Head of the Class - Teacher Awards 2021 - Herald Community Newspapers

June 24, 2021

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June 24, 2021 — HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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LONG ISLAND TEACHER AWARDS a letter from the

PUBLISHER The Herald Head of the Class Awards are a celebration that is long overdue, a celebration of Long Island’s top educators. Even before Covid-19 arrived, before teachers were declared “essential workers” by New York State last August, we all understood just how essential they were. It has always gone without saying that our schools are the true heart and soul of Long Island, and we have seen that proven time and Stuart Richner again.

Top educators motivate students in countless ways and create atmospheres of understanding, compassion and curiosity. The most influential teachers go above and beyond, and their impact is felt both inside and outside the classroom.

The impact of a great teacher can last a lifetime. I still often fondly recall the lessons that my 6th grade teacher—Mr. Stuart Brock—taught me, about confidence, leadership and to always stick up for those without their own voice.

Throughout the pandemic, we have seen our educators meet countless new challenges, and they are more deserving than ever of recognition for their passion, perseverance and dedication. They inspire us in more ways than we can count, and they were the true inspiration for the inaugural Herald Head of the Class Awards.

When we first started discussing the idea of honoring Long Island’s top teachers with these awards, we knew it was vital to get community input. The Herald has always been about serving our communities, about bringing people together and supporting one another, so we continued that mission with the nominations process, which was open to the public and generated more than 300 nominees from students, parents, colleagues, local business owners and others. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a teacher, and for sharing the many moving stories behind why you felt they should be honored.

Many thanks to the Head of the Class Awards presenting sponsor, Bank of America, and Long Island President Bob Isaksen, for their ongoing commitment to efforts that support workforce development and education, and community development, both locally and afar.

And our endless gratitude to all the teachers, workers, support staff, administrators and others who have dedicated themselves to making our schools, and the remote learning opportunities, as engaging, enriching and safe as they were over these trying times. As we start to see some sunshine on the horizon, we know the essential role you will all continue to play in our futures.

Stuart Richner Publisher

a note from

BANK OF AMERICA Bank of America is pleased to support the Long Island Herald in recognizing Long Island’s top educators with the inaugural Herald Head of the Class Awards.

Now more than ever, we need to acknowledge the educators and staff who have made a difference in the lives of our students this past year. We know that teachers play a critical role in the development and advancement of our youth, and they deserve recognition for their immeasurable contributions. Quality education, from robust programming in K-12 schools to access to re-skilling and up-skilling, is crucial for the economic advancement of students, especially those from low- and moderate-income backgrounds.

Bank of America is committed to empowering educators and students with the skills, resources and experience necessary for success, and has long supported programs that advance students to and through education at all levels, as well as up-skilling for their careers postgraduation. The impact of educators lasts long past their time in the classroom. We recognize the immeasurable impact of the nominees and the winners, and we thank them for their dedication, creativity, and steadfast determination in the face of challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic.

On behalf of our Bank of America teammates, thank you and congratulations.

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HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 24, 2021

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RVCTA Spotlight On: Caroline Klein BS - Hobart and William Smith Colleges • MS - College of New Rochelle

see the joy in their faces when their writing pieces and poetry come together in published form.

Making the wallpaper poetry books and poetry chairs are the highlight of each year. Teaching is my passion, and I find each day to be a new day of challenges and achievements. I love the students and I love to see them learn and grow each year!

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My love for teaching and working with children started in college back in 1981. From my first job as a nursery school teacher, to working overseas in England and Scotland, to finally finding my home at Covert for the past 24 years, I have found each class of children a new and exciting adventure. I love how interested the boys and girls become when we read a new picture book. I

June 24, 2021 — HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Elementary School

LONG ISLAND TEACHER AWARDS

Eliza DellaMonica

Wantagh Elementary School Orchestra Director & 4th/5th Grade General Music

Jackie DeMainto

Keelah Helwig

FINALISTS

Erin Kennedy

Hewitt Elementary School 1st Grade

Waldorf School of Garden City Kindergarten

Rhame Avenue Elementary School 3rd Grade Special Education

“During the pandemic last year when we were remote, Mrs. DellaMonica always made sure that we would all Zoom together to play our instruments. But even more importantly, she made sure we were all healthy and safe and let us talk to each other and have fun in class. When racial discrimination was happening in our country, Mrs. DellaMonica shared stories of growing up as a person of color in the United States and helped us understand what was going on and how we could use music to help heal.”

