About Gretchen
Gretchen Hess began her teaching career with a 10-year tenure in Santa Barbara, CA. Her most rewarding experience there was mentoring her Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) students during their journey as first-generation college attendees. After moving back to her hometown, Hess began working at Putnam High School, where she teaches English 2 and UConn’s Early College Experience English 1007.
At PHS, Hess serves as an advisor for Relay for Life, the Gender-Sexuality Alliance, and the Media & Marketing Team. She collaborates with students to raise money for the American Cancer Society, coordinates Putnam’s Quiet Corner Pride event, and documents the Clippers’ accomplishments. Off-site, she advises local students in the Putnam II Leos and serves on the Event Leadership Team for Relay for Life of Northeastern CT.
In her own educational journey, Hess credits Shirley Rapose, Jim Powers, and Rob Montgomery for fueling her intellectual curiosity and inspiring her to teach. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English & American Literature and French at New York University and her Master's in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Outside of teaching and volunteering, she enjoys feasting with her family, traveling with her partner and friends, and scootering in style.
