K104’S TEACHER OF THE MONTH 2021-2022

Kelly Mecocci- Goshen Intermediate School4th grade; co-teach; special education | Commitment to academic growth
Communication strengths for leadership through her program, department, and grade-level. She is an advocate for students' needs and creative in achieving learning goals for all learners.

Maria Roldan- Pattycake PlayhouseMaria is the greatest teacher and person on the planet. She goes above and beyond every day for her class of students. They never want to leave when mom and dad come to pick them up. She takes pride in her work and works nights and weekends to perfect her lesson plans so she’s teaching only the best. She becomes part of their family. I had the pleasure of working with Maria for 5 years and I only hope I could be as good as her one day. If you go to Pattycakes Playhouses Early Childhood Learning Center facebook, there is a video on the of her teaching the children to “wipe” properly with balloons and a chair and it is the greatest video you will ever see. That’s just an example of how she thinks out of the box and goes above and beyond. We were open the entire pandemic and she made sure those kids never were scared and only felt love and normalcy while in her class. When the mask mandate came down in June for 2 year olds to wear masks she did activities and fun games to make the kids be more comfortable. I could go on and on about how amazing this woman is.

Caitlin Gilmore- Frederick County Middle SchoolShe is dedicated to her job and influencing her students in meaningful ways. She believes in us and strives to assist us to achieve our full potential and growth in learning. She isn't just a teacher, she is a friend and a mentor to her students. She inspires her students and makes learning fun!

Crisan Crozzoli- BalmvilleCovid 19 really derailed the education process and left major gaps in my sons education. His teachers before were wonderful but it's difficult to make a 8/9 year old actually pay attention during virtual learning. My son Avery is very quiet and very polite so he's the type of student who will go unnoticed educationally because he doesn't appear to struggle. Mrs. Crozzoli quickly noticed he was struggling badly and worked with him 1 on 1. She didn’t wait until January or February like is typical. Her and her co-teacher, Mrs. D’Amico, call parents to inform them of what is going on in the class. They have used technology to its fullest always posting videos they show the class and activities that are done. This has enabled me to have conversations with my son. Instead of the infamous “how was school? It was okay” conversations people usually have. They are kind and want the students to be kind. Their class slogan is #kindness crew. Everyday my son comes home and tells me he loves his teachers and it’s the best school year ever.

Paige Arcuri- Haviland Middle SchoolWhile in the process of getting her second masters degree (this one for teaching the deaf and hard of hearing), she accepted this challenging position because she truly cares and wants to make a difference! She wants to instill self worth and confidence, especially for those struggling. And the kids already recognize her sincerity and support! (Don’t share,lol, but some students have already said they want to get put back in ISS!) As a former teacher (and her mom!), so proud of her work!

Tara Davis- Early HeadstartTara has worked selflessy alongside myself through out the whole pandemic she has shown comfort and compassion to her children and has provided them with nothing but the best care. She is an inspiration to every person she meets and her will to always strive to do better is unlike any other person ive ever met. any hurdle she is faced with she tackles, and with a smile on her face! She is truly the best teacher ive ever known

Greg Bennett- Middletown high schoolThe reason I feel that mr.Bennett deserves this award is because he always pushes his students to strive for greatness, some of his students have made it to Broadway! He is an amazing music teacher and alway puts his students first, he has put money out of his own pocket to make the plays at the high school to Broadway standards! Mr Bennett works and lives for music and teaching, I've known him my whole life and and happy to have pushed by him to strive for greatness! Thank you for taking my nomination and hope he gets more nominations! He truly is an amazing teacher.

Dana Gabrielsen- The center for discoveryI have been in Dana's class as a teaching assistant for the past year and a half. We work with students on the autism spectrum who also reside on campus. Dana always goes above and beyond to make sure our students are happy and cared for. Dana brings fun into the classroom making sure our students have fun while they learn. During the pandemic we had to conduct school in the residences and dana always made the best of a bad situation. being stuck in the house instead of in a classroom setting was difficult for our students who dont easily adapt to new situations. Dana made it the best time for those students. he has been a special education teacher for 30 years and deserves to be recognized.Dana recently suffered a house fire where he and his family lost everything. even during this time he was here with the students. he never gives up!

Robin Conklin- Circleville Elementary SchoolRobin should be honored for treating her students like her own children. She creates a family environment for all of her 5th grade student and their families! She makes everyone feel safe, welcomed, included, important, and loved! She has not missed a beat during the pandemic and rose to the challenge. As a parent, I do not have to worry about any of my child's needs throughout the school day, because Mrs. Conklin meets all of them (as well as the needs of 24 other kids). I've seen her at sports games for her students, spending her free time encouraging and supporting them and making them feel loved. She deserves this honor and recognition for being an OUTSTANDING educator and an even better human being.

