Retired Educators Pack 40 Backpacks For Glen Cove Students

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Retired educators at The Sinclair in Port Washington filled dozens of backpacks for young Glen Cove students.

During the Backpack Stuffing Day event in August, the 11 former educators, who represent about 640 years of combined teaching experience, packed 40 backpacks with more than 1,500 school supplies. They also handwrote 40 personal letters to the young learners to receive before their first day of school.

Subscribe

The supplies and notes of encouragement will go to third-grade to fifth-grade students and a special education class at Connolly Elementary School and Landing Elementary School in Glen Cove.

This event was part of The Sinclair Gives Back program, which was created to support the surrounding community.

Betty Santoro, a former elementary school teacher and speech pathologist who later taught graduate students at LIU Post and continues to teach an accent-modification class today, said she looks forward to giving back throughout the year.

"I remember how exciting the beginning of a new school year was," she said. "Everything was new and fresh – the crayons, notebooks, glue and paint. I think the children receiving these backpacks are going to be so excited."

She joined LIU Post at 60 years old and worked with graduate students until she was 85. Now, at 90 years old, she works one day a week as an educator doing what she loves.

"Anything that can enhance a child's learning is a gift," Santoro said. "Through The Sinclair Gives Back, it's wonderful to be able to help give that feeling to students today."

Anne Tinder, a longtime special education teacher and administrator and former director of the Leeway School who also worked with preschool children with special needs, said it was wonderful to participate in this event.

"As an educator, I know how much these supplies can mean to a student," she said. "I can just imagine what it will feel like for a child to open that backpack and see everything inside."