Congratulations to our Golden Apple teacher!

Mary Ann Wasilnak, Art teacher at Maine Memorial, is the recipient of the 2014 Maine-Endwell Teachers' Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award. The award is given annually to a person who exemplifies excellence in teaching at Maine-Endwell, significantly influences the lives of students, and contributes to the success of his or her school. Wasilnak has been a teacher in the Maine-Endwell School District for 13 years. She is known by her colleagues as a teacher who goes above and beyond to make learning engaging, meaningful and fun for all of her students. In the classroom, Wasilnak works to connect her Art lessons to the Common Core Standards in Math and English Language Arts. Her strategies include appealing to her students interests whether it be through geometry, or fairy tales. She chooses topics and projects that make learning come alive through applications to art. Wasilnak is dedicated to inspiring students to reach their goals and she looks forward to each of her students’ successes as scholars, musicians, athletes and performers. Outside of the classroom, Mary Ann serves as assistant director of the Maine Memorial morning program. She is a member of the New York State Art Teachers Association, co-chairwoman for the UHS Children’s Holiday Art Show, coordinator of the Maine-Endwell/Binghamton General Art Show, and each year she organizes the Maine Memorial Cultural Art Festival. She is a member of her school’s building planning team, volunteers at her church and is active in Maine-Endwell Teacher’s Association events.   Congratulations Mary Ann! (posted at: http://www.me.stier.org/protected/PrintArticle.aspx?iid=4AAIB&dasi=222)