Eva Whorley- Cornwall High SchoolMrs. Whorley made one of the greatest impacts on my life while I was in high school. She is an absolutely phenomenal teacher, mentor, and overall person. She always goes above and beyond for her students and their families. I would not be the woman that I am today without her guidance and support. I know there are so many students, past and present, who feel the same.

Her husband was recently in a horrible motorcycle accident and has an extremely long road to recovery. I have watched her show strength in a situation that would break some people. I give her so much credit.

She truly deserves to be honored for the beautiful soul that she is.

*The photo attached is of her and her husband, I found it on her facebook*

Sandy Baines- Newburgh free academyMs sandy Baines is the best coach for Newburgh free academy unified basketball team

Suzanne Cachon- Roy C. Ketcham High SchoolMs. Cachon has so much spirit. She puts passion into everything she does! As a Marine Science teacher, she has really inspired students to learn more about ocean pollution and to make changes in their daily lives to stop it. She inspires us to want to change the world and make it cleaner. She is also the yearbook advisor and makes our yearbook look incredible. It is so artistic and creative. You can always find her on the field or court at games, on the dance floor at homecoming and at all our school events making sure that everything we do has a memory. As a Ketcham grad, she really has pride in our school and that is very evident in all she does!

Rick Graham- Green ChimneysBecause he is a great compassionate teacher to all of his special needs students. He has taken tremendous time and care with my goddaughter where she is learning to read and control her behavior & outbursts. He goes above and beyond what any teacher would do for his students😍

Dolan Kandee- Pawling ElementaryKandee Dolan has been a teacher at Pawling Elementary for many years. I was a staff ( I am a substitute there ) before I had children in the district. After watching Kandee interact with children last year and see her incredible patience , persistence and dedication to her students I knew if my daughter came to the school she HAD to have Mrs. Dolan. She has students of all abilities in her inclusive classroom and treats every child with grace and dignity . She deserves a million dollar bonus for the impact I've seen her make with not only my own child but every child I have seen come into her classroom.

Richard VanScoyk- Poughkeepsie High SchoolMr. VanScoyk should be honored because he works hard to make sure all students can succeed even if they aren't his students. He dedicates his time after school hours on Tuesday's to help students with their work and make sure they understand the course material. He is also the Bowling coach and he is very enthusiastic about it. He also helps out with school events for example, the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony, and fund raisers at the school.

Amy Martin- F D RooseveltAmart (Mrs. Martin) is an amazing teacher. She teaches chorus at FDR highschool. She also directs the musicals. She is the teacher everyone wants. She is there if you need to cry, rant, or just chill. She treats you with care and that your her family. (Pre Covid) if you were cold she has a blanket, if you have a sour throat she's got so much tea you'd drown. If your upset she will sit and listen then make you feel better whatever way she can. She really makes you feel like your home, many of us call her room a home away from home. (In the picture she's the button right and I'm right next to her) Thank you Amart for the amazing highschool appearance.

Donna lahl- Kinry Road ElementaryMrs Lahl has been my daughters teacher for the last year and a half. She has helped my daughter grow so much in the last year. She has helped our daughter use her best skills that she would never show anyone. She makes Alyssa feel like she can talk to her about what scares her the most in school or what she is most nervous about. When Alyssa comes home from school she is so excited. She tells us what she is learning and how much she wants to go back the next day. During covid Alyssa became discouraged, being online is not easy for someone with a learning disability. The second the school offered her to come back four days was one of the best days we had. She got to meet her teachers in person. That day she came home and said mom I love my teachers. She grew a connection with Mrs Lahl. Mrs Lahl is a teacher who you can tell loves her students. She makes the students feel like family. School isn't just about learning, it's also about that long term Impression that you leave on a child's life. And Mrs Lahl will always have a place in our life for making our child feel like she can do what she puts her mind to.

Kim Vona- Wallkill Senior High SchoolMy mother has been a teacher for more then 20 years. She works in the special education department and she is so dedicated to her job. Over the years I have watched her do everything she can to see her students succeed and graduate. Some recent examples include during the pandemic she went to her students homes and sat on the front lawn to help with any homework or questions. She even paid for one of her students to get a haircut because the family could not afford it. Not only does so go above and beyond as a teacher but during her free time she has also volunteered to coach special Olympics for more then 7 years. She has taught me so much about being patient but also working hard. She deserves mother and teacher of the month but for now I will settle for teacher of the month. She will soon be retiring and I think this will be a great way to end her long career and dedication as a teacher.

Jennifer Mannina- Orange Ulster BOCES Little DreamersShe goes above and beyond for the kids. She is has been teaching at this program for many years, and all the parents in the surrounding area that have kids that went there love her. She has made my 4 year old son Logan’s first year of school a bright, fun and exciting one. He is a handful and she is so patient and loving with him. I am very thankful for teachers like her.

