Local Teachers, Administrators Receive LHRIC’s Pioneer Awards

The Lower Hudson Regional Information Center presented its well-respected annual Pioneer Awards May 15 to three teachers, a technology director and representatives of a Westchester school district, all of them lauded for preparing students for success through their innovative use of technology.

The awards ceremony, in its 22^nd year, recognized the following educators:

Anthony Stirpe, center, surrounded by co-workers
and administrators from the New Rochelle Schools

Heidi Bernasconi, a science teacher at North High School in the Clarkstown School District who was recognized for her early adaption of the Google Apps for Education platform, as well as Anthony Stirpe, a scriptwriting and film literacy teacher in the English Language Arts Department at New Rochelle High School who facilitated the creation of short student films by using iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches.

The other award-winners included Joanne Tonkin, a second-grade teacher at Thiells Elementary School in the North Rockland School District who has allowed her young students to take learning into their own hands through the use of Chromebooks and Nexus tablets, and

Joanne Tonkin, center, pictured with educators
from the North Rockland School District

Michael Tromblee, director of technology for the Pelham School District who has facilitated a well-respected professional development model throughout the district as well as rolling out an extensive one-to-one initiative at all district schools.

The Tuckahoe School District received the Distinguished Pioneer Award for its “Technology for All” initiative, which facilitated the rollout of more than 1,000 Chromebooks throughout the district and a subsequent successful adoption of the technology that has also been recognized by Google.

Tuckahoe Schools Superintendent Barbara Nuzzi, center,
holds the Distinguished District Pioneer Award the district
received on May 15. She is surrounded by teachers and
administrators from the district.

The half-day event also included a keynote presentation by Dr. Ramsey Musallam, a chemistry teacher in the San Francisco area. In his talk titled, “Sparking Student Inquiry,” Dr. Musallam talked about the importance of incorporating multimedia into classroom lessons in a way that is meaningful to both students and teachers.

The winners are chosen based on each candidate’s application, which includes information on how their efforts impact student learning, how they share innovative uses of technology with their colleagues and how they go above and beyond their normal duties as teachers and administrators.

“These awards are about pushing the envelope,” said the LHRIC’s Executive Director Dennis Lauro. “This is about being the leaders in our area and sharing exemplary work with each other.”

Other highlights of the day included a special recognition presentation to SWBOCES Chief Operating Officer/Deputy District Superintendent Sandra A. Simpson for her leadership and vision in helping direct the RIC’s technology efforts.