Four Half Hollow Hills Teachers Named Master Teachers

The Half Hollow Hills Central School District is proud to announce that four of the district’s teachers were selected as part of the statewide group of 230 educators joining the New York State Master Teacher Program this year. These new Master Teachers join a vibrant network of over 1,400 outstanding public school teachers throughout the state who share a passion for their own STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning and for collaborating with colleagues to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.

The teachers joining this prestigious group are:

• Jason Braun, science teacher, Half Hollow Hills High School East
• Thomas Ciolfi, math teacher, Half Hollow Hills High School East
• Nannette O’Grady, math teacher, Half Hollow Hills High School West
• Danielle Reed, 4th grade teacher, Signal Hill Elementary School

During their four-year participation in the program, Master Teachers receive an annual stipend while engaging in peer mentoring and intensive content-oriented professional development opportunities throughout the academic year. Master Teachers also work closely with pre-service and early career teachers to foster a supportive environment for the next generation of STEM teachers, and participate in and lead several professional development sessions each year.

SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said, "New York's Master Teacher program has long celebrated the immense talent across our state, recognizing the leaders in STEM education who inspire students and their peers alike.”

Jason Braun learned early in his career that in order for students to maximize their learning, they needed to apply their knowledge to real-world situations. As a result, Braun has made it his mission to teach his students how to collect, analyze and interpret data using various methods. By using this approach, his goal is to have students leave his class with a greater understanding of the scientific world around them.

Tom Ciolfi, a former civil engineer, continually strives to show students how math is applied to various situations outside of the classroom. He utilizes the makerspace at High School East to demonstrate how math can be used in practice. Ciolfi creates a safe and fun classroom where students are encouraged to ask questions, make mistakes, gain confidence in math and become independent life-long learners.

Nannette O’Grady has spent the past 22 years challenging her calculus students, and students in various other levels, to see connections to the real world in mathematics. Her passion for knowing the people behind the theorems permeates her lessons to enrich student experiences with historical relevance.

Danielle Reed works to inspire her current fourth grade students to “be a voice, not an echo,” encouraging them to persevere through challenges by taking risks and making mistakes. She cultivates a safe environment for students to explore hands-on, project-based learning by utilizing interactive websites and technology.

“In Half Hollow Hills we strive to equip our students with the STEM skills that will make them successful in the 21st century workforce, and that starts with having talented STEM teachers,” said Dr. Patrick Harrigan, superintendent of schools in Half Hollow Hills. “We are so excited to have four of our teachers selected for the Master Teacher Program, and we look forward to the many new ideas they will bring back to share with our students and faculty.”

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of approximately 7,500 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education. The district is committed to providing all students with equitable opportunities to excel in academics, athletics and the arts.