|
|
These teachers go the extra mile for students' welfare
When it comes to kids, Comsewogue educators ace test of compassion
|
Members of the Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association stress they are committed not only to improving education but also to supporting the wellbeing of all students — and their actions prove it.
Last spring, the teachers association arranged and stocked food pantries throughout the district to aid families in need, according to PJSTA First Vice President Beth Shapiro. "Students and parents could come any time and take whatever they needed," Shapiro said, "and they did. They cleaned us out."
The vice president, a science teacher at Comsewogue High School, said members of the association individually purchased nonperishable items for the food pantries, which were available until June. "We are very concerned about the welfare of the families in the community, and particularly the safety and comfort of the students," she said. "Their health translates into a good education."
Shapiro, who joined the district 14 years ago, said school officials "deliberately didn't keep track" of how many students and families utilized the food pantry to discourage sentiments of shame and anxiety. "It is the job of the teachers to create a second family for the students," she said. "By displaying caring and kindness, you create a bond that they'll take with them forever. It's not only about the education, it's also about creating relationships."
Noting the importance of raising self-esteem in all students, Shapiro said the food pantries will be open again in December. In addition to providing food, the PJSTA also donated $500 to each parent-teacher organization in the district at the end of the last school year, according to Shapiro. "We got word that families in the district were struggling," the vice president said, noting that the money helped purchase much-needed school supplies at the discretion of each organization.
"Ask a teacher and you will find that the welfare of their students is the most important reason they teach," Shapiro said in a letter. "The Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association stands committed to bringing this altruism from the classroom to the community and beyond."
At the high school, guidance counselor Brenda Bell also set up a closet last year to make donated clothing available to students and families in need. Bell, who developed this idea while working at an inner-city school in Connecticut, said all teachers are invited to donate "gently-used clothing" for what she calls "Comsewogue's Closet," which has everything from sweaters and outerwear to prom dresses.
"It helps them to know that they have a place to turn to when they're struggling," said Bell, a fifth-year guidance counselor in the district. "It helps them to have a backbone in our school."
In addition to lending a helping hand within the district, the PJSTA recently raised more than $500 for the 2009 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach, according to Shapiro, who said members of the association also participated in the event and "walked in the pouring rain for five miles to raise money and awareness for breast cancer."
Shapiro, who teaches biology and forensic science at the high school, added, "It is our honor to be part of this community and to give of our time and money."
| |
|
|
|
| |
Copyright 2010
(631) 751-7744 | news@tbrnewspapers.com | www.northshoreoflongisland.com | About |
|
| |
|