“In a normal year, teachers are asked to go above and beyond to make sure their students feel welcomed, loved, and in turn, be successful. This year, Mrs. DeMainto has gone above and beyond that. She started a lunch group to have the remote students socialize so they felt more connected to the classroom and experienced a more normal school year. From her warm, silly, funny demeanor to her clear and concise explanations, to her establishing a remote student social group, to her excellent communication with parents, Mrs. DeMainto is the kind of teacher movies are made about.”

“Mrs. Helwig is a breath of fresh air. She goes that extra mile for your child. She gives you the comfort you need to know that your child is in great care and has been nothing but great throughout this pandemic. Her endless dedication and her passion for education is unfound and unmatched. This is our first year with Mrs. Helwig, but she has been teaching for many years and she continues to enrich herself with knowledge to restore and grow her teaching capabilities. She deserves to be acknowledged for her hard work, especially during these uncertain times.”

“It’s not easy to leave your child, especially your special needs child, in school all day. Erin Kennedy totally alleviates any parent’s concerns for a child in her class. She is warm, caring, and her love for her students is clearly visible. One cold afternoon at dismissal, she walked a child with his mom across the field without a jacket because the child needed her to. Her fabulous rapport extends outside of her own class. She knows the name of every child in the school and greets them all with the same level of interest she has for her own students.”

Jamie MacMillan

Gia Nigoghossian

Lynda Last

Hebrew Academy of Nassau County-Plainview Campus 4th Grade Teacher/ Ed Tech Coordinator “Lynda Last goes above and beyond the call of a teacher by always looking for new ways to teach and inspire her students. She is a BrainPOPcertified educator, Freckle ambassador, GoNoodle ambassador, and has many other certifications. In addition, she has implemented mindfulness into the school building and especially into her 4th grade class. In addition to her teaching the students, she is also the Educational Technology Coordinator of the school. She is a teacher who does not hesitate to educate herself by attending conferences, webinars and Zooms to continue to learn how to be the best teacher possible. She is very deserving of this award.”

William L. Buck Elementary 2nd Grade

Glenwood Landing Elementary School 3rd Grade

Schechter School of Long Island Kindergarten

Dorit Pinto

Melissa Polzella Covert Avenue School 5th Grade

Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf 4th/5th Grade

Susan Steers

“Mrs. MacMillan is a problem solver, an innovator, an overcomer, and a dynamic member of the 2nd grade at the school. She has mastered the elusive art of being firm but fair, having rules yet maintaining relationships, and keenly remembering that though she teaches numerous subject areas her most important job is teaching children. Mrs. MacMillan can reach a troubled or struggling student with simple, yet profound, motherly instincts and empathy coupled with complete professionalism. She can also accelerate and challenge her brightest of students because of professional development experiences and innovations she has pursued and mastered. Mrs. MacMillan was born to be a teacher.”

“My 3rd grade teacher was just the best teacher I think I have ever had, and ever will have. She was the sweetest teacher and taught me so much. Ms. Nigoghossain wasn’t just sweet, she taught me things in such a way that made me understand math so much better. I struggled with math and my confidence issues and taught me confidence and simply how to be myself. I was always stuck trying to keep up with others and to rush. But she taught me how to take my time, to understand what I was learning.”

“Mrs. Pinto tenaciously creates a classroom that touches on all five senses: Israeli music plays in the background while children sit in a circle touching items, tasting Israeli foods, and playing games. They don’t realize they are learning and absorbing—they are playing!—but they have all made great strides in their reading, writing, and conversational Hebrew skills. Dressing up in costume to celebrate various Jewish holidays, Mrs. Pinto creates a tactile environment where all of the senses are stimulated to effectuate learning. The children have baked cakes and potato latkes, sampled new foods, and learned the Hebrew words to several songs while singing and dancing along to them.”

