_________________ WANTAGH ________________
HERALD Dressing as our heroes
outer space fun for Purim
Multilingual masters
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Vol. 72 No. 14
MARCH 28 - APRIl 3, 2024
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Putting the American Dream into words By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Charles Shaw/Herald
Seaford teachers Tara Flood, far left, Ann-Marie Motisi, Laura Maciag and Stephanie Lucia were honored as the district’s 2023 Teachers of the Year at American Legion Post 1132 on March 20.
Continuing a half-century-long tradition, the Seaford American Legion honored children for writing patriotic essays last week, while also recognizing teachers in the district for their dedication to their students with the 2023 Teacher of the Year awards. The Legion hosted its annual Americanism essay contest on March 20 at Edwin Welch Jr. Post 1132. The event, in honor of George Murphy, a past commander of the Seaford Legion who died in 2015, is a partnership with the Seaford school district and St. William the ConTinued on PAge 7
Wantagh’s Richard Colavita teaches the wonders of science By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
This is part two of a series on two Wantagh educators who were recogniz ed as distinguished teachers by the Harvard Club of Long Island. When Melanie Volz graduated from Wantagh High School as the Class of 2021 valedictorian, she wanted to find a way to give back to the teachers who helped shape her education. Volz, now enrolled at Harvard University, joined the Harvard Club of Long Island, where she learned about the club’s distinguished teacher award. Each year, the club asks
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e’s so knowledgeable and so curious every day, and I just don’t know how he’s able to maintain that curiosity. MElANIE Volz Wantagh High School Class of 2021 valedictorian current Harvard undergraduates to write a letter nominating teachers who made the greatest difference in their lives. Volz nominated Wantagh
High School English teacher Heather Naughton, who won the Harvard Club of Long Island Distinguished Teacher Award for 2024 and was featured in last week’s issue. Physics teacher Richard Colavita was also nominated, and was recognized by the club as a distinguished teacher. Though he did not win the award, Volz said Colavita is a passionate educator who always finds ways to engage his students in his lessons. “I just love his zeal for life and how he approaches life,” Volz said. “He’s so knowledgeable and so curious every day, and I just don’t know how he’s able to maintain that curiosity.”
In her letter, Volz said she strives to be like Colavita, who is “someone who is genuinely curious about the world around him and interested to learn all of the details and intricacies life has to offer.” Colavita said he was surprised to be nominated as a distinguished teacher when he received the letter in February, and speaks highly of his col-
leagues as well. “I think all of our teachers are distinguished,” Colavita said. “I don’t think one is set apart from another.” Colavita, 55, has taught science in the district for more than 30 years. He currently teaches AP Physics, one of the toughest classes the high s c h o o l h a s t o o f f e r. H e ConTinued on PAge 5