Teacher of the Week

Congratulations to Mrs. Mandy Hughes, 4th grade Teacher at Stuart M. Townsend Elementary School in Lake Luzerne. Mrs. Hughes receives high grades for getting her students excited about school and making them feel comfortable to maximize their learning experience! She always makes time for her students' parents, keeping them updated on their child’s progress in class. Mrs. Hughes is making a lasting impact on her students to continue their learning. Thanks again to Mrs. Mandy Hughes for all that you do for the staff and students at Stuart M. Townsend Elementary School in Lake Luzerne. That’s why you are this week’s Teacher of the Week!

Congratulations to Mrs. Lauren Chandler, Music Teacher at Whitehall Elementary School, you are this week’s Adirondack Broadcasting Teacher of the Week sponsored by TCT Federal Credit Union. “Mrs. Chandler is a kind, patient, fun and talented teacher. She has built a thriving music and band program that has greatly benefited the Whitehall school community. With over a decade of dedication to the district, she provides countless musical opportunities outside of school, volunteers to manage music festivals for students, and creates involvement for past students to return to the elementary school and collaborate with the younger students. Mrs. Chandler recently transformed her classroom into a glowing, rock-inspired space for her “rock & glow” music classes that brought out a lot of energy from her students!” Thanks to Mrs. Lauren Chandler for all she does for the community and Whitehall Elementary school!

CONGRATULATIONS to this week's Teacher of the week, Mr. Dan Assael, Geometry Teacher at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park. Mr. Assael started teaching math at Shen in 2022, and from day one he has brought a steadfast commitment to excellence to the students in his classroom as well as his colleagues. He strives to find new ways to engage his students and net their various needs to help them understand the abstract nature of geometry. Mr. Assael also has applied for and received grants the last two years to bring the Saakumu dance troupe from Africa to the high school so students may experience culture different from their own. Mr. Dan Assael, Thank you! We appreciate your impact on the students and staff at Shen and that's why you are this week's Adirondack Broadcasting Teacher of the Week sponsored by TCT Federal Credit Union.

Congratulations to Mrs. Suszyne Burch, 6th grade Teacher at Hartford Central School. Mrs. Burch is great at helping students transition from elementary school into middle school. She constantly shows compassion for each student and truly cares about everyone in the Hartford school community. Mrs. Burch is active with multiple school clubs and fundraising events within the school, including 6th grade class advisors, history club advisor, middle school craft fair advisor and many others. Thanks to Mrs. Suszyne Burch for all she does for her students at the Hartford Central School!

Congratulations to Mr. Kevin Stockman, Foreign Language Teacher at Minerva Central School. Mr. Stockman has been teaching at Minerva for close to 30 years and will be retiring soon. He has always been very interactive with his students and is always coming up with fun new activities to help them learn and stay involved. Many of his students throughout the years, consider Mr. Stockman one of their favorite teachers and now he is one of their children’s favorite teachers as well! Thanks to Mr. Kevin Stockman for all he does for students at Minerva Central School!

Mrs. Albrecht is an outstanding educator, but she also provides parents with the comfort of knowing how safe and secure they are in their surroundings! This year, one of her students was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and cannot have any dairy products. Mrs. Albrecht has gone above and beyond to make sure that the student feels included in all school activities when they happen to include food. She talks regularly with that student’s parents to make sure class activities are ok and that extra attention by Mrs. Albrecht makes life a lot less stressful for their whole family. Mrs. Albrecht truly cares for her students and makes sure that school is an inclusive environment. Thanks again to Mrs. Tricia Albrecht at Abraham Wing School in Glens Falls!

Mrs. Diamond has been teaching Kindergarten for about 30 years now and has gone above and beyond for all her students every single year! Her students leave school with smiles every day and tell their parents how much they’ve learned with Mrs. Diamond! And more important, her students look forward to coming back and learning more! Mrs. Diamond does a great job building the foundation for her students to continue learning throughout their school career. Thanks to Mrs. Jill Diamond at the Big Cross Elementary School in Glens Falls!