Mr. Hyland- Pine Bush SchoolHe goes way beyond to help the kids. He won't just teach but he will intact with the kids and make it fun. My son has his class and always has so much fun and learns a lot.

Marianna Golden- Fishkill ElementaryMarianna is a great teacher, she is committed to her students even after they left her. She is a sweet caring person in general. She makes sure her students strive for the best! Takes time out of her day to make sure the students get the lesson. Marianna is a speical person, she takes time from her personal life to umpire town softball games and referees town basketball games. She even asks you kids about what sports they do, where they are and what time and she tries to attend to support her students whenever possible! It would be an honor for k104 to honor Marianna Golden as teacher of the month.

Dede D’Angelis- Minisink Valley CSDDede has a heart of gold. She always puts her students and colleagues first. She is highly involved in her community and always one to support the underdog.
A bad day can turn into a bright day when around Dede. She will always make sure her students receive the best educational experiences. She comes to work early and leaves late to make sure her classroom and lessons are set for her students. During the height of the lockdown during the pandemic Dede's students did a drive by her house and brought her gifts. The school year ended abruptly due to COVID in March 2020 and Dede's class were so inspired by all she gave to them of herself and educationally that they set up a class drive by her home in June. I cannot think of a more deserving, unselfish, and dedicated teacher for this award.

Peggy Scleiermacher- Sullivan County BocesMrs.Scleiermacher (Mrs. S) is one of the kindest people I know. I work at a nursing home and she brings her students there for clinical and even after the students leave for the day, she has stayed behind to help out as much as she could. She helps students find jobs and encourages students to be the best version of themselves. When I was her student, a girl from our class was pregnant and she gave her baby shower. She bought one student a coat and helped another student go to prom and orders pizza for the class often. She has such a big heart. She has taught me to be patient and to be kind. She has done so many good deeds and if any teacher deserves this award its Mrs. S.

Brandon Sparkman- Chester Elementary SchoolMr. Sparkman sparks a love of music for all his students. He wears so many hats within our school building. He is the general music teacher for 4 grade levels, he is the chorus director and the band director at the elementary school level. He has given life to the music program, since he started the numbers for band and chorus have basically doubled. Even during a pandemic he is able to create a love of music and singing for all his students remote and in person.

Diane Savage- Maybrook ALCMy mom had been teaching kids with disabilities since we have moved here. She is an extremely active part of the community and school. People go to her for questions and answers. She is a Paraprofesssional. Throughout the years I have met so many of her students who remember her always with utmost respect. She doesn't cut any corners as a person, teacher, emt, accounting for Montgomery EMS which she volunteers her time. Also she is my representative for my disabilities. I am so proud to call her my mom. I really just wish for this so she can get the love that she deserves. Thank you guys for all you do.

Monica Taddeo- Marlboro Elementary SchoolCatherine would like to nominate her teacher, Ms. Taddeo because she the best teacher ever! She is kind, caring, inspiring, fun and amazing! She makes learning so fun and makes every student feel special during these crazy stressful time.

Mr and Mrs Acardi- Port Jervis High SchoolMr Acardi is the most kind, genuine, helpful teacher there is! He is totally dedicated to his students and always puts a million percent into his lessons. His wife is also a teacher at PJHS and they are the cutest teacher couple! To make it even better, they both go to CrossFit with me. They are exactly what i would hope I am as a teacher couple....kind, dedicated, all about the students and their success in and out of school! They deserve this recognition as a teacher power couple! Thank you !!

Barbara Glover- Warwick Valley Central School District High SchoolGreat teacher always going out of her way to help others and listens

Alissiah Barnett- Walden Elementary SchoolMs. Barnett is an AMAZING teacher! She works tremendously hard. The love of learning she instills in her students is priceless. My son has already learned how to read in kindergarten. He NEVER feels like it is work. I am truly grateful for his first experience in school with Ms. Barnett. She has set a valuable foundation for his education. To me that in itself is the BEST gift she can give her students.

Please accept her nomination!!

Tracy Gida

Kristen Fischetti- Seymour Smith Intermediate Learning CenterMrs Fischetti always goes above and beyond for her students and their families. Whether it's dancing around the room and shape shifting like the movie Encanto, to thinking outside the box with new and fun ways to connect with her students, to taking home my son's and his cousin's sweatshirts that were left on the playground and washing them, to ALWAYS being kind & supportive, she always shows up and gives 110%. No matter what stress she's dealing with, or pressure she's under, she is just pure magic in every way. We are so lucky to have her in our lives and our children's lives. You would never know that she's carrying the world on her shoulders, like all educators are, and have been, during this pandemic. She deserves the world! We all love her so much!

Gina Perschitti- Monroe WoodburyMrs Persichetti goes above and beyond for her students. She makes my daughter feel beautiful, smart, confident and has helped her develop so much these last few months. She is an amazing teacher and deserves to be noticed.