“A good teacher ignites the thirst for knowledge and curiosity.

A master teacher does this without effort and with intense love. Melissa Polzella happens to go above and beyond her daily responsibilities.

During ‘normal’ circumstances, she typically goes above and beyond for her students. Mrs. Polzella has risen to meet the challenges of virtual instruction. At the beginning of the school year, Mrs. Polzella transitioned to a virtual fifth grade teacher who had a class of children from various schools in the district. To unite her class, Melissa used music and song to bring the students from various schools together and unite them together as one.”

“Besides having been a high-risk cancer patient, deaf/hearing impaired, and the mother of three young kids, Susan Steers’ expertise in teaching deaf/special education students are always motivating students in engaging learning, out-ofthe-box approaches and putting students in others’ perspectives and applying real life world routines. Susan is one of two deaf teachers of the deaf on campus.

When she was COVID-19 positive with mild sickness, she attended virtual school days to bring her positive energy to her students. It was an inspiring journey, not leaving students with deaf and other multi-disabilities behind in the uncertainty moments.”

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Elementary School

Jordan Sabinsky

Searingtown Elementary School Kindergarten For Searingtown Elementary School kindergarten teacher Jordan Sabinsky, being a teacher always came naturally — he just wasn’t the first to notice.

“When I was younger, everyone always used to tell me, my friends, my family members, they always said, ‘Joey, when you get older you’re going to be working with kids,’” says Sabinsky.

“Then, as I started to get a little older they started to say, ‘You’re going to teach kindergarten,’ which is the grade I currently teach now.”

During a trip to Guatemala, Sabinsky saw what everyone else saw in him.“My family and I do a lot of overseas work,” he says,“and we went to this remote village and brought school supplies. We spent the day playing soccer with them and I was in their school there. They had a hut where they lived and they had the school and I was working with this little boy, who only spoke Spanish. At the time I didn’t understand what he was saying, but we were working together.

When I saw the look on his face, when we figured it out together, it was that light that went off in him and then I remember I realized that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I remember my family, my mom was looking at me with the boy and I looked up at her and I said, ‘I see it now. I understand what everyone’s been telling me.’”

Today, Sabinsky works to inspire and enrich his students’ lives every single day, and that goes beyond the curriculum.“I’ve got a call and response with my students,” he says.“It’s ‘don’t be good, be great.’ It’s really just about being the best, the best learner we can be, the best friend we can be.”

As a lifelong lover of sports and the outdoors, Sabinsky incorporates various activities into the school day for the children.“Now that the weather’s been getting nicer and nicer, not only do we take a mindful walk every morning, but in the afternoon, we start to incorporate even more play,” he says.“When we go outside, we not only take another walk around, but we make this big circle. I’ll call out a number, like five plus five, and if they say 10, and we do 10 jumping jacks together or we run in place together. We have a lot of fun doing that.” For Sabinsky, it’s important that the kids “love who they are, and that we take pride in not only our progress, but our friends’ progress, as well. It’s that emphasis that has led to the results of my classroom.”

Sabinsky emphasizes the importance of instilling a love of learning in his young students.“That’s something that is so important to me at such a young age, for them to actually love coming to school, to love to participate,” he says, noting that positive reinforcement is important in his classroom.

Sabinsky also builds confidence in his students as they learn vital skills such as reading and writing.“When we believe in ourselves, and when I give them that motivation, it starts to become a part of who they are.

That’s something that doesn’t just apply to a kindergarten curriculum. It applies throughout their academic career and throughout life just believing in themselves, advocating for themselves.”

While still a young man himself, Sabinsky has already seen the results of building character in his young students. Recently, he says, his students helped a classmate conquer her fear of riding the slide on the playground.“A group of students started to notice that this girl was just standing out there at the top of the slide, not going down,” he explains.

The other kids started to cheer her on without Sabinsky’s prompting, and she went down the slide.

“That meant everything to me,” he says.

HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 24, 2021

LONG ISLAND TEACHER AWARDS

RISING STAR

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June 24, 2021 — HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Elementary School

LONG ISLAND TEACHER AWARDS

WINNER

Nancy Aquino

Steele Elementary School 2nd Grade “I always had very engaging teachers, and I remembered a lot about how they made me feel, and I really try to think about that a lot when I’m teaching and I’m interacting with kids.”

Over the course of her 24-year teaching career, Steele Elementary School 2nd grade teacher Nancy Aquino has positively impacted the lives of many students, hoping to make the same impression many of her teachers did when she was growing up.“I always had very engaging teachers, and I remembered a lot of how they made me feel, and I really try to think about that when I’m teaching and I’m interacting with kids,” Aquino says.“I really try to think of it from their perspective, and how I remember how I felt when I was in school. My biggest thing is that they feel comfortable with me, and then the learning happens.”

Like many teachers, Aquino had a massive challenge to overcome in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. While students and teachers alike had to adapt to virtual and hybrid learning, Aquino noticed early on that her class was concerned with one thing in particular.“The first thing they asked when we were on Google Meet, they were like, ‘Well, how are we going to use our Aquino Bucks?’”

Aquino’s reward system for the children was of paramount importance to the children. All the kids wanted to know: ‘What does our classroom look like? Is everything okay?’” In order to make sure her students felt a sense of normalcy during a time where life was anything but, Aquino set about crafting special moments and experiences for them.“They’d ask, ‘What happened with the leprechaun tracks, and did the leprechaun come?’ All these things,” she says.“I was able to go into the classroom and put pictures and send them the leprechaun didn’t come. I went back to school and went to the store, and then in June when it got a little bit better, I went to each kid’s house, and I put a sign on the lawn with a picture with the kids and all the work they had done.”

Teaching via computer is far from ideal, as most teachers will agree, and so is learning. Aquino says that both her students and their parents adapted well during the pandemic.“They were very understanding and flexible and supportive, and honestly they made me feel better,” she says.“The kids every day when you log on, and see their faces, that it felt a little bit normal just to see them. We got through it all together.”

To this day, Aquino understands the importance of a great elementary school teacher, as she still keeps in touch with some of the teachers from her childhood.“I was in touch with my 4th grade teacher as he passed away last year. I went to his wake and everything, and I just found my 3rd grade teacher, who is a mayor in Florida. I think she just

retired as a mayor. I was able to find her on Facebook, I just left a message. I wanted to, as an adult, be able to tell them how they impacted me, and that now I’ve been teaching 24 years, it was really emotional for me. I was excited to find them.”

One of Aquino’s former students, Jasmine Philibert, 22, recently reconnected with her by chance.“When I first moved to Long Island in 2004, I recall being nervous to start at a new school where no one knew me,” says Philibert.“I recently had the pleasure of running into Mrs. Aquino, 17 years later. During our conversation, she told me the same things she used to tell me as a child; that I am smart, beautiful, and will do amazing things. That experience further confirmed how much she truly cared for all of her students. I am so proud to have had Mrs. Aquino as my kindergarten teacher.”

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HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 24, 2021

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June 24, 2021 — HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Middle School

LONG ISLAND TEACHER AWARDS

Barbara Bentley

Jean Carlson

Maggie Delahunty

FINALISTS

Kimberly Epps

Michele McLoughlin

St. William the Abbot School 5th/6th Grade Science Teacher

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Math

Baldwin Middle School 7th Grade ELA & ELA Honors

Oceanside Middle School 7th Grade Math & STEM Teacher

Robert M. Finley Middle School Art Teacher

“Ms. Bentley has taught in the Diocese of Rockville Centre for 46 years, the last 10 of which have been here at St. William the Abbot School. To say she is highly effective in the knowledge of her subject matter would be an understatement. Her plans and instructional outcomes reflect a great deal of familiarity with a wide range of approaches in the disciple. Alway enthusiastic about the subject, Ms. Bentley uses a variety of resources to make lessons effective and entertaining. The excellent rapport she has with students and parents extends to administration and colleagues as well.”

