Clinton Township Newsletter

1 3 F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 1 Happy Valentine's Day! to ensure that I had the knowledge and strategies to be able to meet the needs of all diverse learners in my classroom. It is evident that not all children learn the same and in order for each student to find success in school and in life, we must look at each one individually and teach the whole child. My teaching practices have always been rooted in the idea that successful education comes from a strong basis in social and emotional learning." When I am not at school I am a wife and a mother of 4 beautiful children. I also am a girl scout leader for my eldest daughter's 8th grade Cadette troop. I have been their leader since they were in kindergarten." Round Valley School We are very pleased to introduce Round Valley Elementary School's Educator of the Year! Mrs. Michelle Major is a fifth-grade teacher at Round Valley Elementary School. She grew up in a small town in Western New York and received her Bachelor's degree in English and her Master's Degree in Elementary Education from The College At Brockport State University Of New York. Dance was always a favorite hobby and Mrs. Major spent a few years performing professionally with the Rochester City Ballet Company. Currently, she loves spending time with her favorite people, her husband, three daughters, and her mini Goldendoodle. This is her nineteenth year teaching in Clinton Township, although all of her years in education add up to twenty- five. Mrs. Major's strong background in primary education has enabled her to see the full growth and development of her students. She is engaging, kind, and supportive in her teaching. Mrs. Major utilizes Responsive Classroom techniques to build a positive community. She currently partners with a special education teacher in her in-class support classroom. Her relationships with this teacher, her grade-level colleagues, families, and administrators are professional and positive. In addition to her classroom work, Mrs. Major serves on school and district committees. We are very excited that Mrs. Major is the recipient of this well-deserved recognition! Join us in honoring RVS's Educational Services Professional of the Year! Mrs. Christina Giordano serves as Guidance Counselor and Anti-Bullying Specialist for Round Valley Elementary School. She was born and raised in Massachusetts twenty minutes northwest of Boston and is a huge sports fan. She enjoys spending time outdoors and loves going to the beach. Mrs. Giordano is an animal lover with two of her favorite animals being moose and dogs. After graduating High School she attended Salve Regina University in Newport, RI where she played soccer while earning her Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Later she attended Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, and graduated with a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology along with a certification in School Counseling. Currently, Mrs. Giordano is enrolled in Centenary University's Graduate Program with plans to earn her Student Assistant Coordinator certification. She is highly knowledgeable in the counseling techniques and developmental needs of her 5th-grade students. In addition to supporting students, staff, and families in her role of Guidance Counselor, she is thorough and caring in her role of ABS. Mrs. Giordano manages I & RS and serves on many committees. Mrs. Giordano also leads our Pennies for Patients fundraiser, helping to raise thousands of dollars each year for Lymphoma and Leukemia patients. She is truly an asset to our school! ClintonTownship Middle School We are happy to announce that Mrs. Barbara Pisani and Mrs. Sonia Damanakis have been recognized as the Clinton Township Middle School 2020-21 Outstanding Educators of the Year! Barbara Pisani, CTMS Educational Service Professional: "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life." This quote by Mark Twain has proved so true of my experience working in the Clinton Township School District. I started as a Teaching Assistant at the Middle School, which was then located at Round Valley School, in 2003. Through the years I have worked with students one on one or as the classroom teaching assistant. I have worked primarily with grades five through eight; however I spent a few months at Spruce Run in Miss Rainey's Pre-K classroom. The students never fail to energize me and bring me joy! I've enjoyed learning from them, and I hope I've helped them to grow not only as students but as people. There have been a few students with whom I have had contact through their high school years and beyond, and I greatly value being able to celebrate their successes. The Clinton Township School District enables me to work with dedicated, amazing colleagues and students, and it's truly an honor to be chosen as ESP of the year! Sonia Damanakis CTMS Educator of the Year My experience at Clinton Township began as a maternity leave replacement for 6th grade Social Studies at Round Valley School. At the time, this was my dream job. My passion for culture, history, and perspective was a perfect fit for the 6th grade curriculum. I had the opportunity to try things in the classroom that I had never done before, with the support of my colleagues. After a successful year, I was asked to return as the 7th and 8th grade Technology teacher at CTMS, where I spent 2 years developing a 2 year Technological Literacy program. Since then, I taught 8th grade Science for 3 years and enjoyed preparing students for high school and beyond, and most recently, I am in my 3rd year of teaching 7th grade Science and Social Studies. All this to say that my true passion, as I have come to find out, is to help students learn and grow, as well as encourage and assist my colleagues. I am especially grateful for the support of our community and my colleagues. The Clinton Township Education Foundation has funded hundreds of innovative educational programs since 1998. Please feel free to contact us for more ways you can help! Visit the Foundation's website: www.ClintonTownshipFoundation.org and select DONATE. Thank you in advance!

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