PLUMSTED – Current and retiring educators were honored during a recent Board of Education meeting.
During that session, the Board recognized the Teachers of the Year: Christine Mille of Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary School, Lisa Malloy of New Egypt Middle School and Dennis Wilno of New Egypt High School.
NEHS Principal Fred Geardino described Wilno’s work saying, “he is always touching hearts on every level. He is constantly connecting with students and their families. Your flexibility and grace show how deeply you are in fostering the education of our students.”
“He loves education so much he even works part time as a librarian in the evening and that is how we first met and he asked me a bunch of Dewy Decimal questions and I got them all right and we had a great conversation about things like that. He always finishes every conversation with any student or staff member saying thank you,” he said.
NEMS Principal Andrea Caldes said of Malloy, “She started teaching with us in 2016. She taught art in another school district some years prior. She teaches in the middle school and high school so she goes back and forth. She is also the varsity coach for the Girls Lacrosse high school and field hockey.”
“She is also a graduate of New Egypt High School Class of 2006 which happens to be the year I started. What I love about Lisa the most is she has that ability to tap into every child’s creativity and imagination. Her passion for the arts – you see it as soon as you walk into her classroom. She is also responsible for the 8th grade mural which is a tradition.”
Woehr Elementary School Principal Tara Nesbihal spoke about Mille. “Mrs. Mille is just a delight to have around. She got into a really bad car accident and she showed up at work one day later. You can’t keep her away from her students. She had a bad foot at one point, limping around and she didn’t take off. She really does plan for her students.”
“She makes everything fun and welcomes everyone into her room. She is extremely witty. One of the things she says is ‘we got this’ and she calms everyone else down. Mrs. Mille it is a true honor to give you this,” Nesbihal said as presented the teacher her award.
Board members also noted the retirement of teachers Patricia DiChristofaro and Kathleen Donahue.
Halperin-Krain told Donahue, “I want to thank you for your dedication to our students and to our staff for 17 years. It has been a pleasure getting to know you and see you in the classroom with your students and to watch you interact with them.”
“I’m going to wish you a happy and healthy retirement,” the superintendent added.
DiChristofaro then came up to receive her special plaque which featured a rendition of a school building. She has been a teacher for about 32 years.
Halperin-Krain said, “rumor has it when I first came here seven years ago, Mrs. DiChristofaro has taught everything.”
“That was my first introduction in the district, this is Patty and she has taught everything and spent it in one district, all here. It is hard to walk away so I want to just tell you that it has been a pleasure getting to know you and to visit your classroom to see happy kids and to watch you interact with them and you do it so well,” she said.
This also marks Halperin-Krain’s last year in education having served as superintendent for three out of her seven years with the school district. She will mark her retirement next month.