Trish Halpenny- Anna S. KuhlNominating this teacher for my son and daughter. They feel this teacher, Trish Halpenny, goes above and beyond for her students. Not only in the the music classroom, but while recently directing the play “Seussical Jr.” Mrs. Halpenny is a caring, loving, teacher that makes every child feel they’re the most important kid in the school. Outside of the school walls this proves true just as much. This teacher, coach, and Boy Scout leader gives her heart to the community and every single child that she teaches. She deserves to be recognized for the one-of-a-kind soul that she is.

Katie Luccarelli- Maple Hill AnnexI work in the classroom with Katie as a 1 on 1 aid. I watch her day in and day out try to work with students that have behavioral issues. I watch her figure out how to teach each student the best way they can learn individually. She cares so much about them that it affects her when they have a bad day, when they have a behavior. When one is not in she calls home to see if they are ok. She goes above and beyond daily.

Thomas Atwell- Monhagen Middle SchoolHe is the best teacher he makes class fun and also helps students through stuff if they need help

Julia Quinn- Vail Farm ElementaryMs. Quinn was my sons 2nd grade teacher for the 2020-2021 school year. Ms. Quinn had recently graduated from Marist College and it was her first year teaching and it was completely remote! She did an amazing job teaching and bonding with the children through zoom meetings daily. I would encourage her and tell her if she could do this, she could do anything! It was such a crazy time, together the children and teachers were all learning together. Ms. Quinn went above and beyond to make sure the children understood the lesson and always took the time to answer questions even after school hours. We would love to see Ms. Quinn win teacher of the month! She holds a special place in my sons heart even to this day he talks about what a great teacher she was!

Cynthia Siper- Twin Towers Middle SchoolMrs. Siper has dedicated over 30 years in educations. She has taught Special Ed for the majority of her years. Currently she works with autistic scholars. She teaches to the best interests of the scholars. When one thing doesn't work, she thinks of something else. Even if it's singing a song. Her dedication had led to much success for many of her Scholars. Some have become teachers themselves, gone into the service, have made honor society and all have graduated high school. Her warm and caring heart has brought much sunshine to the lives of her scholars. Giving them a goal and dream they have accomplished and much more. It is truly amazing to know she has touched so many lives.

Jennifer Gordon- Presidential Park ElementaryI want to honor my daughters math teacher Mrs. Gordon, because she goes above and beyond to make sure that my daughter is living up to her potential. She encourages her, takes her time to work with her, makes her feel great when she answers correctly, continuously makes her class fun to the point that my daughter looks forward to going to her class everyday. She has also reached out early on when school started to express her concerns with how she was doing. When she saw improvement, she reached out again to let us know how proud she was of her. It had reinforced her thinking that my daughter was capable and needed to raise her confidence. Mrs.Gordon’s dedication and love for her students shows how much she cares and loves what she does. She wants to see them succeed to their highest potential, and pushes them in a fun loving way. She is exactly who every student needs/wants as a teacher because so many kids struggle or just learn differently, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to get them there. She truly deserves this award!

Marie Kriner- Chester AcademyMarie Kriner is an outstanding High School Art Teacher. As one of her former students I can say that she is amazing at her job. She is funny, caring, and very creative. She deserves this award because she is a teacher that everyone can trust, and talk to whenever they need to.

LaKeya Stukes- Newburgh Free Academy - West CampusMs. Key is an amazing guidance counselor. She goes above and beyond for her students. I currently
am the parent of a senior and a freshman at NFA West. Ms. Key makes herself available after school hours, even on holidays. She pushes each student to do their absolute best in all subject areas. When it comes to college prep, she makes sure each student knows exactly what their financial responsibility is. As she said, if she knew she would still be paying student debt at the age of 40, she would have chosen a different college. She is always smiling, loves hugs, has an amazing singing voice, and she always comes up with something to keep students spirits up. During virtual learning, the school drove to students homes yelling and cheering them on. Ms. Key was front and center. If anyone deserves a golden apple, it is Ms. Key. Her partner in crime, Ms Ebony Clark, principal of NFA West is just like Ms. Key and should be considered for the golden apple as well.

Erin Daniels- Haviland Middle SchoolMrs. Daniels is awesome! She makes school fun by giving us cool activities to do. She teaches us all the things we need to learn in a fun way. She's always happy to be in school with us and she treats all the kids with kindness and respect. We all like to be in her class and want to work hard because she knows that we can do it and she helps us learn. Mrs. Daniels works really hard! She even comes to watch us at our games. She should definitely be the teacher of the month.

Carmelina DeWitt- Wraparound services of the Hudson ValleyShe is absolutely amazing with our special needs students, she is a great teacher, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. She really is loving, caring and supportive to our group of kids.

