MENDON 一 Superintendent Maureen Cohen is pleased to share that three Mendon-Upton Regional School District staff members have been recognized for excellence.
Molly Smith, a first-grade teacher at Memorial Elementary, Kathleen Allen, a guidance counselor at Miscoe Hill Middle School, and Justin Townsend, a Special Education teacher and Track and Field Coach at Nipmuc High School, received the annual Golden Apple Award. Presentations were made at the Mendon-Upton Regional School Committee meeting on Monday, June 6.
The District began awarding the Golden Apple in 2016 to highlight the excellent work of educators and other professionals who strive to make a difference in students’ lives, in alignment with the District’s mission, “We empower all learners to thrive.”
Award winners perform their jobs with enthusiasm, persistence, creativity, and in collaboration with parents, administration, and other staff to ensure student success.
Smith was recognized for her ability to show her Grade 1 students that learning can be stable in a chaotic time. She was commended for her patience, flexibility, creative connections with students to earn their trust and learn about their interests, and for investing her time and energy into finding strategies to maximize student engagement and encourage growth.
Allen was praised for her compassion, ability to empathize with students, professionalism, and swift responses to crises. Allen was recognized for her exemplary social-emotional support to both students and families through frequent communication and her dedication to students’ success after middle school.
Townsend was cited for his dedication to going above and beyond for his students. He was praised for encouraging students to be consistent, creating a team culture through a positive teaching style, and coaching them on how to set and achieve goals, see the best in others, and increase their self-esteem.
“Congratulations to all of our Golden Apple Award recipients, who embrace our mission to bring out the best in each student,” Superintendent Cohen said. “Thank you to the members of the Golden Apple Award Subcommittee for their hard work and dedication, and for bringing forward truly worthy recipients.”
