Medford's Laurie Friel Receives Helen Bach Moss Award

’s Laurie Friel sat on the school library’s floor surrounded by her students while receiving the at a recently held ceremony at the school.

“I just feel very blessed,” Friel said after the ceremony. “This is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.”

The award, which has been given since 1992, honors Moss, a New York State educator who died in 1988. The award recognizes elementary teachers who are gifted in finding and nurturing the strengths of their students, as well as fostering relationships among parents, teachers and administrators.

Friel has been teaching at Medford for 11 years and was nominated by Fran Lizewski, who retired as principal of Medford in June.

“I said to Laurie someone has to love this little boy and she took this little boy under her wing and she made a difference for him,” Lizewski said. “That’s the kind of teacher she is.”

Friel is the second teacher from Medford to win the award, the first being Stephanie Ida in 2008. Christine Pearsall, another teacher at the school, was also a finalist for this year’s award.

Maria Andreotti, the new principal at Medford Elementary, said that the accomplishment exemplifies the atmosphere at the school.

“I think it’s a testament to the philosophy of Medford that we take care of the whole child,” Andreotti said. “Teachers here go above and beyond, they extend themselves to give that nurturing and that support and make that connection that you need to have to really help a child succeed, especially when its a struggling child.”

Andreotti also made note of Friel’s connection with her students.

“Laurie is a testament to that, she gets right down on the floor with [her students], that’s just where she’d rather be and they adore her and rightfully so.”

Friel has also the “A Day Made Better Award” in Oct. 2010 for going above and beyond in her effort to create a reading program.