Susan Glenn- Presidential Park ElementaryMs. Glenn teaches Kindergarten at our K-5 Elementary school in Middletown, NY. Our scholars face many challenges, especially in the midst of the pandemic. Ms. Glenn has created a culture in her classroom of safety, love, and acceptance. She knows the individual needs and interests of her students. When one particular student was in a very difficult situation and facing some uncertainty with his/her home life, Ms. Glenn called down to my office and asked if she could take this child home with her. That is how big her heart is and she truly makes a difference every day in the lives of her students!
-Kara Raap (Assistant Principal)

Teal Young- Netherwood ElementaryMrs. Young makes the students feel safe and comfortable at all times. She takes an interest in every student's learning abilities and interests. Most of the boys in the class love to play with BeyBlades toys. During indoor recess, she allows the kids to play with them and battle each other respectfully. She saw how much the kids enjoyed it and went out and personally bought a stadium dome for them to use when battling during recess. For her students in book club, they loved a book that was a part of a series and she went above and beyond to try to get the next book in the series because the kids were interested in continuing the book series. When she couldn't find them in the school's library, she went out and purchased them so they could read on. This is her first year as a 5th grade teacher, as she previously taught Kindergarten and Netherwood Elementary is a k-5 school; therefore, this is her class' last year in the school and she just makes their final year experience there better every day. She keeps the kids motivated and captivated and that makes her teacher of the year in our book! She truly deserves recognition for her outstanding heart and her passion for teaching future middle-schoolers.

Juan Rivera- Hyde Park CyclonesCoach Juan Rivera has to be the most dedicated and passionate coach in the area. He treats every kid on the team the same, he helps them grow - not just athletically- but personally, mentally and physically. He believes in every single player out on the field. He teaches our kids to have respect for themselves, their teammates, the field, and our opponents as well. He has made some sacrifices for the good of the team, he has invested personally for the good of the team and he pushed through 3 family deaths and never skipped a beat with the schedule/players. He coached since his son - now 10 years old - was almost 4 (t-ball) and has continued to grow with about 90% of the original team. He started coaching in Town of Poughkeepsie and then switched to HPLL when he moved to Hyde Park. He wanted to see the players grow even more, so he started a travel team with the help of his assistant coaches, their wives and his wife Cathy. The first season of travel, we lost every single game. He never got discouraged. Instead, he made a plan. The second season (last fall) we won 6 games and made it to the playoffs.. We won our very first playoff game and it was a remarkable moment for the team. During every game, he individually motivates the players, the coaches and even the parents at times. He is truly a blessing and he deserves to be recognized for his efforts, accomplishments and passion. His goal is to be able to take all the players to Cooperstown for the most amazing experience of these kid's childhood and with no doubt, he will make that happen for them. We are proud to have him as a coach and we collectively wanted to nominate him because we know he deserves at least that much. Thank you Coach Juan! - from The Hyde Park Cyclones Team

Jennifer Moland- Middletown High SchoolI can't say enough how awesome she is. My child has a learning disability. She ensures to follow the needed accommodations and even helps out across all classes beyond just her class. She teaches honors chemistry classes keeping the students engaged and active in labs. She is respectful of student name and pronouns. I appreciate her connection with my student and all her hard work at the high school level which can't be easy. Thank you for your hard work and care of your students. ||||||| Mrs. Moland inspires student's to pursue their interests in chemistry while also connecting as a person and respecting her students as people. She creates a welcoming classroom environment for student's to feel safe and explore their interests.

Carly Delehanty- North Rockland Central School DistrictMs. Carly Delehanty puts her heart and soul into teaching the kids in quarantine. She is patient, kind, and takes time with each student. At times, she could have 100 kids, and other times, she could have 30. She cares about the work, and the kids. She goes out of her way to prep and come up with new approaches. North Rockland Central School District is lucky to have such a wonderful person working for them. The Best Teacher! Ms Delehanty is currently the quarantine teacher for grades 4-6 in the NRCSD. Not only does she teach upwards of 100 kids a day but she forms a relationship with each and every one and helps them to feel a part of the school even though they are home and isolated. So many of the children are sad to leave her "class" want to keep in touch with her after their quarantine time is over.... these are trying times for our children and Ms Delehanty is truly making a positive, lasting impression on these kids! Ms Delehanty is a dedicated new teacher is makes luring fun and exciting. She goes above and beyond the call of duty. She is teaching through an on line platform with an ever changing student list. These constant changes do not affect the amazing teacher she is.

Carla DelTreste- Dutchess Community CollegeI am nominating my sister, Carla, for K104s Teacher of the Month Award. She has worked at Dutchess Community College for about 20 years. As a tenured employee she is loved not only by her students but also her colleagues. With her patience and love for math, she can help anyone struggling with the subject. She adapts to their learning style. She has joined and founded many committees that encourage others to continue learning. She runs an annual workshop designed for female students grades 2-12 to promote interest and careers in Math and Science. She is the only reason I passed my regents exams and she never made me feel stupid even when I couldn't get that pesky quadratic formula after the 87th time. 😂 Her dedication to her students and to education are unmatched and I believe she deserves recognition for her commitment to spreading knowledge and problem solving skills for nearly 2 decades.

