Lincoln Avenue Elementary PE teacher, Elizabeth Bolger, Named NYS AHPERD Teacher of the Year
NamedNYSAHPERDTeacheroftheYear.jpg
The New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYS AHPERD) announced that Elizabeth (Beth) Bolger, Physical Education teacher at Lincoln Avenue Elementary had been awarded the 2019 New York State Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award.
The Teacher of the Year Award honors individuals for excellence in teaching and overall performance in the disciplines of physical education at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels, adapted physical education, health education, and dance education. It is an extremely competitive award and the selection process is extensive. A qualified teacher would be nominated by their Regional Board.
Coach Bolger is no stranger to receiving awards for her winning ways. Besides producing many award-winning Get Moving NY Videos with her students for the annual competitions, in 2017 she was awarded Suffolk County Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. In 2018, she was nominated for the NYS Joy of Effort Award and New York State Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. In 2019, Coach Bolger earned yet another accolade:
“At the beginning of the 2019 school year, the President of NYS AHPERD called me to notify me that I won the award. I was shocked and humbled. The news of the award brought me to tears. All the past recipients are people I have long admired. I feel blessed to work at a job I love so much.”
During the NYS AHPERD Annual conference, held on November 22nd, Coach Bolger was presented with the award. Sayville Superintendent Dr. John Stimmel, Athletic Director Dennis Maloney, Sayville Board of Education trustee Dr. James Bertsch, Jr. and Beth’s husband, Tom Bolger, attended the ceremony. “I was honored that they made the six-hour trip to share in my achievement.”
Congratulations, Coach Bolger, for this crowning achievement in a long history of accomplishments.
(Above photo from award ceremony: Coach Bolger and BOE Trustee Bertsch)
Elizabeth Bolger’s achievements are as follows:
Leadership
- Member of the following Committees: Lincoln Avenue Social Emotional Learning Committee, Sayville District-wide Social Emotional Learning committee, Sayville District-wide Health & Wellness Committee, School Safety Committee and Emergency Management Team, Building Advisory Committee, Site Based Team, Interview Committee, Crisis Prevention Team, 4th grade special area project/trip
- Cooperating Teacher for numerous student teachers and observers at the undergraduate level.
- Creator of the Suffolk Zone Fit Club competition. We are currently in our 3rd year and looking to expand to other counties in New York. Many teachers and administers from various zones come to emulate the program. In addition, I manage the event for all three elementary schools in my district.
- Co-creator of the Sayville All-Elementary District-Wide Duathlon
- Organized all sponsorships for the Sayville All-Elementary District-Wide Duathlon
- Creator and Lead coordinator of the Sayville All-district 5th grade Fun nights.
- Co-coordinator of the “Minute to Win-It” Competition
- Leader of the Physical Education Morning Program.
- Leader of the Skate Board Club
- Leader of the Drums Fit Club
- Leader of the Double Dutch Club
- Leader of the Mindfulness Club
- Leader of the Fit Club
- Run numerous workshops for my PE department (Math & Movement, PE Hat Trick, Drums Fit, Incorporating Nutrition & Heath in PE, Escape Rooms in PE, Movement Hallway, Mindfulness, Peace Path and Conflict Resolution, etc.
- Run workshops for district staff in Conflict Resolution, Mindfulness Training, Recess games & activities, Peace Path, Peer Leader Program, etc.
- Co-Leader of the Peer Leaders Program and Peer Leaders in Training Program.
- Mentored numerous students through the District-wide Mentor Program.
- Lead Coordinator / #1 Fundraiser in all of Long Island and #3 Fundraiser in all of NYS for Jump Rope for Heart Program/ Coordinator of the Year Award
- Lead Coordinator of the JDRF and ISF Sayville 5K walk
- Creator and leader of the Marathon Reader Program. The program combines reading and physical activity. As well as being fun, the challenge aims to boost children’s literacy skills by encouraging students to read widely for pleasure and learning, develop their imagination and cultivate a passion for literature and fitness.
- Leader of the parent and child Field Day Committee.
- Organized school wide activities for Anti-Bullying/Upstander’s Week.
- Organized school wide activities for Wellness Week.
- Organized school wide assemblies and activities for Water Safety, Circus Arts, Self-esteem building, Abilities Awareness and Anti-Bullying.
- Leader of the “Halloween Candy Buy Back Program” This helped support our overseas troops, our veterans, and we were able to fundraise money for the Erin Haliday-Duffy scholarship Fund.
- Teacher Representative for the PTA.
- Trained member of the Non-Violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention Team.
