in numbers; one of Vicki's younger sister recently had a baby boy.
"Hopefully he'll be here soon," Soto said.
The Soto family hopes their family members and other students will grace the hallways of the Victoria Soto School and be inspired by Vicki's legacy.