Samantha Fernandez- Mildred e strang middle schoolSam, or ms fernandez is a first year health teacher and goes above and beyond for her students! She gives up her lunch period everyday so students can come to her to talk, for a quiet safe place, whatever they need.

Michael Weisgarber- OU BOCESMr. Weisgarber is a wonderful special education teacher. He has shown that he goes above and beyond for his students and their needs inside and outside the classroom. Recently without being asked he showed up for a students graduation from a local community program. The support that he showed this youth , is something that I have never seen a teacher do for a youth, outside the scope of their job duties. He deserves recognition for helping these students navigate life, and being a stable part of their support system.

Cathy DeGloria- Matthew Paterson elementaryWe are actually nominated our last years teacher from our old school. Mrs. DeGloria was one of the most amazing teachers my daughter ever had and she had her for remote during the pandemic. She was always there and always answered phone calls or texts or emails so quickly. She made my child and I feel so at ease with everything. She not only made it as smooth and normal as possible for the kids she also was so caring and would send things home to the kids. The one on ones and the group activities were so fun and my daughter was able to get her reading level up thanks to her .We miss her and wish nothing but the best for her and was so proud to have her for the year.

Colleen Koenig- Port Jervis High SchoolColleen has always gone above and beyond to help the students that she teaches. She works with special needs students and those less fortunate than others. She has purchased with her own money, shoes, clothes, and anything else a student needs. She is the definition of what a teacher is supposed to be. She sees her position as an important role and not just a job or paycheck. I have personally seen her work tirelessly to ensure the success of her students for many years. I think it is only fitting that she gets recognized for her dedication to the teaching profession.

August Scagnelli- Vail farm elementary schoolMr. Scagnelli always goes above and beyond to provide a wonderful education for his students he's caring, funny, and very passionate about teaching. Mr. Scagnelli treats the kids like there one of his own kids.

Bridgette Pasquarella- Vail farm elementary schoolMrs. Pasquarella has been with the district for 21+ years. Mrs. Pasquarella provides a fun, engaging, and nurturing learning environment where all students can be successful. Mrs. Pasquarella is retiring this year from Vail Farm Elementary school. We are so thankful for her years with Arlington as a teacher. Mrs. Pasquarella deserves this Golden Apple.

Yvonne Cruz- Titusville intermediate schoolYou should honor Ms.Cruz because she goes above and beyond for her students and her assistants that work with her. Mr. Cruz is a special Ed teacher who works with children that can be challenging. When school ends at the end of the day she stays after to work and prepare for the next day and works on her kids IEP's and their goals. She finds creative and educational ways to get through to her students. I do not know if she realizes the impact she puts on her students each and every day. She has patience and she sets goals for her students. She gives the parents her cell phone number so they can contact her at any time. I’m not personally in the classroom with her but I have heard stories. One particular story I remember is her having an idea during the pandemic to make a huge Chinese dragon for the Chinese new year and she went around the whole building with her students under that dragon celebrating the new year.
Most people do not have the privilege to connect with special needs children on a daily basis. As a result, sometimes uncertainty and avoidance can form. Because if Ms Cruz interacts with special education children every day, she always becomes their advocate. Everybody deserves a voice and she helps them achieve that. She makes school fun and interesting for these kids.

Please fell free to contact her school and I am sure they will let you know that she is highly respected.

Jeanette Lynch- Rombout Middle SchoolMs. Lynch has been a science teacher in the BCSD for many years and has touched the lives of many students. She always goes above and beyond to make lessons fun and engaging for her students. She often spends her own money on materials and makes sure that her students always have what they need. She arrives at school early and leaves late everyday; always working hard to make sure none of her students fall through the cracks. She sees the importance and value in communicating with families; she makes it a priority to meet families where they are and always manages to come up with creative ways to get kids on track. In all, Mrs. Lynch's kindness and compassion for students, her high expectations and work ethic, combined with her unwavering set of personal and professional values sets her apart and makes her an excellent candidate for this award. Aside from her role as a teacher, Ms. Lynch mentors new teachers, chaperones all athletic events, and advises the environmental club. She volunteers her time whenever the school needs her to pitch in. She is more than a team player at Rombout, she is the MVP! If you need any more information, please feel free to reach out to me. My extension at Rombout Middle School is ext. 4131

*in the attached picture, Ms. Lynch is all the way on the right. She is scooping ice for every student. They are doing a science lab outside where they make their own ice cream*

-Cathryn Biordi & Brain Soltish
Assistant Principal & Principal

Kathy Foti- Valley Central Middle SchoolMs. Foti has been teaching art forever. She is head of the art department. She goes above and beyond for all her student. Children that may not like art learn to love art. She goes out of her way for all her colleagues. If something needs to be done she does it no questions asked. She helps make all the sets for all plays, chaperones all dances, and helps in so many ways. Ms. Foti is a teacher from day one has gone above and beyond and has never stopped that. Children love her. She never asked for anything in return. Just loves helping children discover. I don't know a person that doesn't love Ms.Foti.

