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The Making a Difference Award recognizes the many examples of individual teachers, aides, drivers, safety, and other District staff who are making a difference in the lives of our children throughout our buildings. Members of the Washingtonville Board of Education delivered the Making a Difference Award to April recipients.
Tara McCauley, Washingtonville Middle School
Tara has embraced her role as a 1:1 teaching assistant with a 6th grade student in the Aspire classroom. She goes above and beyond to attend to the student's needs and make the student feel comfortable and safe throughout the course of the day. She is able to recognize when the student needs a sensory break or a more calming environment and sees to it that the student has their needs met. I feel that Tara deserves to be recognized because the transition from elementary school to the middle school can be very challenging for all students, but can be even more difficult for some Aspire students. Tara took a challenging situation and created a very safe space for this student who now has a very positive and trusting relationship with her.
Leah Schuttinger, Washingtonville Middle School
Leah has established a very positive and trusting relationship with a student in the Aspire classroom who she serves as a 1:1 teaching assistant for. Leah attends to the student's needs and provides a safe space for the student to learn. Leah also provides limits and boundaries as needed in a caring and loving way. I feel that Leah deserves to be recognized because she has made a positive connection with this student and provides this student with a feeling of safety and comfort each day that she comes to school.
Sarah Favata, Round Hill Elementary
Sarah has been an AIS Reading teacher at Round Hill for several years. She is very involved with the Round Hill Community. She is involved with many school committees and very supportive to all children in the school. Sarah is very organized, and naturally leads the AIS reading team in staying organized, on task and well prepared.
Sonia Rodriguez, Transportation
Sonia makes sure kids get safely off and, on the bus, every day and she always makes them happy. Every time I see her i see her with a bunch of gifts from kids and drawings! She has a bright shining smile and is away excited to take kids from school and home everyday.
Ben Alexander, Washingtonville High School
Ben Alexander is someone I took the time to get to know personally, and now that I know that he is a really nice guy who wants to fix what’s wrong in the world, I feel like he deserves the honor of being recognized.
Ben displayed critical thinking, innovation, persistence through hardship, and fought adversity, which are all things that Washingtonville teaches students to do.
