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Date: 4/6/2021
AGAWAM – A fourth grade reading teacher at the Clifford M. Granger School, Sean Conchieri, was the recipient of their Horrace Mann’s Crystal Apple Award for the month of March due to his outstanding efforts and contributions to the school.
The Horrace Mann’s Crystal Apple Award is a local educator recognition program that recognizes educators for the excellent work they do or a significant achievement in teaching, recognizing staff who go above and beyond in contributing to student development. Horace Mann representatives partner with local school administrators each year to sponsor the Crystal Apple Award program for recognizing teaching excellence. Every month, staff members write a letter and nominate each other.
“It’s just a very nice award, and really lets staff show their appreciation for each other and recognize when someone is doing a good job and really trying and showing that they care,” Conchieri said.
Conchieri is a local to Agawam. This has been his first year at Granger; he was previously teaching at the middle school as a fifth grade teacher. He has always loved the school environment and wanted to give back to the town that has done so much for him growing up. He also knows how essential teachers are to the community. Additionally, he loves that it allows him to incorporate some of the other things he enjoys, like drawing. He is also an artist, and he said the kids love it.
“I am a cartoonist as well, and I make a lot of illustrations on the board while I am teaching. I also make things for different events like Read Across America when I created several Dr. Suess window displays.”
Conchieri will be writing one of the letters and passing on the Crystal Apple in April to a fellow staff member.
“It’s great to be able to write those letters for your fellow staff members, it’s a great morale booster.”