Sayville's Elizabeth Bolger Named NYS AHPERD Teacher of the Year

The New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYS AHPERD) announced that Elizabeth (Beth) Bolger, Physical Education teacher at Lincoln Avenue Elementary school in Sayville had been awarded the 2019 New York State Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award.

The Teacher of the Year Award honors individuals for excellence in teaching and overall performance in the disciplines of physical education at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels, adapted physical education, health education, and dance education. It is an extremely competitive award and the selection process is extensive. A qualified teacher would be nominated by their Regional Board.

Coach Bolger is no stranger to receiving awards for her winning ways. Besides producing many award-winning Get Moving NY Videos with her students for the annual competitions, in 2017 she was awarded Suffolk County Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. In 2018, she was nominated for the NYS Joy of Effort Award and New York State Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. In 2019, Coach Bolger earned yet another accolade:

“At the beginning of the 2019 school year, the President of NYS AHPERD called me to notify me that I won the award. I was shocked and humbled. The news of the award brought me to tears. All the past recipients are people I have long admired. I feel blessed to work at a job I love so much.”
During the NYS AHPERD Annual conference, held on November 22nd, Coach Bolger was presented with the award. Sayville Superintendent Dr. John Stimmel, Athletic Director Dennis Maloney, Sayville Board of Education trustee Dr. James Bertsch, Jr. and Beth’s husband, Tom Bolger, attended the ceremony. “I was honored that they made the six-hour trip to share in my achievement.”

Congratulations, Coach Bolger, for this crowning achievement in a long history of accomplishments.