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Date: 5/9/2023
BELCHERTOWN — The School Committee honored two staff members who received Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards at its May 2 meeting.
The annual award honors Western Massachusetts educators for their dedication and excellence.
The two recipients were Tiffany Hoar and Allison Carey.
Colleagues nominate recipients based upon the following suggested criteria: excellence in teaching practices, subject mastery and scholarship, effectiveness and creativity, impact on students, support of and positive impact upon other teachers’ practice, participation in professional development, evidence of going above and beyond the classroom and school community.
Carey is a third grade teacher at Swift River Elementary School.
Principal Robert Kuhn said, “[Carey] has been apart of the Swift River family for 10 years it is hard to believe that. She is a licensed educator who ensures professionalism and enthusiasm in her position as a third grade teacher and is always there for her students. [Carey] is always willing to help her colleagues whether it is planning lessons in our new [English language arts] series, sharing her expertise in science or giving a hand with a project. For example, she volunteered to be the liaison for our grade level team to help introduce a new reading series.”
On top of teaching, Kuhn said that Carey helps with other programs around the school including the school’s community garden.
Kuhn added, “She is a dedicated teacher who is calm and caring with her students, families and her colleagues. She is the first to offer help in a situation and share an idea or take charge in a project. I can not think of anyone more deserving of this distinguished award than recognizing what she gives Belchertown of herself every day.”
Carey added that there is a lot she enjoys about teaching.
She said, “I have been a teacher for 17 years, 10 of those have been teaching third grade in Belchertown. The thing I enjoy the most about teaching is having fun with my students and seeing how they change throughout the year. I became a teacher because I thought I would get to play games and do projects all day. While there is a lot more to it, I love getting into projects and activities with the students and watching them get excited about new learning.”
Carey added how honored she is to receive this recongnition.
“Receiving this award means a lot because it brings recognition to the work that teachers do not only inside the classroom but how much we do for our students outside the classroom as well. Also to be recognized by your peers who notice the hard work put in on a daily basis is wonderful,” Carey said.
Hoar is a kindergarten teacher at Cold Spring School and said she loves teaching kindergartwn students.
“There are so many reasons I enjoy teaching. I fall in love with my kindergartners every year and love them like my own children. Kindergartners are so full of excitement, joy & wonder. Seeing the individual progress each child makes is so rewarding. Watching them grow & learn is such a privilege. Working with the families of my students and forming the necessary collaboration between school and home also warms my heart,” Hoar said.
Cold Spring School Director of Early Childhood Andrea Mastalerz said, “Friendly, warm-heated, generous, kind, considerate, reliable, supportive and team-player. Words to describe the 2023 Belchertown Excellence in Teaching Award recipient.”
She added, “A teacher for 19 years, she is a constant professional. She is an asset to the Cold Spring School and to our district. Congratulations and thank you for making your classromm fun and memorable for everyone.”
Hoar added she loves working at Cold Spring School.
She said, “Working with my Cold Spring School team is a reward in itself. The staff at Cold Spring School truly feels like a family. They are so supportive, caring and helpful. They go above & beyond every single day working collaboratively, always putting the needs of the children first. Receiving this award is so meaningful because I was nominated by my peers at Cold Spring School. It means so much that they feel I am deserving of this honor.”
The two gathered on April 26 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke to celebrate their awards and recognition with other area award-winners.
After Superintendent Brian Cameron and the School Committee recognized the two recipients, they recognized their own member Michael Knapp who is not running for reelection and was at his final meeting.
School Committee Chair Heidi Gutekenst said, “[Knapp] has been on the committee for 10 years. Thank you for all you have done for us.”
The State School Building and Grounds Committee was also at the meeting seeking a letter of support to submit a grant application to One Stop for a feasibility study to determine the best use for Tadgell building.
One Stop is a single application portal and collaborative review process that allows applicants to access a series of grant programs that support community economic development.
The State School Building and Grounds Committee discussed at its March 16 meeting a limited building study conducted in 2011.
The structure was built around 1959 and closed in 2006. The roof was last updated in 1990.
DPW Director Steve Williams said in 2011 it was estimated that he roof had a remaining life expectancy of five to 10 years and should be a priority.
“It cost $355,000 in 2011 but my guess is it would cost three times that price for today,” Williams added. They discussed other outdated codes and sytems the building is missing that would be needed to welcome people back into it.
Williams recommended submitting a grant application for an updated study.
Gutekenst added, “There is no change in what is being used there now for school business. It has [information technology] servers, maintenance workshop and storage. That won’t change with this letter.”
Select Board member Jen Turner said, “The first step being the feasibility study is to figure out exactly what is wrong with the building and the next step would be next year if we were granted feasibility study, we could go for a construction grant to work on improvements of the building.”
The State School Building and Grounds Committee said they will also be collecting letters from the Select Board, town administrator among others.
The committee added that a recent study on the roof said that it is in worse condition than they original thought and “it be lucky to get through another winter.”
The School Committee agreed to write a letter in support of applying for the grant.