Baldwin Middle School Teachers Recognized by Local Universities
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Molloy University as a distinguished institution of higher education. During the Family and Alumni Weekend, the Alumni Association awarded several achievement recognitions to its expanding alumni network.
Delaney Shank, an English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at Baldwin Middle School, was one of the honorees, receiving the “Recent Alumni Award,” which recognizes an alum who graduated within the last ten years and has shown significant professional or community achievement. A dedicated member of the Molloy Alumni Association, Ms. Shank is passionate about inspiring her students to pursue higher education. Last year, she played a pivotal role in chaperoning a group of AVID students to Molloy University to further their academic aspirations. As the recipient of the “Recent Alumni Award,” Ms. Shank was acknowledged for her efforts in fostering connections between her alma mater and Baldwin Middle School, as well as her contributions to the Alumni Association.
Additionally, Baldwin Middle School ELA teacher Ms. Courtney Nelson recently participated in SUNY Old Westbury’s Teachers’ Panel, where she shared her experiences, insights, and inspirations with prospective teacher candidates.
Dr. Diana Jones-Sukhram, Dean of the School of Education at SUNY Old Westbury, noted that Ms. Nelson’s authenticity, honesty, and passion resonated deeply with both students and staff. The experiences and perspectives she shared provided future educators with a valuable glimpse into the realities, challenges, and rewards of the teaching profession.
In an email, Dr. Sukhram remarked, “Many of the students have already expressed how motivated and encouraged they felt hearing from you.”
Dr. Erica Taylor, principal of Baldwin Middle School, and Ms. Natasha Arthurton, assistant principal, attended the panel to support Ms. Nelson.
“Ms. Nelson is an exceptional educator and an inspiring leader who represents the Baldwin School District with tremendous pride and professionalism,” stated Dr. Taylor. “She spoke with passion, honesty, and an undeniable love for her students and the art of teaching. Through her words, she encouraged every aspiring educator to discover their purpose, surround themselves with like-minded individuals, and embrace the power of mentorship. Her presence truly exemplified what it means to teach with heart, lead with purpose, and serve with excellence.”
Baldwin Middle School takes great pride in having both educators as integral members of the faculty.