- Lead Coordinator of the Fuel Up to Play 60
- Assistant Coach for Sayville Girls’ Varsity Soccer and head Coach of the St. Anthony’s State Champion Swimming/ Diving Team
- Member of the Liaison Committee with the Sayville School District Board of Education
- LEOC Coordinator/Trainer in NYC BOE
- Dean of Discipline while teaching in NYC BOE
Service
- Presented workshops to staff on Conflict Resolution, Peace Path, Mindfulness, recess games, and the fitness center.
- Choregraphed dance routines which my students performed for both the Suffolk Zone conference and the Suffolk Zone Elementary & Middle School Awards night.
- Volunteer for the Lincoln Ave Science Symposium, Science Fair, 50th Anniversary, and Stories by Starlight.
- Organize before and after school events for grades K-5 (Dance Crew, Drums Fit, Mindfulness, Skateboard club, Peer Leaders, Morning Madness, Ninja Night, 5th grade fun night, Duathlon, 5k walks, etc)
- Presenter for Parent Information Night.
- Teacher Representative for the PTA and volunteer for PTA events
- Created a Run/ Walking Club for the students to earn Fitness awards.
- Created a school-wide Fitness Center.
- Created a school-wide Mindfulness program
- Organized the “Just Say No” Town of Islip Sharpshooter Contest for Lincoln Ave Elementary School.
- Active member of the PTA and SEPTA
- Organized numerous canned food drives for the local food pantry
- Leader of the “Halloween Candy Buy Back Program” which helps support our overseas troops and our veterans.
- Assisted with the “Parents as Active Readers” program
- Created a video for the “Get Moving NY Contest” to highlight the Lincoln Ave. PE Program which won first place the last 3 years.
- Organized Wellness Week Activities for students and staff
- Volunteer for the Suffolk Zone Elementary Awards Ceremony, Professional Awards, Suffolk Zone conferences, Mini-Grants committee, etc.
- Ran district wide Elementary “Fifth Grade Fun” night events where the 5th graders from our three elementary schools could get to know each other and have some fun before middle school.
- Volunteer for the 5th grade talent show
- Co-Creator of the Districtwide All-Elementary Duathlon
- Creator and leader of the Marathon Reader Program. The program combines reading and physical activity. As well as being fun, the challenge aims to boost children’s literacy skills by encouraging students to read widely for pleasure and learning, develop their imagination and cultivate a passion for literature and fitness.
- Creator & Coach of the Suffolk Zone Fit Club
- Program Advisor for Fuel Up to Play 60
- Played in the “Sayville Serving Sayville” volleyball game which raised money to help families in our community.
The New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYS AHPERD) announced that Elizabeth (Beth) Bolger, Physical Education teacher at Lincoln Avenue Elementary had been awarded the 2019 New York State Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award.
The Teacher of the Year Award honors individuals for excellence in teaching and overall performance in the disciplines of physical education at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels, adapted physical education, health education, and dance education. It is an extremely competitive award and the selection process is extensive. A qualified teacher would be nominated by their Regional Board.
Coach Bolger is no stranger to receiving awards for her winning ways. Besides producing many award-winning Get Moving NY Videos with her students for the annual competitions, in 2017 she was awarded Suffolk County Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. In 2018, she was nominated for the NYS Joy of Effort Award and New York State Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. In 2019, Coach Bolger earned yet another accolade:
“At the beginning of the 2019 school year, the President of NYS AHPERD called me to notify me that I won the award. I was shocked and humbled. The news of the award brought me to tears. All the past recipients are people I have long admired. I feel blessed to work at a job I love so much.”
During the NYS AHPERD Annual conference, held on November 22nd, Coach Bolger was presented with the award. Sayville Superintendent Dr. John Stimmel, Athletic Director Dennis Maloney, Sayville Board of Education trustee Dr. James Bertsch, Jr. and Beth’s husband, Tom Bolger, attended the ceremony. “I was honored that they made the six-hour trip to share in my achievement.”
Congratulations, Coach Bolger, for this crowning achievement in a long history of accomplishments.
(Above photo from award ceremony: Coach Bolger and BOE Trustee Bertsch)
Elizabeth Bolger’s achievements are as follows:
Leadership
- Member of the following Committees: Lincoln Avenue Social Emotional Learning Committee, Sayville District-wide Social Emotional Learning committee, Sayville District-wide Health & Wellness Committee, School Safety Committee and Emergency Management Team, Building Advisory Committee, Site Based Team, Interview Committee, Crisis Prevention Team, 4th grade special area project/trip
- Cooperating Teacher for numerous student teachers and observers at the undergraduate level.
- Creator of the Suffolk Zone Fit Club competition. We are currently in our 3rd year and looking to expand to other counties in New York. Many teachers and administers from various zones come to emulate the program. In addition, I manage the event for all three elementary schools in my district.
