Talcott Mountain Academy
Dr. Donald P. La Salle was the founder and former President and CEO of Talcott Mountain Science Center for Student Involvement, Inc. in Avon, CT. In 1983, he founded The Talcott Mountain Academy as a model school for intellectually excited students as a division of the Talcott Mountain Science Center.
Dr. La Salle received his B.S. from Central Connecticut State University and his Masters and Doctorate degrees from the University of Connecticut. He co-authored several texts for teaching creative science and has authored numerous articles in educational and science journals and popular periodicals. He has been a consultant for HBO, and appeared on WOR-TV’s Straight Talk program, WMCA radio, and the David Susskind show.
He served as a curriculum consultant and science advisor to overseas schools in Rumania, Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Morocco and Bulgaria. He was a presenter at the International EduTech Conference in Tokyo, Japan in 1986. He was selected to a team of scientists and science educators to study science in Europe and Russia sponsored by the National Science Teachers Association, and is listed in Leaders in Education, Men of Achievement, Who’s Who of Authors, and Who’s Who in America in the East. He was the Co-Author of Discovering Science on Your Apple Computer (TAB books, 1987); the 1977 recipient of the Kaiser Alumni Service Award from CCSU; and received the Award for Outstanding Research from the National Association for Gifted Children in 1978. He received the Connecticut High School Coach of the Year and the Avon Lions Distinguished Service Award in 1983; and the Sigmund Abeles, Science Advocate Award for outstanding service to science education in Connecticut in 1992. He was also a recipient of the UCONN Neag School of Education Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional, 2005.