Miss Ientile loves to do crafts with her class, and they do something special for almost every holiday. Recently her class made a Lunar New Year dragon. Miss Ientile is also very patient with her students and brings out the best is all of them. Every Friday, her students earn smile-tickets and a chance to win a prize. Thanks again to Miss Gabriella Ientile for all she does at the Queensbury Elementary School!

Mrs. Sweeney has been teaching at The King’s School for a few years now and has such an amazing way about her. She transforms her young students, who start off unsure of what school is about… into strong, kind, and eager learners! Mrs. Sweeney makes learning fun but holds her students accountable and loves them like her own! The students and their parents are grateful for all her efforts at The King’s School in Hadley, NY.

Mr. Hamm has been teaching at Ballston Spa for 20 years and is dedicated to bringing out the best among his students. He always finds new ways to make learning fun! Mr. Hamm is not only a great educator, but he’s also often a support system for his students as well. He does everything in his power to make sure his students excel! Thanks again to Mr. Lance Hamm for all he does at Ballston Spa High School!

Mrs. Fox is a great teacher and both her students, and their parents appreciate her efforts. Not only does she go above and beyond for her kindergarten students, but she’s helpful to all the students at Kensington Road Elementary. Earlier this school year, a second grader had a loose tooth and was bumped by a friend, which made the tooth even more loose. Mrs. Fox witnessed the incident and jumped into action by donning some gloves and pulling the tooth with no problems. Sometimes the smallest gestures are the best. Thanks to Mrs. Shannon Fox for all that you do for the Glens Falls community and district at Kensington Road Elementary School!

Mrs. Kelly has been teaching at Lake George Elementary for 24 years. She is a creative and talented educator who often draws pictures and changes her voice to sound like the different characters in the stories she reads to her class. Mrs. Kelly constantly communicates with her students’ parents to provide them with updates on their children. She helps her students with nutritious snacks if they forget theirs at home or are unable to bring a snack to school. Thanks again for Mrs. Krista Kelly and all she does at the Lake George Elementary School. Mrs. Kelly will receive a plaque and prizes courtesy of Adirondack Broadcasting and TCT FCU.

Ms. Clark is an outstanding educator and really cares for each one of her students both inside and outside of the classroom. She always finds a way to get her students excited to learn! Ms. Clark creates fun, hands-on and engaging science lessons to motivate all her students. Students, parents and the staff at Putnam Central School feel very lucky to have Ms. Sydney Clark as such an impactful teacher in the district that’s why she is this week’s Teacher of the Week.

Mr. Joel Gordon goes above and beyond for his students. He is excellent at connecting a perfect delivery of the material covered in class to his students. He takes the time for each student to ensure they stay on track with their work. Mr. Gordon also provides snacks for the entire class, helping the students stay focused and energized. His patience and kindness make the classroom environment welcoming, and he makes learning enjoyable. Mr Gordon is a two-time Teacher of the Week, previously winning the award in 2020. Thanks again to Mr. Joel Gordon for all he does for students at Queensbury Middle School!

Mrs. Northrop puts some real work into her lessons. This includes planning and rearranging to meet every student's needs. The excitement and pizzazz she brings when reading books to her students along with the supplemental activities that go along with the books, are amazing. Mrs. Northrop specializes in thoughtful planning and fun projects that help bring books to life for her students. She knows how important reading is and her specific teaching skills make her passion for reading contagious for all. Thank you, Mrs. Karen Northrop for all that you do at the Whitehall Elementary School. You are this week's Adirondack Broadcasting Teacher of the Week sponsored by TCT Federal Credit Union.

Mrs. Schuette is a positive influence on many of her students’ educational experience. She runs her classroom with the attitude that all students can be successful learners, and she instills this confidence in all her students. Mrs. Schuette gets to know her students so well and builds a positive relationship with each one of them. She often shows up to her students’ extracurricular activities on her own time, reinforcing that she supports them in all aspects of life. Thanks again to Mrs. Vicki Schuette for all she does at Stillwater Elementary School!

In addition to teaching music, he is the high school Band Director. He is very kind and hard-working teacher. He is always supporting his young musicians and making sure that they are prepared for concerts and solo performances as well! He schedules his band classes so that students who attend BOCES, are back in the building and able to participate in class and do not miss out. Thanks again, to Mr. Joseph Iachetta for his hard work and achievements with students at the Hadley-Luzerne High School. Because of your caring, thoughtful nature, and positive school campus impact, we salute you as the Adirondack Broadcasting Teacher of the Week, sponsored by TCT Federal Credit Union.

