Meet Chris...
HARDWORKING. COLLABORATIVE. INDEPENDENT THINKER.
As Southington’s State Representative, an educator, husband, father, and lifelong Southington resident, Chris Poulos has dedicated his life to helping others in our community. Throughout his lifetime of service, Chris has always taken a common-sense approach that has delivered for the people he's served. As a state legislator, this has meant that Chris has advocated for budgets that put students and taxpayers first, supported seniors and veterans, championed small business, and addressed public safety concerns on a bipartisan basis. During his first term, Chris has made it a priority to collaborate with like-minded legislators, work across party lines, and remain committed to a moderate approach that involves compromise, negotiation and working together.
Chris currently teaches Spanish and serves as Instructional Leader for the Humanities at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, CT. He is a National Board Certified Teacher, Connecticut’s 2007 State Teacher of the Year, and a 2022 Inductee of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. He previously worked for two years in a hybrid role, splitting his time between teaching in his district and working alongside policymakers as a Teacher-Leader in Residence at the Connecticut State Department of Education. Chris has participated as a member of numerous education fellowships including the inaugural Teacher-Leader Fellowship hosted by the Aspen Institute. He has served on a number of non-profit boards of directors in the education sector, on which he was responsible for scaling organizational capacity and outcomes, fundraising, and cultivating partnerships with government, philanthropic, and corporate organizations. Before his career in education, Chris served in the United States Peace Corps from 1997-1999 in Honduras, Central America.
A 1993 graduate and Class President of Southington High School, Chris holds a Sixth Year in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut, a Masters degree in Spanish Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond.
Chris is a lifelong Southington resident. He attended public schools, has worked, volunteered, and has chosen to settle with his wife, Helen, and two children Molly and Andrew in Plantsville.
Chris currently teaches Spanish and serves as Instructional Leader for the Humanities at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, CT. He is a National Board Certified Teacher, Connecticut’s 2007 State Teacher of the Year, and a 2022 Inductee of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. He previously worked for two years in a hybrid role, splitting his time between teaching in his district and working alongside policymakers as a Teacher-Leader in Residence at the Connecticut State Department of Education. Chris has participated as a member of numerous education fellowships including the inaugural Teacher-Leader Fellowship hosted by the Aspen Institute. He has served on a number of non-profit boards of directors in the education sector, on which he was responsible for scaling organizational capacity and outcomes, fundraising, and cultivating partnerships with government, philanthropic, and corporate organizations. Before his career in education, Chris served in the United States Peace Corps from 1997-1999 in Honduras, Central America.
A 1993 graduate and Class President of Southington High School, Chris holds a Sixth Year in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut, a Masters degree in Spanish Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond.
Chris is a lifelong Southington resident. He attended public schools, has worked, volunteered, and has chosen to settle with his wife, Helen, and two children Molly and Andrew in Plantsville.