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English teacher Stephanie Buckhout was given the New York State Educator of Excellence Award by the New York State English Council in Albany earlier this fall.
Buckhout, who teaches at The Tech Center at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, was nominated for the honor by one of her grateful former students, Sarah Ammirato.
Buckhout says she is passionate about teaching, but never expected to receive an award for it.
It wasn’t until Ammirato walked into her office clutching a big bunch of balloons, and telling her she had won, that Buckhout said she finally realilzed it was real.
“She actually nominated me for the award,” Buckhout said. “She had done her student teaching with me.”
Ammirato observed and taught in Buckhout’s class while working on her master’s degree in education.
“I nominated Mrs. Buckhout for this award because of the impressive teaching I've seen her do in her English classes over the past three years of completing observations and field experience with her,” Ammirato said.
Ammirato said she was “thrilled” when she found out that her former teacher had won.
Two teachers at The Tech Center wrote letters also recommended Buckhout for the award.
Math teacher Sharlene Bass, calling Buckhout an “exceptional teacher,” said she “challenges her students to grow every day.”
“She is the kind of teacher that I would want my own children to have,” Bass said.
In addition to covering the English literature curriculum, Buckhout also teaches students how to write effective cover letters and resumes.
“Everything we do is so relevant,” she said, “so the students are always interested.”
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