“While a huge number of educators in the public sector looked for every opportunity to stay away from the classroom, Ms. Carlson spent even more time than usual to ensure her students were afforded a high-quality, in-person education this year. She made great personal sacrifices to be diligent so her students and colleagues could stay healthy. This is exemplary dedication to our community — going well above and beyond earning a paycheck. She probably worked an extra 10 hours per week every week, to ensure a safe environment, as well as to provide an excellent learning experience for all of the students.”

“This teacher has been a cheerleader for my two daughters and all students in her advanced 7th grade ELA class. She is the chair for the school’s National Junior Honor Society and rallies her group for participation in the Jones Beach Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk annually. My girls were both members. When people couldn’t get vaccine appointments, she made a plea to contact her so she could advocate and get those appointments made.”

“Mrs. Epps is an outstanding leader within the math department at Oceanside Schools. She has continued to re-envision student learning, as she transitioned to a hybrid learning environment. Not only was Mrs. Epps able to successfully navigate this new environment, but she found new and creative ways to connect to students and their families providing a structured routine that gave students a sense of normalcy in uncertain times. Mrs. Epps ensured learning was relevant, and most importantly was meaningful in such a challenging environment.

She instills in students a desire to learn, achieve, and encourages their talents.”

“Ms. McLoughlin has brought tremendous energy and positivity to our school. As an art teacher she has developed the talents of hundreds of students, but she has contributed so much more. Students and staff alike love Ms. McLoughlin. Whether it’s been designing the sets for our theater productions, creating arts and craft projects for our annual Halloween celebration with our Deasy Elementary School neighbors, designing our yearbook each year, or painting beautiful murals throughout our building, she really is amazing. What I’m most grateful for is her connections with students. She embodies the ‘you have to touch their hearts, before you can touch their minds’ philosophy.”

Jennifer Monsour Southside Middle School 7th Grade ELA

Lynbrook North Middle School 6th Grade

James O’Hara

Michele Palmer Baldwin Middle School Life Skills Teacher

Wisdom Lane Middle School 6th Grade Math

David Radtke

Beverly Robinson

“Jen Monsour is the epitome of kindness and generosity. Tirelessly, she inspires her students and the entire school community through her acts of kindness. Each year, Jen leads a drive for our veterans through the Beacon House — massive amounts of donations brought in from hundreds of students, from food to clothing to toiletries, have filled room 210 before she fills her van to deliver to the Beacon House Center out in Bay Shore. Each day in her classes, Ms. Monsour promotes kindness by incorporating ‘kindness journals’ for students to record their acts of kindness. She really does make a difference!”

“Mr. O’Hara has been an anchor in the middle school and consistently provides strong instruction by utilizing all the resources provided to engage and motivate students to learn. He even conducted surveys of the students to gather feedback from them during the pandemic time to make sure he was addressing the needs of his classes in the manner that best suited their learning styles. Mr. O’Hara routinely develops projects that students are able to take control of their own learning and reach their maximum potential.”

“Ms. Palmer works tirelessly with severely developmentally delayed children, always puts her students first even if she needs to give up sleep and time taking care of her own four children. She helps with many activities, from coaching her students with disabilities in basketball to attending dances with them and uses own money to fill any gaps she can, whether it is a student who needs supplies, decorate the class and even search for students when they have gone missing from home.”

“Dave Radtke is a 6th grade math teacher at Wisdom Lane Middle School. He is also the 6th grade class advisor who runs the Philadelphia overnight trip, the 6th grade picnic and 6th grade orientation. Mr. Radtke has spent the last 33 years as a Wisdom Lane teacher and coach in the Levittown School District. He coaches the district’s varsity golf team, the MacArthur High School girls varsity basketball team and the Division Avenue High School varsity softball team. His dedication to his students in the classroom and on the field has inspired many to teach or coach.”

“Ms. Robinson has had a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of middle school students who attend the ABGS Middle School in Hempstead. She is a strong and powerful force for students, whom she always puts first.

When it comes to her students, Ms. Robinson persistently advocates strongly for them and is determined that they are always given the best possible opportunity for success in the classroom. She is a true champion of public education, feeling strongly that education can change our student lives in myriad ways, but we must make them see its value and importance in their lives. Her love and commitment to learning is something to behold.”

