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Federation of Paraprofessionals seeks to help with youth literacy efforts

Date: 5/7/2015

SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Federation of Paraprofessionals wants anyone who works with children to sign up for a book program that will help literacy efforts in the city.

Union President Catherine Mastronardi told the School Committee on April 30 that if 2,000 people sign up at www.firstbook.org, the nonprofit organization would donate 40,000 books to the city’s school children. The eligible people include individuals who work in schools, libraries, museums, shelters, clinics, out of school programs, early childhood centers and faith-based organizations among others.

Mastronardi said having books in the home to read is the number one predictor of reading proficiency. She added only one in three low-income families own a book.

The School Committee also honored the 2015 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award recipients.

This year’s noted teachers included Rachel Aierstuck of High School of Science and Technology; Joanne Anglade, Jeff Hamilton and Nadine Ferber of M. Marcus Kiley Middle School; Cheryl Beebe and Dawn Davis both of Hiram L. Dorman School; Maria Ekmalian and Teisha Thomas of The Springfield Renaissance School; Amanda Gonzalez and John McCarthy of Springfield H.S of Science & Technology; Annelis Goulet and Kathy Trujillo of Chestnut Accelerated Middle School TAG; Catherine Grygorcewicz and Gary Lenshyn of Springfield Central High School; Philcetta Lewis of the High School of Commerce; Lindsey Lindequist of German Gerena Community Elementary School; Judy Medina of Elias Brookings Elementary School; Jennifer Miller-Rachele of Van Sickle Middle School; Kimberly Palmer of  Warner Elementary School; Yvette Reardon of Sumner Avenue Elementary School; Patricia Schufreider of William N. DeBerry Elementary School; Joanne Spigarelli of  Samuel Bowles Elementary School; Stephen Stroud of  John J. Duggan Middle School; Kristina Verdile of White Street Elementary School; and as the designated new teacher of the year, Amelia Gulbrand of the Homer Street Elementary School.

The teachers received a cash award, an engraved plaque, a three-month membership to a local YMCA and the Jewish Community Center, gifts from WGBY Channel 57, Scholarships for a course from Bay Path University, Elms College, Westfield State University, Western New England University and Springfield College. There are also gifts given by Country Bank, Holyoke Credit Union, Meyers Brothers Kalick, PC, and Springfield Teachers Credit Union.  

Superintendent Daniel Warwick reported the groundbreaking for the renovations to the ECOS Center in Forest Park has started and the $4.2 million project is expected to be completed by January 2016.

The program has been part of the school curriculum for the past 45 years. Warwick noted and teaches fourth, fifth and sixth graders about nature and ecology.