On top of being a great teacher, Mrs. Aierstok coaches the modified cross-country and modified track and field teams. She also runs the Hope Club, which is all about creating a positive atmosphere in the school and promoting student wellness. Last year, Mrs. Aierstok organized the school sunshine shop. This is where they collect slightly used clothing, shoes, backpacks and other personal items to provide students the opportunity to come in and shop after school. Students shop free to take what they need for themselves and their families. Thanks again to this week's Adirondack Broadcasting Teacher of The Week, Mrs. Emily Aierstok. We're grateful to have you as an exceptional teacher in the Greenwich Community. TCT Federal Credit Union thanks you for your amazing impact on your students and school campus.

Mrs. Soper makes learning fun for her students and takes the time to get to know each child individually. She leads many clubs and activities for students including the elementary school book club, high school youth and government, she coaches elementary soccer and basketball, serves in the school’s PTO, and is active in the Bolton booster club. Mrs. Soper and her work impact the lives of students at many different grade levels. Thanks to Mrs. Tammy Soper for all she does at Bolton Central School that’s why you are the Adirondack Broadcasting Teacher of the Week sponsored by TCT Federal Credit Union!

Mr. Phelps has been teaching science at Newcomb central school for about 20 years and has a long history of going above and beyond for these students. He not only stays after school for study groups, but he also advises extracurricular clubs at the school. Mr. Phelps always finds a way to make science lessons exciting and fun, and his students look forward to his class. Being the only science teacher for students’ 7th through 12th grade, Mr. Phelps teaches earth science, biology, chemistry, forensics and also teaches college courses for his students. Thanks again to Mr. Garrett Phelps for all that he does!

Ms. Palmateer is an extremely caring and encouraging teacher who deeply cares about the littlest students. She encourages them to try new things and to enjoy every step of their day. Every new class brings individual challenges and the growth that Ms. Palmateer achieves with each student is a joy to see. Thanks again to Ms. Mary Palmateer for all she does for her pre-k students at Hoosic Valley Central Schools! She is the Adirondack Broadcasting Teacher of the Week sponsored by TCT Federal Credit Union.

Mrs. Bean’s dedication to teaching, along with nurturing her students with defined rules and expectations, is remarkable. She is also an excellent resource for other teachers as she will selflessly give her time to any teacher with questions or if they need help. Mrs. Bean is the definition of a team player and Granville Elementary School is fortunate to have her on the staff. Thanks again to Mrs. Kim Bean for all she does at Granville Elementary School! Mrs. Bean’s commitment to her student’s is why she was the Adirondack Broadcasting Teacher of the Week sponsored by TCT Federal Credit Union.

Please help TCT FCU congratulate this week’s Teacher of the Week, Miss Jessica Lourie. Jessica is a math teacher at Greenwich High School and is an asset to both students and staff. Miss Lourie teaches algebra 2 and a-p stats and is a great educator. Since learning math can be difficult, she is often seen helping students first thing in the morning before classes start as well as again after school. Miss Lourie is also co-advisor for the yearbook committee, handles students accounts and is active with the Greenwich Teachers Association. Thanks, and congratulations once again to Miss Jessica Lourie for all she does for the Greenwich Central school’s students and community!

Mrs. Grundler’s love for her Special Education students is evident in everything she does. She makes it a point to build a rapport with her students and their parents. Many of Mrs. Grundler’s students face challenges to learning, but she goes above and beyond to help them succeed. Thanks to Mrs. Elise Grundler for all she does for her students at the William H Barton Intermediate school in Queensbury!

Mrs. Hafner genuinely loves each one of her students. She demonstrates patience, kindness, resilience and school spirit through her lessons. Mrs. Hafner makes learning fun and exciting and often takes her class on field trips to the library, Veteran’s Memorial Park, local farms and more. She is everything a parent could hope for in a Kindergarten teacher. Thanks to Mrs. Kellie Hafner for all that she does at the Schroon Lake Central School!