Former actor turned teacher wins award

CROMWELL, Conn. (WTNH) -- A former actor is now a real life star in a Connecticut classroom; he's been named the state's 2013 Teacher of the Year.

Finally there was a standing ovation for Blaise Messinger, a professional actor turned teacher.

"I like to say teaching and acting are really the same job," Messinger said, "just a much tougher crowd and I do a six hour show everyday."

The story sounds like a movie script, while working as an actor in Hollywood he saw the impact a teacher had on his autistic son. As a result he decided to change careers, become a teacher and take center stage in front of a classroom.

No script, just a passion to inspire.

"I believe that all children are aching to learn," said Messinger, "they want something desperately to rouse them out of the ennui and the tedium, that's where I come in."

Messinger was able to impress the toughest critics: fifth graders at Cromwell's Woodside Intermediate School.

"Mr. Messinger has a high expectation for his whole class and the whole fifth grade, he always pushes us hard to work as best as we can in class," said Cailin Duffy, student.

It's not an Academy Award, but Messinger was named Connecticut's Teacher of the Year for 2013.

He says teaching everyday is the role of a lifetime.

"In the effort to transform the lives of my students I have ended up transforming my own and I have not regretted it for a moment," said Messinger.

This spring he will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet the President and U.S. Secretary of Education.