Michele Dodenhoff, a member of the Hicksville Congress of Teachers and a first grade teacher at Dutch Lane School, was nominated as a candidate for KJOY radio station’s “Teacher of the Month” at the beginning of December. Residents all across Long Island contacted the radio station to nominate outstanding teachers who’ve made a difference in their lives or the lives of their children. After six finalists were selected, voting for the winner took place every day between December 1st through December 31st. Voting was open to all Long Islanders, and networks of school communities reached out to encourage others to vote for their favorite teacher.
On January 8th, Mrs. Dodenhoff was notified that she won the contest. She was awarded a $500 prize which she is using to supplement her classroom library, purchase “common core” instructional materials to help her 31 first graders meet the new rigorous standards, and attend a conference in order to keep abreast of the newest innovations to help children achieve success. Mrs. Dodenhoff, who has worked in the district since 1997, first started out as a Resource Room teacher and then went on to teach first, second, and fourth grades. She lives in Islip Terrace with her husband Charlie and their three daughters, Shannon, Chelsea, and Cassie, and their two Labradors. Mrs. Dodenhoff stated, “I was so deeply touched by the outpouring of support that I received from the Hicksville community.” Parents, former students, and colleagues all pulled together to spread the word about what an excellent teacher Mrs. Dodenhoff is, how much she cares about all of her students, and how committed she is to providing them with a warm and stimulating school environment. “It’s so rewarding to be a part of Hicksville. Dutch Lane’s children, parents, and staff are like a second family to me and I couldn’t think of a better place to enjoy my career,” she said.
(Michele Dodenhoff is a member of Hicksville Congress of Teachers)