The Chappaqua School Foundation Faculty Innovator Awards

The Chappaqua School Foundation Faculty Innovator Awards: On Thursday, November 1 The Chappaqua School Foundation (CSF) presented their fourth annual Janet L. Well CSF Faculty Innovator of the Year Awards at Horace Greeley High School. This year the awards, which honor teaching excellence, were granted to Diane Madaio and Justin Olive

In selecting their annual award-winners, CSF looks to recognize faculty who demonstrate a commitment to educational innovation by bringing transformative learning experiences to Chappaqua school students. In making this year’s awards, CSF President Jillian Pohly said, “we are proud to recognize Ms. Madaio and Mr. Olive for their commitment to innovation, and we are grateful to them for sharing their ideas and creativity with our entire community.”

At the ceremony Ms. Madaio, a fifth grade science teacher at Seven Bridges Middle School, and Mr. Olive, a seventh grade science teacher at Bell Middle School, were cited for their ability to inspire and to instill a love of science in their students, even those who may not have previously had a passion for the subject. Ms. Madaio uses unconventional and innovative teaching methods to engage her students and worked with CSF last year to provide classroom materials to foster active and collaborative learning opportunities.

In addition to innovative teaching in the classroom, Mr. Olive serves as a resource to inspire other teachers to push their teaching practices. In his capacity as a student leadership advisor, Mr. Olive worked with leadership council students and CSF to design and create an outdoor learning classroom for the benefit of all teachers and students at Bell Middle School.

Past winners of this award include:

2017: Mara Cohen and Warren Whitney

2016: Eileen Kenna and Ann Marie Scalici

2015: Paul Bianchi, Mike DeBellis and Kevin Kuczma

About CSF

CSF, a non-profit, all volunteer organization was created in 1993 by community parents who wanted to help fund innovative ideas and programs that could not be supported by the school budget. Through the solicitation of personal donations, company match donations and events, CSF raised funds to provide grants to all CSF schools. On average CSF awards 10-15 grants each year for projects proposed by district teachers, parents, students and community members.

For the 2017-18 school year, CSF awarded 33 grants totaling over $550,000 that impacted every school in the district. The largest grant of over $316,000 funded a district wide Digital Learning Initiative for hardware, software and professional development to create a 1 to 1 digital learning initiative to be implemented in third and fourth grade classrooms at the Roaring Brook, Westorchard and Douglas G. Grafflin schools. This project was the result of a unique partnership between CSF and the Chappaqua Central School District.

Other grants included, $50,000 for a Dynamic Fitness Center and $35,000 for Cintiq Tables for the Greeley Art Lab Studio 5 at Horace Greeley High School. Over $19,000 was granted to Bell Middle School to fund an Outdoor Courtyard Classroom. And over $7,000 was awarded to Grafflin Elementary School for a recording studio. All awards granted in 2017-18 are implemented during the 2018-19 academic year.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming fundraisers sponsored by CSF include the annual Harlem Wizards vs. The Chappaqua Challengers faculty and administrator basketball game on Sunday, January 27^th, 2019 at Horace Greeley High School; and the Annual CSF Spring Benefit that will be held at Sleepy Hollow Country Club on Friday, April 26, 2019.

To make a donation or to learn more about the Chappaqua School Foundation click here.