Teachers Federal Credit Union announces Teachers Appreciation Week contest winners
HAUPPAUGE, NY (May 11, 2021) — WHAT:
In celebration and recognition of educators nationwide, Teachers Federal Credit Union is proud to announce the winners of it’s Teachers Appreciation Week Contest! After receiving nearly 250 nominations from across the country, Teachers FCU selected three finalists in each of the three categories: grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12. Finalists were selected based on the essay submissions, the number of nominations received, and completeness of the entry. Once the nine finalists were announced, Teachers FCU opened voting to the public to choose the final three winners. The teacher with the most votes in each of the three categories has been awarded a $1,500 grant for their classroom, Teachers FCU swag for their students, and will be recognized during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3 -7) as a way to say thank you for supporting students in a year unlike any other!
“Educators are not only part of our heritage at Teachers Federal Credit Union, but they are a critical part of communities around the world, going above and beyond to encourage and elevate their students to be the best they can be. All of the teachers nominated had incredible stories and they should be proud of the valuable work they are doing,” said Brad Calhoun, President and CEO, Teachers Federal Credit Union. “For Teachers Appreciation Week, we wanted to showcase the outstanding impact that these teachers are having both in and out of the classroom. This contest is just a small way for us to give back to these deserving teachers in what has been a challenging year, helping them continue making a lasting impression in the lives of their students every day.”
WHO:
The educators selected as the three winners include:
- Grades K – 5: Ms. Jeannine Lochren, Western Suffolk BOCES
Ms. Lochren has been changing the lives of students with disabilities and trauma for 24 years, going above and beyond to help them grow, while simultaneously providing aid to their families. She also takes professional development courses and shares her learnings with fellow staff. She was called a “true superhero for her students,” current and past.
- Grades 6 – 8: Ms. Ivette Rios, Ralph G. Reed Middle School
Not only is Ms. Rios a fantastic bilingual science teacher, but she genuinely cares about the well-being of her students and the community. During the pandemic she grew vegetables to prepare nutritious meals for students and families, and she recently established a community garden with plans to add a greenhouse and an outdoor classroom.
- Grades 9 – 12: Mrs. Melissa Romano, Central Islip High School
When Mrs. Romano isn’t helping seniors with their college essays or inspiring colleagues with new virtual approaches, she’s working diligently to ensure her students are prepared and involved. Always thinking outside the box, she brought her virtual and in-person students together using her personal laptop that she fashioned to a travel cart to help foster classroom unity!
WHEN & WHERE:
- May 7, 2021 – Winners are announced
- For more information on the contest and the winners, please visit the Teachers Appreciation Contest website and Teachers’ FCU social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gabrielle Lescarbeau, R\West
gabriellel@rwest.com | (413) 896-1991
LINK TO ANNOUNCEMENT PAGE: www.teachersfcu.org/nominate-teacher
Ms. Ivette Rios
Ms. Jeannine Lochren
Mrs. Melissa Romano
About Teachers Federal Credit Union (NY)
Teachers Federal Credit Union (Teachers) is one of the country's largest credit unions, with more than $9.8 billion in assets and more than 460,000 members across all 50 states. Founded in New York in 1952, Teachers is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution with an open charter offering membership to anyone in the U.S. through its 30 full-service branches and best-in-class digital solutions. Teachers is a key supporter of the communities it serves and is proud to offer a range of member-focused products with competitive rates and low fees. What started as a smart solution for teachers is now smart for all. For more information, visit www.teachersfcu.org.
