Moriches Elementary School teacher earns St. Joseph’s ‘Excellence in Teaching’ award

Leah Olivo phone calls it “magic” — individuals circumstances of illumination a young student activities in the course of a lesson, apply or a person-on-one tutoring.

“Seeing that lightbulb moment for my young children, when they’re reading or when they are performing something they struggled with — it is magic,” explained Olivo, a Moriches Elementary School special schooling instructor who gained an “Excellence in Teaching” award from St. Joseph’s College or university previous thirty day period.

“If a kid doesn’t realize a thing, I am investigating and implementing anything, so that I know when they go away in this article that I’ve done anything that I could do to help them be thriving,” she included.

Olivo’s spoke all through a movie presentation highlighting her accomplishment in schooling. Made by St. Joseph’s, it was screened all through the College’s inaugural Esse Non Videri Awards Meal in Garden Metropolis. 10 alumni educators from the University were being honored in 6 types. Esse non videri, or “To be, not to appear to be,” is the College’s motto.

The “Excellence in Teaching” classification is reserved for an educator who exemplifies dedication, mission, skill, abilities and expertise, as well as somebody who conjures up and motivates small children as a result of a creative and interesting strategy in which college students can thrive.

Olivo, who serves as a fourth-quality built-in co-teacher at Moriches Elementary School, graduated from St. Joseph’s SJC Long Island campus in Patchogue in 2006 with a bachelor’s in youngster analyze. Afterwards, she earned a master’s diploma from LIU Write-up.

She has worked in instruction for virtually 15 yrs – serving her very first 10 decades as a trainer at the Roosevelt Children’s Academy just before joining Moriches Elementary School in 2017.

Leah Olivo’s jobs

Here’s a sampling of what Olivo has finished to be these a good results in the classroom:

• Writing a study course titled, “Visible Considering in the 21^st Century Classroom,” meant to model critical pondering as a result of routines this kind of as noticing, wanting to know and contemplating out loud.
• Partnered with the regional Wertheim Countrywide Wildlife Refuge to support create curriculum and field visits ordeals for students.
• Worked with the point out Department of Environmental Conservation and the Pine Barrens Society to deliver digital discipline trips and learning encounters to students during the pandemic.
• Collaborating with PSEGLI on a software to generate tales, scripts and movies focused on electricity conservation.
• Spearheaded the “Wall of Heroes” initiative, which phone calls on students to emphasize a specific veteran in their life.

In her to start with year at Moriches Elementary, Olivo instituted flexible seating selections in course, offering learners the possibility to use a wide variety of work stations, which includes standing desks, kneeling tables, couches, wobble stools, TheraBand cushions, rocking seats and other alternatives, as a way to provide learners a probability to burn off off excess energy and study in an setting that works best for them, in accordance to William Floyd School District.

“Receiving this award is an unanticipated and most appreciated compliment,” Olivo said. “To be recognized outdoors of my faculty local community and family members is a fantastic shock! My hope is that this award shows my college students and my have young children that when you are passionate about what you do, the rewards are priceless!”

St. Joseph’s generated the movie under that highlights Olivo’s achievements in the classroom. It was screened all through the awards ceremony.

“Mrs. Olivo is an excellent instructor and leader at Moriches Elementary and in the William Floyd University District,” reported Moriches Elementary University Deirdre Redding, who nominated Olivo for the award. “Her optimistic angle and adore of small children are mirrored every day in the excellent good quality of management she presents to the learners at Moriches Elementary College and her colleagues in the William Floyd School District.”

Best photograph: Supplied by William Floyd University District.