| Outstanding Teachers
of the Month - May 2003
 Carmela
Montanile
P77K, Brooklyn
Ms. Ivy Sterling, Principal
Susan Erber, Superintendent
District 75
For the last 6 years, Ms. Montanile has
served as program coordinator for the summer school program. This
assignment includes, but is not limited to, the summer curriculum,
planning trips, responding to families concerns, supporting staff
new to the school for the summer, and coordinating the induction
of new families.
She truly reflects the frontier of education.
One that is always learning and pushing the envelope. Ms. Montanile
consistently attends workshops and seminars to upgrade her skills.
As a result of utilizing a special grant
where she became proficient in using the laptop, Ms. Montanile
was elected to the New York State Academy for Teaching and Learning.
Ms. Montanile is a consummate educator—passionate, focused, cooperative
and sensitive.#
 Mrs.
Askitopoulos-Friedman
PS 154, Bronx
Mrs. Ballard, Principal
Mr. Rivera, Superintendent
District 7
For more than 20 years, Mrs. Askitopoulos-Friedman
has been bringing the joy, exhilaration and wonder of art to public
school children and their parents through Doing Art Together,
a nonprofit organization she co-founded with Muriel Silberstein-Storfer.
Even after years of teaching thousands of
children and their parents, Mrs. Askitopoulos-Friedman retains
the same energy for art and for learning she had when she started.
Mrs. Askitopoulos-Friedman grew up in Athens,
Greece, and when she first came to the United States felt like
she “wasn’t totally being embraced because of the language barrier
and the different way of thinking.” She teaches children and adults
who aren’t native speakers and may be struggling to fit in. “Art
made me secure,” Mrs. Askitopoulos-Friedman said, “I was given
a chance because of art.”#
 Mrs.
Ann Marie Palmieri
P.S. 14, Accelerated School
Staten Island
Mr. Frank Carpenito, Principal
Christy Cugini, Superintendent
District 31
Mrs. Palmieri is a dedicated educator who
goes beyond the parameters of her job description in her role
as a teacher. She attends a variety of workshops always with the
purpose of improving her craft. Mrs. Palmieri’s classroom is alive
with children’s work. Not only is her classroom warm and attractive,
it also demonstrates powerful learning at its best. Personnel
from all levels (New York State Department of Education, New York
City Department of Education, District 31 and The Accelerated
Program) have raved about her instruction, classroom management
and model classroom.#
Alex Lee
IS 89, New York City
Ellen Foote, Principal
Shelley Harwayne, Superintendent
District 2
Alex Lee works magic in the hearts and minds
of his students. Alex teaches social studies and is one of the
founding teachers of IS 89. Principal, Ellen Foote, says he is
always willing to give his all and do what is needed. He is a
committed, caring and dynamic. Alex enables all of his students
to feel that they have something valuable to contribute to their
learning environment. He provides support for students with learning
difficulties while maintaining high standards of academic achievement
for the entire class. In fact his students are so excited about
social studies they can often be found speaking to Alex about
their projects long after school has ended. Alex is always available
to kids. In addition to serving the academic needs of his students,
Alex brings his enthusiasm to the after school sports program
as the girls basketball coach. He also runs a basketball clinic
for children who aspire to be on the basketball team next year.
Alex developed the Big brother/sister program between intermediate
and primary 89 students. He has been instrumental in a tradition
of annual camping trips for students to foster a sense of community.
Alex also finds time to be the school UFT representative.
IS 89 is located approximately 2 blocks
away from the site of the World Trade Center disaster. Alex evacuated
students to safety that day, before he attempted to reach his
brother who worked in the towers. Sadly, Alex lost his brother
that day. He continues to be an inspiration to his students and
colleagues with his strength and dedication.#
 Nadya
Awadallah
P.S. 153 The Helen Keller School, Bronx
Julia E. Swann, Principal
Marlene Filewich, Superintendent
District 11
Nadya Awadallah has been a Science Cluster
Teacher for kindergarten through grade 4 at The Helen Keller School
for the last five years. She involves the students in the scientific
process by encouraging them to develop hypotheses, experimentation,
and collection of data to support their ideas. She has also rewritten
the science curriculum for each grade so that the teachers are
able to include science activities in their daily plans.
Nadya Awadallah is an asset to The Helen
Keller School, from coordinating the Science Fair each year that
salutes excellence in science, to planning development sessions
for teachers and paraprofessionals and providing family activities
after school during “Family Night.”#
 Rhonda
Morman
Gladstone Atwell M.S. 61, Brooklyn
Rhonda Taylor, Principal
Dr. Evelyn Castro, Superintendent
District 17
Ms. Morman teaches in our Britou-Moore Academy,
our gifted program at M.S. 61. Her effect on the students’ achievement
is immeasurable. She encourages and drives her students toward
academic achievement and social responsibility. Her teaching methods
embrace a firm approach tempered with a tender touch, which provides
excellent results and earns Ms. Morman the respect of staff and
students alike.
She possesses excellent teaching skills,
utilizing modern teaching approaches coupled with old-fashioned
common sense. Among her many credits is her investment literacy
course, through which her students have ranked among the top three
in the City for the past 5 years, and her honor as M.S. 61’s “Teacher
of the Year” for two year in a row.#
Education
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