Somers Education Foundation to Honor Teacher at Annual Gala

Again this April the Somers Education Foundation’s annual gala includes several honorees.

This time it’s three individuals and an organization to be inducted into the SEF Hall of Fame. This will bring the total number of members in the Hall to 48.

SEF, founded in 1994 to enhance education with grants and scholarships to the Somers School District, recently topped $1 million in grants.

• When: 7-midnight April 18
• Where: Putnam County Golf Course
• What: SEF Casino Night features games, full reception and dinner, auction and dancing.
• How: Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at www.sefny.org/casino.

Here’s the second Patch post about the honorees. Meet teacher Rob Heller:

Rob Heller, a local product, has been a dedicated teacher in the Somers Central School District for 40 years. He was born and raised in nearby Mount Kisco, where he grew up playing baseball. He then went to college at Syracuse University (snow country...no baseball...why?:)). After graduation, he landed his first job, teaching fifth grade in Liverpool, NY, near Syracuse. The following year, he became a fourth grade leave replacement teacher in Chappaqua, NY. In 1975, former Somers administrators George Port and Dick Stock hired him to teach fourth grade at Somers Intermediate School, where he spent the next 22 years. For the last 18 years, he has taught social studies at Somers Middle School. He is passionate about education and has had an indelible impact within and outside the classroom on thousands of students over the years. Rob has coached school intramural sports, handled bus duty, led the Drama Club and been a teacher team leader. He also has been very involved in the Somers Faculty Association, serving in key positions over the years. He has been married to Maryellen for 35 years and has three children, Kerry, Rob and Kathleen.

• Read about honoree James Chisholm here: Somers Education Foundation to Honor 4 at Casino Night

PHOTO: Rob Heller/Somers Education Foundation