Three members of the Freeport School community were chosen to be honored by SCOPE at the annual Education Service Awards Dinner held Monday, March 28, 2011 which recognizes honorees from Nassau and Suffolk Counties for excellence in service to schools and children.
School Board of Education Trustee Carmen Piñeyro was honored for Excellence in Board of Education Service, along with Archer Street School's Linda Marino for Teaching Excellence and Giblyn School Teaching Assistant Ellen Frey honored for Excellence in Community Service.
Photo: Left to right, holding their award plaques for excellent service are Ellen Frey, Linda Marino, and Board of Education Trustee Carmen Piñeyro.
Ms. Piñeyro was recognized for her ten years of service on the Board including a term as President. She brought national recognition to the District when she had the District's Dual Language Program showcased at the National School Board Convention. At the National Level, she has served as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Hispanic Caucus of School Board Members. Piñeyro has served as Chair and spokesperson for the National School Board Association Partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on childhood obesity. In addition, she has served as a volunteer lacrosse coach and, has been elected Deputy Mayor of Freeport.
Linda Marino has taught for over forty years. As the Archer Street School's Math and Technology Specialist, she has been instrumental in incorporating innovative technology into the school setting including videoconferencing, Smart Tables, Light Box projectors, and document cameras. Students benefit greatly from the various programs that she has implemented and facilitated, such as: DVD classroom yearbooks, extension programs, St. Jude Math-a-thon, and Math Family Night. In addition, Marino's professional development and mentoring skills have been valuable resources for staff. Linda has participated in countless District committees and has worked diligently to involve the Freeport Community in the educational process. With all that Marino accomplishes in the work place, it is admirable that she continues to be a devoted wife, mother, and daughter.
Ellen Frey has been involved with PTA since 1994 holding various positions from Vice President for our early childhood center PTA to Freeport's PTA Council President. She has been involved with Freeport Cares, a broadly based community service group, and serves on the site based team at Giblyn Elementary School both as a parent and as a Teaching Assistant. Frey is a member of the District wellness and public relations committees. She is past president of Freeport PTA Council and Associate Director of Nassau District PTA. She consistently seeks out ways in which to direct her boundless energy in support of our children and our schools by chaperoning on school trips, assisting with school events, hosting budget campaign meetings at her home, aggressively expanding PTA membership and setting an ambitious agenda of projects, presentations, and professional development for PTA Council. Frey genuinely cares for all children and she has played an invaluable role in garnering community support for the school budget and in advocating for all children of Freeport and Nassau County.
"We are so proud of Carmen Piñeyro, Linda Marino and Ellen Frey," said Dr. Kuncham. "These awards recognize the extraordinary commitment these individuals have made, each in their own way, to serving the needs of the children of Freeport."
