Amy Oldakowski has been selected by the Ware Public Schools as our 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award Winner. Ms. Oldakowski is a High School Special Education teacher at Ware Junior/Senior High School. Ms. Oldakowski is our district’s selection for this award due to the enthusiasm and dedication she exhibits every single day. She is also an amazing collaborator with the faculty members with whom she co-teaches. She has worked hard to create a classroom that is a safe and engaging learning environment. In addition, Ms. Oldakowski has created an Advisory group this year that meets weekly to collect and organize food donations that are then offered to all students through a Food Pantry she has established. Any student can come to the Food Pantry throughout the week and get food to bring home. Ms. Oldakowski strives to make our school a better place.
Ms. Oldakowski will be honored at a banquet for all the Excellence in Teaching Award Winners. The banquet will be held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on April 30th. The program features the presentation of individual awards. The winners will receive an engraved plaque and a check for $500.
Seven area colleges and universities will also offer graduate course tuition incentives and scholarships. These colleges are: Elms College, Bay Path University, Mount Holyoke College, Springfield College, Western New England University, Westfield State University, and the University of Massachusetts.
Winners also receive a membership to WGBY Springfield as well as 3-month memberships at the Springfield Jewish Community Center, the Springfield YMCA and five regional YMCAs, and other gifts.
The Excellence in Teaching Awards program is made possible by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation. Said philanthropist Harold Grinspoon, “It means the world to us to recognize and reward the contributions of so many talented educators in the Pioneer Valley.”
Other business and community support comes from Arrha Credit Union, Country Bank, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Monson Savings Bank, and American International College.