GNTA
  • GNTA
    • Mission Statement
    • Executive Board
    • Delegate Assembly
    • BRC, BCG, & SDM
    • Staff
    • Benefit Trust Fund
    • Affiliates
    • Constitution & Bylaws
  • Information
    • GNTA Calendar 2022-23
    • District Calendar 2022-23
    • APPR
    • Pregnancy FAQs
    • Contact Form
    • Elections
    • Forms
    • Retirement
    • TAC Guidelines
    • Summer Scholarship
    • Teacher Center
    • Inservice
    • Tutoring Directory
    • Links
    • History >
      • 75 Years Strong
      • Video: A History of GNTA
  • New Members
  • Get Involved!
    • LAP
    • Political Action >
      • Talk Back-Fight Back
    • Social Justice
    • Social Outreach
  • News Blog
  • New Page

Great Neck Teacher Honored by FASNY

6/16/2015

0 Comments

 
PictureGNTA's Paul Ziring
The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) invites communities and schools across the state to honor their best fire prevention educators with a nomination for Teacher of the Year. Each year, the FASNY Fire Prevention and Life Safety Committee recognizes one teacher with dedication to fire prevention and the safety of students and their families.

This year’s Teacher of the Year is Paul E. Ziring, the Special Education Outdoor Education Coordinator for the Great Neck School District, in Nassau County, on Long Island.

Paul Ziring has made it his life’s mission to create a better life for his students who are members of the Special Education program of the Great Neck School District. This mission incorporates a special emphasis on the fire safety and the wellbeing of these young, often vulnerable students.

Identifying and inventing unique methods that can effectively teach survival and other skills to severely disabled students, Paul Ziring created, honed, re-tooled and virtually perfected the fire-safety curriculum to provide the students with the training to stay safe in the event of a home or other fire. The effectiveness of Paul’s program has been recognized by area educators who are advocating for its widespread implementation.

Mr. Ziring, currently serving as the Special Education Outdoor Education Coordinator for the Great Neck School Distric has worked in the school district since 1995. He began as a health education teacher and in 2005 took the helm for the Special Education Outdoor Program. Since his appointment to this position, Paul has expanded the program to include 15 groups of special education students throughout the district, working with students K-12 and a transition group which is made up of older students. The program teaches more than math and social studies; Paul implemented field experiences outside of the schoolroom to successfully help build students’ self-confidence and expose the students to a wide range of stimulating, life skills activities. 

As part of the program, Paul Ziring brought his classes to the Nassau County Firefighters Museum & Education Center to learn about fire prevention and safety. During one of Paul’s many visits to the Firefighters Museum, he explained the curriculum’s benefits to Museum instructors and recommended its expansion.  Paul then helped Museum instructors adjust the program and develop a new curriculum and reservation guidelines to improve teaching classes for all special needs children.  He spent countless hours at the Museum, developing curriculum and fine-tuning them with his classes.  After each class, he would debrief and analyze what worked and what could be improved.  Paul got everyone involved with the project, from his superintendent, principal, local fire departments and even the art classes.  It was a group effort, but began and ended with Paul. 

Paul has presented to numerous organizations about the program he began at the Museum, including local SEPTA groups. He has also as presented it as a STEM field trip. 

Earlier this year, the Museum and Paul were recognized for his teaching curriculum as they were featured on WABC-TV’s annual Operation 7 Save-a-Life program which provides news and education on fire safety to television and online audiences in the Tri-State area.

Through Paul’s efforts, awareness has been raised about fire prevention in general and for students with special needs specifically, and their most effective ways to prevent and survive a fire. 

Paul Ziring is an exemplary teacher.  Not only does he care about “his” kids, he treats them with respect and dignity and helps them see their own self-worth.  While that particular achievement may not be quantified in dollars or as numbers on a spreadsheet, it is a priceless accomplishment, as Paul works with severely disabled children and gives them the gift of hope. He safely and smartly pushes their limits and allows them to do things they didn’t think were possible. 

On any given day you may find Paul interacting with his students on the bus, taking field trips and in the class room.  His passion for his students is evident; he is their advocate and it is clear that they appreciate his efforts.  Paul Ziring is most deserving of FASNY’s Teacher of the Year Award for his tireless dedication to fire prevention and life safety for his special students and their families. He has done so in a very creative fashion and in collaboration with volunteer firefighters from Nassau County, NY.

By honoring his efforts and accomplishments by selecting him as the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York’s Teacher of the Year, it is hoped that those who may benefit from this special needs curriculum will have it brought to their attention. Parents and educators should know that Nassau County has awarded a grant to the Nassau County Firefighters Museum & Education Center in order for all special needs students to visit the museum free of charge.


0 Comments

GNTA Honors 2015 Retirees

6/1/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
On May 27, GNTA celebrated the careers of our colleagues who are retiring this spring. We thank them for their years of professionalism and dedication to the children of Great Neck. Here's the complete list:

EM Baker
Marcia Stone

JF Kennedy
Maureen Ganes
 
Lakeville
Andrea Gerson
Andrea Kay
Linda Ullman
Cheryl Walder

Parkville
Sultana Christie
Judith Kohn
Eileen Kurinskas
Maria Pardo

North Middle
Ellen Bronheim
Seth Cohen
Michael Greenberg
Frank LoPiccolo

North High
Lilian Krowne
Jane Maher

South Middle
Victoria Cimbalo
Sheryl Holtzman-Doyle
Linda Musmeci
Ellen Roisman
Andrea Rosenblume

South High
Paul Bott
Nella Caravetta
Joan Cassazone
Arlene From
Thomas Ganes
Nancy Jacobson
Helen Kramer
Christine Montllor-Gil
Anthony Pontone

Phipps
Thomas Dolan



Paraprofessionals
Donna Bognacki (Lakeville)
Roberta Elias (South High)
Harriet Goldstein (North High)
Christina Kearney (Phipps)
Linda Litvack (North High)
Barbara Scordo (South High)
Sydell Zelanko (Lakeville)

Office Staff Association 
Irena Kellams (Cumberland)
Toni Solowsky (Phipps)
Rosita Williams (North Middle)


0 Comments

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    March 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    June 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    November 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    Accolades
    Affiliates
    AFT
    Board Of Education
    Bylaws & Constitution
    Community
    Contract News
    Curriculum
    Defensive Driving
    Education News
    Elections
    Financial Aid Fund
    GNPS Budget
    Healthcare
    Inservice
    Legal Services
    Member Benefits
    Mentoring
    New Members
    Newsletter
    NYSUT
    Organizing
    Political Action
    President's Report
    Required Reading
    Resources
    Retirement
    Scholarships
    Selection Committees
    Social
    Summer Scholarships

    RSS Feed

Great Neck Teachers Association
NYSUT, AFT-NEA, AFL-CIO #2686 | The Cottage • 343 Lakeville Road • Great Neck, NY 11020 
gnteachers@gmail.com | @GNTeachers
(516) 829-9070