Stephanie Klug wins the day off, Jennifer Towne is 2019-20 grand prize winner
Gift cards were awarded to Emily Zimmerman, Ann Simeone, Erin Loatman and Wendy Carroll
We are proud to announce the fourth quarter Successories winners and 2019-20 grand prize winner! Each of the fourth quarter Successories winners received a Yeti mug, and quarterly grand prize winner Stephanie Klug additionally receives a personal day, which Superintendent Stephen Tomlinson will cover. Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Towne was selected as the annual grand prize winner and won a $100 gift card after her name was chosen at random from a pool of all the Successories nominations received this school year.
Parent about Stephanie Klug: “Because of her dedication and adaptability to the abrupt change in teaching, my son was able to continue to learn and thrive from a distance.”
Her full nomination read: “Mrs. Klug was amazing, nurturing, and kind all year with my son, but she was a virtual rockstar when transitioning to COVID teaching. Because of her dedication and adaptability to the abrupt change in teaching, my son was able to continue to learn and thrive from a distance. Mrs. Klug was always available and made sure to reach out to us individually to check in on my son, modifying his curriculum to meet his needs. She was truly an exemplary employee this quarter and throughout the school year. The B-P community should be honored to have her on staff. We were certainly honored to have her teaching our son.”
Stephanie Klug has taught kindergarten at B-P for seven years. She is a member of the PBIS Committee, Social Studies Committee and has been active on the district leadership team and other committees. “Originally, I did not go for teaching, but I realize that that was my calling, and I absolutely love my job,” Stephanie said. “Nothing compares to working with the students at B-P, and I’m so proud of the district.”
Stephanie, who is married to BPHS physical education Robert Klug, said she “loves to run, go out to eat and then spend time with my friends and family. My passion for running came from my father, who continues to be my role model.”
About her Successories nomination, Stephanie said, “Thank you, this is such a nice award to receive. To me, I am just doing my job. I love my job, I love my kiddos, and I am so happy to be a part of such a tremendous school district! Everyone have a happy and healthy summer and I hope to see you all in September!”
Parent to Emily Zimmerman: “We were so lucky and blessed to have shared second grade with you.”
Her full nomination read: “Thank you for the end-of-year gift via driveway drop off, all the Google Meets, staying connected to your students during a crazy time. You continued to make your students feel special, cared for, and loved. We were so lucky and blessed to have shared second grade with you.”
The 2019-20 school year was Emily Zimmerman’s first year teaching at B-P, following three years as a substitute teacher in another school district.
Emily said about her Successories nomination, “I was so surprised to receive this award! I am very thankful to this parent for nominating me. Making strong connections with my students and their families is one of the best parts of teaching. The pandemic took away our time together in the classroom, but being able to see my students during our Google Meets was the absolute best. I couldn’t have asked for a better first year here at B-P. My students and their families are incredible, and have become my second family. I will definitely miss them, but I know we will stay connected for years to come!”
Parent about Ann Simeone: “Ms. Simeone was an excellent online teacher!”
Her full nomination read: “Not only did Ms. Simeone agree to take upon teaching Mrs. McAuliff’s third grade class while she was on maternity leave, Ms. Simeone had to learn as others did to teach for her first time online learning. She made learning fun, each day helping in every way to make each and every student cared for, and gave each student the individual attention they needed. As parents had questions and concerns, Ms. Simeone always responded in a timely matter. Ms. Simeone was an excellent online teacher! Thank you for making third grade teaching online a success!”
Ann Simeone returned to B-P in March to cover Amanda McAuliff’s maternity leave.
About her award, Ann said, “I was so humbled and excited to learn that I was a Successories winner. I sincerely loved working with my students this year. I feel that it is very important to make connections with all students and understand them as learners. The parent support was unbelievable as we collaboratively worked together during this time of distance learning.”
Parent to Erin Loatman: ““Thank you for going above and beyond for my son.”
Her full nomination read: “Thank you for going above and beyond for my son. During remote learning, Erin always made herself available to meet his needs, whether it be mailing books to read for the summer or an answer to our questions. She is always ready and willing to help us work through any obstacles via text, phone call or a Google meet. We appreciate everything you have done and for that, We Thank You Mrs. Loatman!”
Erin Loatman has taught at B-P for 17 years, and she serves as the sick bank chairperson for the B-P Teachers Association. “I am so thankful to the family that nominated me,” Erin said about her Successories nomination.
“Distance learning was a difficult task, and there were days where it felt very overwhelming. But the best part was still being able to connect with my students in our Google meets and through Google chat. It was also wonderful to be able to get to know their families even better than I already did. I am fortunate to be able to teach the same students for multiple years and the connections that I made with the families will be so beneficial in the future! I love teaching my students and I am looking forward to (hopefully!) doing it in person again very soon!”
Student to Wendy Carroll: “Your help has helped me in every way, and your friendship means the world to me.”
Her full nomination read, “Thank you for everything you have done, you are a great friend that can tell when something is wrong. You give so much and don’t even know it. You’ve helped me these past few years on my drawing skills, helped me get through my family problems, and helped me on various occasions for insane projects. Your help has helped me in every way, and your friendship means the world to me.”
Wendy Carroll has taught art at BPHS for 25 years, including studio art and advanced studio, AutoCAD, ceramics, mechanical drafting, painting, drawing, sculpture, 2D and 3D design, FMCC studio art, DDP, graphic design and Adirondack crafts. She has served as advisor of the Art club, yearbook, Hobby Club, Bosom Buddies, and Olympics of the Visual arts.
Wendy began her career as a freelance graphic artist and earned a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Painting and a Masters of Fine Arts in Arts Education at the College of Saint Rose. She said she loves “animals, gardening, creating art and of course teaching!”
About her award, Wendy said, “I am touched and grateful to be recognized in the Successories program! Even though I am a teacher in a high school now, I still remember how difficult it was as a teenager. Every student is a unique person facing each day with their own troubles, emotions and victories. It is important to me to support my students as individuals. I want them to know that they are not alone in this world without a voice or a friend.”
Parent to Jennifer Towne: “Thank you for faithfully teaching during at-home learning. [All that you did] significantly helped my daughter to finish strong.”
Her full nomination read: “Thank you for faithfully teaching during at-home learning. Thank you for taking the time to send strategies for individual academic struggles, mailing special packages and reading wands. Thank you for talking to my daughter on the phone to encourage her as she was losing drive at home. These significantly helped her to finish strong.”
This is Jennifer Towne’s first year teaching kindergarten at B-P, and she has taught in other districts for several years. She is involved in B-P’s Shared Decision Making, Team Time and Math committees. Jennifer “considers teaching a true passion, and B-P feels like home with colleagues that share my same vision.”
About her nomination, Jennifer said, “I am honored to be recognized by this parent for the B-P’s Successories program. Although the last few months of school brought significant changes and some unexpected changes, I feel extremely privileged to work with such a wonderful group of students and their families. I am especially thankful to my classroom parents and guardians for making it possible for me to maintain strong relationships with my students by phone and through the internet. Throughout the distance learning experience, it was my goal to replicate the classroom setting the best that I possibly could. Additionally, I wanted to be available for my students and their families academically and emotionally. In this sense, it is important to remember that, before we are teachers, parents and guardians, we are all human beings that are going through this pandemic together.
“I have always told my students something very important that I want them to remember as they go through their academic journey: They are not just my students for one year. They are my students for a lifetime and I will always be rooting for them!”