ABGS Middle School Special Education

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Congratulations To All The Teachers

HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 24, 2021

Thank You, Teachers!

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We Have A Lot To Be Thankful For. We’re thankful for our customers who have stood by us for the past year, and continue to support with their business and kind words. We are thankful for our staff, who have remained flexible to constantly changing situations, and put the customers first.

And we’d like to say a very deliberate and special thank you to our schools, who have done a nothing-short-of “amazing” job in keeping our kids in school, and ensured our children had a safe and smooth learning experience in an unprecedented situation. In the districts where we live, the local school administrators, teachers and parent volunteers rallied swiftly and carefully to create a learning environment that is safe and effective.

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June 24, 2021 — HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Middle School

LONG ISLAND TEACHER AWARDS

WINNER

Grace Dong-Janeo

ABGS Middle School Hempstead Special Education Math Teacher In 2020, as the world shut down due to the pandemic, ABGs Middle School Hempstead Special Education teacher Grace Dong-Janeo had a huge challenge in front of her.

Being faced with teaching remotely for the first time, Dong-Janeo, a teacher of more than 30 years, quickly realized she’d have to think on her feet.“Not everybody in our district got laptops,” she explains. For the first couple of months, I reached out to them by calling them and their parents, and when one or two got their laptops because the parents purchased them, they didn’t know how to go on because they were never taught how before the pandemic.

We’d go back and forth, I’d send a lot of pictures on my phone and take pictures of my screen to show their moms and dads, but another thing was [sometimes the parents] didn’t know English, so I had to Google quickly in Spanish!” For students that didn’t get access to laptops, Dong-Janeo printed out packets of work and mailed them to their homes. She made it work.

“I remember my daughter was recently saying to me, ‘Mommy, you engaged them,’” Dong-Janeo recalls.“I was like, ‘What do you mean by that?’ Because this is already a year-plus. Sometimes you put a hat on — let’s say with Cinco de Mayo I wear a hat — they were paying attention to me, or I had a toy and I put it across the screen and I said, ‘You’ll get bonus points if you see that,’ because I know they’re really seeing on the screen or they’re playing a game behind it,” she says.

Despite the bumps in the road, Dong-Janeo never forgot her belief that “you have to reach students before you can teach them.” And in teaching special education, reaching children is pivotal.“I remember my first year [teaching],” Dong-Janeo says.“It was an eye-opener for me, because I come from a home where you had to make sure to do your homework [right after school], and you couldn’t do anything else. I had that type of upbringing. When I went to work, things were very different.“It was predominantly a lot of families with single parents. They worked very hard and it’s very hard for them to be home when the kids are home. I noticed that, wait a second, the stuff that I learned at school was not working yet. I realized I have to reach the students before teaching the students. I always kept that in mind. I had to bond with them.”

Dong-Janeo learned quickly to adapt to students with special needs.“I’ll find a way for them to figure it out, or think outside the box. That’s my skill set, I guess — thinking outside the box helped to reach them.”

Over the years, Dong-Janeo has also been the adviser for the school’s

National Junior Honor Society, which has given her the opportunity to develop relationships with students outside the special education program.“Some of those kids are doing very well,” she says.“One’s a doctor.

I was so glad to have him come back and tell me that.” She has also mentored other teachers, giving them invaluable advice.

“I say, ‘Just put the book down, just reach out because you don’t know because we come from a different family background. Single parents or grandmas taking care of them. Maybe they have limited means, maybe they don’t have supplies.’ What I tell the new teachers is, start small, build the trust.”

Whether working with special education students or students who naturally excel academically, Dong-Janeo is steadfast in her “reach before you can teach” motto.“I have been able to work with all students — bilingual students, special ed students, the honor students — so I have been very lucky to work through my years, and I feel good that I can reach them.”