MaryEllen Corin- EJ Russell Elementary SchoolMrs. Corin is more than deserving for this award. She teaches special needs students in a grade 4/5 classroom. My son Billy is currently in her class. Billy was struggling in school until he met Mrs. Corin. Since then, his grades and confidence has greatly improved. Billy now loves going to school and cannot say enough good things about his teacher. Mrs. Corin has gone above and beyond what any teacher has ever done. If Billy is having a bad day, she asks Billy if he would like to eat lunch with her. She spends the time to get to know each one the kids in her class on a personal level. She cares deeply for her students and it shows. She knows that each child is different and has their own struggles. From school to home, she is involved. I have her personal number and I can contact her anytime about Billy, and I do. I can't thank her enough for the talks she has had with my son. He trusts her completely and that is why he is doing well in school. A great teacher is truly a blessing and we are so thankful for her. My son will be going to middle school next year and I am very sad that will have to say goodbye to her in June. I will be forever thankful for her and for everything she has done for my son. He wouldn't be the kid he is today without her.

Kelly Auriemmo- Vassar Road ElementaryThis teacher is phenomenal. She opens the door everyday with a smile and greets each individual child. The other teachers in the building say they stop and watch her in the classroom and it's how it's literally "pure magic" going on in there. The kids are happy, learning and well adjusted to being in the classroom. She gives the children such immersive learning experiences about the subjects they are learning. So much so that she and her assistant dressed up in blow-up dinosaur outfits one week. Everyone is blown away by the laughter and learning in her class. We were definitely lucky to have Mrs. Auriemmo as our children's 1st teacher. /// Ms A is amazing. The children absolutely adore her. She loves each and everyone of her students like they are her own. She can look at a child and know something is wrong or if the are having a bad day. I am amazed by what my child is learning. I can't even put into words how amazing she is. She really deserves to be recognized.

Matt VanVoorhis- South Avenue ElementaryMr. VanVoorhis is the best gym teacher there could be. In one word he is amazing. As the PTA president of the school I can say we are so happy he became part of the staff a few years ago. He is so good with the students and goes above and beyond for everything. If he is picked as the winner the phone # above is the school district and you would need to put in ext # 5301 to reach the secretary.

Cristina Rosario- Meadow Hill AcademyMrs. Rosario is wonderful! After two difficult years of schooling, this year is the most "normal" year for these students. Her young students haven't been to school at all for a full year before Covid hit. She has met her students educationally where they were, as well as emotionally with nothing but kindness. She got my son excited to learn for the first year ever by showing how proud she is at every accomplishment and mistake he is willing to make by attempting his best. She gets the students excited about what they do know instead of focusing on what they don't yet know. Because of her my son is no longer afraid to try again. She helped give him his confidence back in both his academics as well as relationships with his peers.

Elise Cacciatore- Middletown High ShoolFrom the beginning of the school year Ms.Cacciatore has always been there for her students. After transferring schools to teach here after our original teacher went on maternity leave, she has left a lasting impact on all of our hearts. She has inspired us to speak our minds and be true to ourselves. Her assignments have always been made exciting from the "civilized projects" regarding the quote "ONE WE WILL NEVER SPEAK OF AGAIN" Zaroff and making it into a all out court case to going all out on acting Romeo and Juliet climbing on top of chairs and almost preforming scenes in the staircase.For me period 8 proves that there is no better time of day in our school. That was only the start of the greatness though. When any student had been feeling down, Ms.C would pull us aside and be there for us no matter what and related to us with telling stories of her father who she deeply admires and stories of when she was our age. In the winter she was beyond hysterical when in the middle of a lesson stopped and told us to stop and look when it started snowing which cracked us up. She has connected with each and everyone of us on a deeply personal level within the past few months. Everyday students stop in from all periods practically breaking down the door asking to stay and relax which she says go back to class of course but proves the love that we all have for her. Recently we learned that our original teacher will be returning to us soon which is amazing news but that also means that we will lose Ms.Cacciatore. She will stay in the building thankfully but losing her will be unimaginable after all of thats happened. Im writing this nomination as a thank you for everything that she has done and hope it touches your hearts enough to give this to her. Thank you

P.S. If you can tell Ms.C to watch Hamilton already!

Megan Bartsch- Anna s kuhl elementary schoolMy teacher is so nice and so thoughtful and gives me a good education every day! She gives everyone in my classroom a good laugh every morning!! I really hope you pick my teacher because of these reasons i think she will appreciate this very much!! Thank you!

