NORTH SYRACUSE TEACHER NAMED

2004 BETTER BEGINNINGS AWARD RECIPIENT

Mrs. Joanne Colomb, an elementary and middle school level math teacher in the North Syracuse School District has been named the 2004 Winner of the Better Beginnings Award.   The award, which is sponsored by the Board of Regents and celebrates the life and career of Helen Bach Moss, a local educator, recognizes elementary teachers who are gifted in finding and nurturing the strengths of each student.

A prize of $1,000, a framed certificate of recognition, and a book on innovative teaching techniques was presented to Mrs. Colomb by New York State Education Department administrators during a ceremony held at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building on June 10.  Mrs. Colomb was selected as the 2004 Better Beginnings Award Winner after consideration of entries submitted throughout the State.

Mrs. Colomb has taught in both elementary and middle schools in North Syracuse for over twenty years, and her success in teaching math at these levels has led to her becoming a K-6 Math Helping Teacher, with the assignment of working with eight of the district’s schools to improve their teaching of math.  Her special talents include her ability to communicate with her students and to encourage their desire to learn.  Mrs. Colomb uses the phrase, “Every child a star,” and, drawing on her knowledge of her students, she designs activities that will enable every child to be a math star. 

Mrs. Colomb is well known for her contributions to the entire school district.  In addition to serving on the Math in Action Committee, where North Syracuse middle school teachers share strategies they have found successful, she has initiated the Middle School Math Matches, in which teams of fifth, sixth, and seventh graders compete in solving math problems and other students serve to set up the matches and to facilitate.  Over 250 students participated in the Matches during the past year.

Runners-up for the award were Mrs. Louise Dean, a Kindergarten and First Grade teacher at the Broad Street Teaching and Learning Center in Glens Falls, New York, and Mrs. Susan Drag, a K-5 Gifted and Talented teacher at Wheelock Primary School in Fredonia, New York.

Stanley S. Hansen, Jr., Executive Coordinator, Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs and Mrs. Joanne Colomb, Better Beginnings Award Recipient for 2004