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HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 24, 2021

MOLLOY IS THE

June 24, 2021 — HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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High School

LONG ISLAND TEACHER AWARDS

Steven Anusiak

Jordan Hue

Joshua Levitt

FINALISTS

Ross Lipsky

Sara Perrone

Seaford High School Special Education

Long Beach High School English/Theater

Freeport High School Social Studies

Valley Stream South High School 10th/11th/12th Grade

East Rockaway Junior Senior High School Grade 9 English

“Mr. Anusiak is dedicated to his students. He goes above and beyond with his students, many of whom are on the autism spectrum.

He has a good relationship with his students. He spends time teaching them many life skills to succeed in the future. Mr. Anusiak is extremely patient, soft spoken, and kind. He is a positive male role model for all the students. He is a part of the Seaford community and available at all times to the parents is it at any time. He also coaches the life skills programs soccer and bowling teams.”

“Mr. Hue is one of the most amazing teachers I have ever had.

He has not only influenced me, but so many other kids in my school. I first met Mr. Hue my freshman year of high school doing our school play. I immediately remember him as being approachable and kind towards all. If you had any issues, even if they didn’t involve theater or school, he would listen and/or help in any way he could. This past year with the pandemic has been hard on theater. Even so, he was able to help us put on two amazing shows including COVID safeties that had to be taken.”

“I met Mr. Levitt the summer before going into high school when I volunteered at NCJW’s Back to School Store. During the time I was in high school, he was the supervisor of Student Government which held various community service events. He also was/is the Social Studies Chairperson. Though he is involved in a variety of organizations, Mr. Levitt is also a genuinely kind person who is willing to help anyone.”

“Mr. Lipsky teaches challenging math courses such as pre-calculus and AP courses. He is so devoted to his classes that he posted work for my son’s pre-calculus class throughout the previous summer in an effort to get the students ready for the rigorous course material. Mr. Lipsky not only posted material to keep students from falling behind, he gave individualized feedback so they could catch up before the school year officially began. He goes above and beyond to ensure that the children are college-ready and by sharing his knowledge and supporting them throughout every step of their education.”

“My children have both been blessed to have her as their English teacher where her love of literacy, thirst for gifting knowledge and natural magnetic personality let her connect with the students from the first interaction. She is passionate, yet not pushy, intelligent yet never boastful, youthful yet an old soul.

She motivates and clearly sees each student where they are. She inspires them to reach for higher goals and dreams. And at the end of the year, she writes a handwritten card to her students. What a treasure! As an educator myself, I can say my children are better today after having her as their teacher.”

Paul Ryan

Roosevelt High School 9th Grade

Leslie Pieters

Glen Cove High School Social Studies

Susan Poulos

MacArthur High School Chemistry

Catherine Temps

Hicksville High School Industrial Art Technology Teacher

Benedict Tieniber

“Ms. Pieters is a teacher, community advocate and leader. She consistently raises the bar to help her students achieve academic readiness. In 2010, she partnered with the North Shore Land Alliance to teach environmental education to children and their families in the Roosevelt community. She engages her students both inside and outside of the classroom to help them learn about their environment, community and to stay healthy by leading nature walks, engaging them in community service and teaching them how to plant and grow their own food to offset food insecurity. She’s also very engaged in her own community by serving as a volunteer and inspiring others to stay healthy.”

“Susan is an educationally sound teacher who has been mentoring teachers and teaching for 25 years. Susan has established herself as a well-versed secondary teacher in the Glen Cove School District and has supervised the secondary Social Studies Department. What sets Susan apart from other teachers on Long Island is what she is doing for her students and community and her passion and love that she brings into the building every day. Her colleagues and administrators appreciate her efforts and trust her judgment.

Susan empowers our youths and continues to be a vital asset in promoting Glen Cove Schools and the Glen Cove community to excel.”

“Mr. Ryan has worked as science teacher in the Levittown school since 1989. He is truly the heart and soul of the department, and an integral part of the MacArthur family. A majority of the science staff was either hired and/or mentored

by Mr. Ryan. When chairperson positions were eliminated due to budget constraints he returned to the classroom to resume teaching full time. Mr. Ryan loves to teach and coach, and his students love being in his classroom or on his field.”