Mrs. McGinley/Mrs. Chrisville- Glenham Elementary SchoolI would like to nominate a pair of co-teachers, Mrs. McGinley and Mrs. Chrisville. This pair teaches fifth grade at Glenham Elementary School. My son Landon is lucky enough to be in their class.

These ladies have an amazing chemistry as a pair of co-teachers. Their impressive approach and notable team mentality serves all of their students in the best way. These ladies show commitment and a passion for teaching in all they do to support student learning and support their students social emotional needs. They do an amazing job keeping parents informed and connected to the classroom. They go above and beyond regularly to recognize students personal accomplishments and be informed about their students personal lives and help celebrate their successes. These dynamic and energetic educators seek out community engagement opportunities and help their students connect with their community in meaningful ways. For example, they were the only class in the district to participate in a local Martin Luther King Essay Contest. They show a clear respect and genuine love for all of their students daily. I feel incredibly lucky that my son has these ladies teaching him and guiding him through his last year of elementary school.

Joan Pesko- john f keenedy elementary schoolMrs. pesko is a wonderful teacher she goes above and beyond for her students. My daughter really loves her.

Katie Prisco- Cornwall Elementary SchoolMrs Prisco has worked in the Bronx as a special education teacher for first grade for 5 years! Her students meant so much to her.. she put all she has to help these children learn and thrive. In 2021 she had a baby and decided to find a school closer to home. She is now working in the Cornwall Elementary School as a first grade teacher, making a difference for these children. I would love for her to know that she is so appreciated by us all! Thank you!

Kristina Storaska- Berea ElementaryMrs. Storaska is a hit it out of the park educator! She has formed such a beautiful relationship this year with my son Matthew. Her teaching style has helped develop respect, understanding and trust. Each day Matthew comes home with a story about how Mrs. Storaska made him feel special. He especially loves how fondly she talks about her children, Nathaniel, Noah and Elise. My son’s super star second grade teacher is warm, friendly, pleasant, approachable and has been consistently open to finding ways to challenge my son academically. I would love to publicly honor this amazing educator. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Valley Central School District is fortunate to have this outstanding teacher, Kristina Storaska!

Christine Countryman- Meadow Hill ElementaryHonestly there's so many reasons but I'll give you a few. Mrs. Countryman has been teaching for many years in the Newburgh school district. She used to be a 3rd grade teacher. She always made sure her students met their potential. She always would stay very late to make sure her class was ready for the next day. She made sure kids that lived in hard living situations had food. She always made sure the children with learning disabilities had what they needed to make sure they understood what was going on. Also most of those students wouldn’t have that extra help if she did not speak to the parents & advocate for those children to be tested for learning disabilities. She also would have a day at the end of the end year & make breakfast for her students & the staff as well. Even now as a 2nd grade teacher she still stays late, goes the extra mile with her students with their learning materials (making fun games, reading circles etc.). A few weeks ago she actually had a student that loves to read & their charger to their chrome book broke & mrs countryman spent hours at home trying to fix it because the mother of that child didn’t want to buy a new one & the little girl said she can’t read if it’s dead. If you ask anyone in that school they will probably say that Mrs. Countryman is one of the most fun, outgoing, loud, and caring person & she will always go the extra mile for her students.

Teresa Ayasse- Netherwood elementaryThis is Mrs. Ayasse's first year having her own class but she is clearly a natural at teaching. She goes above and beyond in every way. Her ability to keep the children she is teaching excited to learn even with the not so exciting curriculum she is given is truly a gift. After coming off last year's schooling from home my daughter had a lot to catch up on as did many other students. Mrs Ayasse has brought all of the students up to 1st grade level and they are excited to see what they are learning next. Some of the students have even invited her to their birthday parties outside of school hours and she always make it her best effort to make it. She has not yet been offered a full time position at Netherwood and to that is parents are saddened. We are doing everything in our power to keep this absolutely wonderful teacher with us at Netherwood so she can spread her joy for many years to come.

Henry Costabel- South Middle SchoolAs Henry's wife, I see daily how much Henry puts his heart into his work. He loves teaching the students technologies as well as life lessons. Students trust and respect him because they know he cares. He leaves his door open for any student to come and find a place to be themselves with no judgment. I'm not sure how he does it but they relate to him and enjoy his class! He gives 110% to everything from building the theater sets, books and breakfast event and even helping build other class projects! He gives all he can!

Christina Hoff- Myers corners elementary schoolMs. Hoff is the most dedicated teacher I have ever met. She goes the extra mile with each and every one of her students. She has helped my daughter grow exceptionally . Her class this year has been challenging, this is their first "normal" school year since covid. My daughter was behind in grade level and now she is excelling and she loves going to school. Ms hoff is the most amazing teacher I have ever met and if any teacher deserves this award, it is her.