Tarrytown Educator wins TELL Award for Outstanding Innovative Teacher

Washington Irving Intermediate School - the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns Science, Computer Science and Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teacher to receive TELL Award (Transforming Education Through Leading and Learning) on April 10, 2024.

The TELL Awards are presented annually by the LHRIC and celebrate teachers and administrators’ who have demonstrated an outstanding, innovative, or strategic approach to technology integration in their schools and/or district. Recipients of this heralded award are nominated by their peers.

Meghan Hak, the Computer Science and STEM teacher at Washington Irving Intermediate School (W.I.) has been recognized for her outstanding creativity, achievement, and technology skills. She was nominated by two colleagues Dr. Jessica Kingsbury, Director of Technology and Jean O’Brien, Technology Integration Specialist.

“I am honored to be receiving a 2024 LHRIC TELL Award for Outstanding Innovative Teacher. While I am receiving this award, I know it is the support and encouragement I have received here in the district from coworkers, especially Jean O'Brien, that has allowed me to be successful in the position I am in,” said Ms. Hak. “I feel very fortunate to have such a great community of people to work with each day.”

Ms. Hak previously served as the Technology Teaching Assistant (Technology T.A.) at W.I. as well as a variety of positions in the field of education. While working as the Technology T.A. Ms. Hak made it her priority to introduce and test out different technologies with the students. She began exploring how to incorporate the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards into her lessons and is currently working in her new role as STEAM Teacher. This position has allowed her to teach these standards to third-grade through fifth-grade students.

“Meghan is an asset to our district and our Computer Science / STEM programming. She has gone above and beyond to develop programming that has real-world connections, is engaging, and is aligned to the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards,” said Dr. Kingsbury. “We're so lucky to have her in this role and so proud of her regional recognition receiving a TELL Award.”

Ms. Hak’s hands-on lessons shed a light on the engineering design process, which fosters creativity and allows students to make the connection to real life situations.

“This year as the STEAM teacher, I have been building out the program by focusing on units such as programming, computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and the engineering design process,” said Ms. Hak. “I work to create engaging lessons for the students that are hands-on and help them build critical thinking skills and develop curiosity.”

In a recent project, students were tasked with devising ways to conserve water in the school building. The students designed and voted on models for 3D printing that would communicate directions for how to turn off the water on a running faucet. In addition to being creative in their messaging, their models resulted in the students reducing excess water usage within the school building.