“Temps (as her students affectionately call her) is always going above and beyond, not only for her students but for the community as well. When Covid-19 first hit, she could not sit by and do nothing. So, she decided to get together a team to 3D-print face shields and assemble snack bags to be handed out to essential workers. To date, over 1,000 snack bags and 600 face shields have been distributed at no cost to the receivers. She is always there for her students whenever they need her, and alumni are always stopping by to visit and tell her about how much she has impacted their lives.”

“Dr. Ben is the teacher of business at Lynbrook High School. He is the Key Club advisor, senior class advisor, middle school wrestling coach, middle school baseball coach, and he teaches adult education classes in Math and Business at Farmingdale State College. He won Lynbrook High School Founder’s Day PTA award. He works with the Sunrise Senior Living of North Lynbrook community, aiding caroling, virtual BINGO, Mets alumni talks, and baseball games.”

Lynbrook High School

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HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 24, 2021

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June 24, 2021 — HEAD of the CLASS - TEACHER'S AWARD - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

High School

LONG ISLAND TEACHER AWARDS

WINNER

Rebeca Rodriguez East Rockaway Foreign Language

East Rockaway High School foreign language teacher Rebecca Rodriguez doesn’t remember why she got into teaching, but she knows she loves it.

“To tell you the truth, it was so long ago, I don’t even remember why,” says Rodriguez.“I think it was back in the 1980s — I’m on my way to retirement now — and it was the perfect job for me as I had a young family.”

Teaching foreign language remotely during the pandemic has been hard on Rodriguez, who strives to form strong bonds with her students.“I was actually in tears a lot of times this year that I wasn’t able to be there and to see the kids,” she says.“A lot of the teachers told me it’s just as difficult for us because with the mask on, you can’t even see facial expressions, and most of the things that we do are by noticing kids’ facial expressions. If a kid is confused, if a kid is sad that day, if they’re disturbed about something, you really can’t even see it because of the face mask.”

Rodriguez has great empathy and fondness for her students, which comes across in how she describes them.“Over the years, there have been so many experiences that I think about and make me cry,” she says.“I keep in touch with a lot of my students. They text me. I give them my phone number when they graduate, because I teach 10th, 11th and 12th grade. I give them my phone number and I say, ‘Anything that you need, or if you want to get in touch.’”

Many of Rodriguez’s students come to an early-morning extra help session, which helps her build relationships with them.“I always come in early, and I open up my classroom. We call it the gossip session,” she says with a laugh.“A whole bunch of kids come in. My class starts at 8 o’clock, but I’m there at about 7:15. I open up my classroom, and the kids just come in and sit there and have breakfast and tell me about their day before. It’s usually maybe 10, 12 different kids, and they’ll say, ‘Oh, I came in through for you to help me with homework, but you know what happened yesterday?’ I hear about their basketball game, or I hear what they were doing last night or what movie they saw. That is my favorite time of the day.”

As someone who has been teaching her entire adult life, Rodriguez has seen a shift in focus toward standardized testing that she finds worrying.“It forces teachers to stop being creative and just stick to the test.

That’s not fair. We’re trying to say, by testing the kids that they’re like forming this cookie cutter pattern for them, and then every single kid is

an individual, you can’t grade them by a standardized test and say that everyone has to score the same.”

Rodriguez sees the potential in students beyond their ability to score well on a test.“Every single child is different, and you need to try and teach them the way that they learn and for the needs that they have. If we’re expecting that everybody’s going to be the same, what a boring world.”

Rodriguez has words of wisdom and love for her students:“Just stay curious, always, and learn. There’s always something new to learn, to have fun with, to find out about. Always keep your minds open. It’s such a great world out there. We just get hit with all the ugliness all the time.

That’s what we read about in newspapers most of the time, and see on TV. Everybody focuses on the bad. There are so many great things going on out there. Keep growing and keep learning.”

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HARDSCRABBLE Brittney Williams

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Thank you for investing in tomorrow’s leaders Bank of America is proud to congratulate the Head of the Class finalists and awardees for showing our young people that hard work, teamwork and reaching for excellence can lead to a bright tomorrow.

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