- Co-creator of the Sayville All-Elementary District-Wide Duathlon
- Organized all sponsorships for the Sayville All-Elementary District-Wide Duathlon
- Creator and Lead coordinator of the Sayville All-district 5th grade Fun nights.
- Co-coordinator of the “Minute to Win-It” Competition
- Leader of the Physical Education Morning Program.
- Leader of the Skate Board Club
- Leader of the Drums Fit Club
- Leader of the Double Dutch Club
- Leader of the Mindfulness Club
- Leader of the Fit Club
- Run numerous workshops for my PE department (Math & Movement, PE Hat Trick, Drums Fit, Incorporating Nutrition & Heath in PE, Escape Rooms in PE, Movement Hallway, Mindfulness, Peace Path and Conflict Resolution, etc.
- Run workshops for district staff in Conflict Resolution, Mindfulness Training, Recess games & activities, Peace Path, Peer Leader Program, etc.
- Co-Leader of the Peer Leaders Program and Peer Leaders in Training Program.
- Mentored numerous students through the District-wide Mentor Program.
- Lead Coordinator / #1 Fundraiser in all of Long Island and #3 Fundraiser in all of NYS for Jump Rope for Heart Program/ Coordinator of the Year Award
- Lead Coordinator of the JDRF and ISF Sayville 5K walk
- Creator and leader of the Marathon Reader Program. The program combines reading and physical activity. As well as being fun, the challenge aims to boost children’s literacy skills by encouraging students to read widely for pleasure and learning, develop their imagination and cultivate a passion for literature and fitness.
- Leader of the parent and child Field Day Committee.
- Organized school wide activities for Anti-Bullying/Upstander’s Week.
- Organized school wide activities for Wellness Week.
- Organized school wide assemblies and activities for Water Safety, Circus Arts, Self-esteem building, Abilities Awareness and Anti-Bullying.
- Leader of the “Halloween Candy Buy Back Program” This helped support our overseas troops, our veterans, and we were able to fundraise money for the Erin Haliday-Duffy scholarship Fund.
- Teacher Representative for the PTA.
- Trained member of the Non-Violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention Team.
- Lead Coordinator of the Fuel Up to Play 60
- Assistant Coach for Sayville Girls’ Varsity Soccer and head Coach of the St. Anthony’s State Champion Swimming/ Diving Team
- Member of the Liaison Committee with the Sayville School District Board of Education
- LEOC Coordinator/Trainer in NYC BOE
- Dean of Discipline while teaching in NYC BOE
Service
- Presented workshops to staff on Conflict Resolution, Peace Path, Mindfulness, recess games, and the fitness center.
- Choregraphed dance routines which my students performed for both the Suffolk Zone conference and the Suffolk Zone Elementary & Middle School Awards night.
- Volunteer for the Lincoln Ave Science Symposium, Science Fair, 50th Anniversary, and Stories by Starlight.
- Organize before and after school events for grades K-5 (Dance Crew, Drums Fit, Mindfulness, Skateboard club, Peer Leaders, Morning Madness, Ninja Night, 5th grade fun night, Duathlon, 5k walks, etc)
- Presenter for Parent Information Night.
- Teacher Representative for the PTA and volunteer for PTA events
- Created a Run/ Walking Club for the students to earn Fitness awards.
- Created a school-wide Fitness Center.
- Created a school-wide Mindfulness program
- Organized the “Just Say No” Town of Islip Sharpshooter Contest for Lincoln Ave Elementary School.
- Active member of the PTA and SEPTA
- Organized numerous canned food drives for the local food pantry
- Leader of the “Halloween Candy Buy Back Program” which helps support our overseas troops and our veterans.
- Assisted with the “Parents as Active Readers” program
- Created a video for the “Get Moving NY Contest” to highlight the Lincoln Ave. PE Program which won first place the last 3 years.
- Organized Wellness Week Activities for students and staff
- Volunteer for the Suffolk Zone Elementary Awards Ceremony, Professional Awards, Suffolk Zone conferences, Mini-Grants committee, etc.
- Ran district wide Elementary “Fifth Grade Fun” night events where the 5th graders from our three elementary schools could get to know each other and have some fun before middle school.
- Volunteer for the 5th grade talent show
- Co-Creator of the Districtwide All-Elementary Duathlon
- Creator and leader of the Marathon Reader Program. The program combines reading and physical activity. As well as being fun, the challenge aims to boost children’s literacy skills by encouraging students to read widely for pleasure and learning, develop their imagination and cultivate a passion for literature and fitness.
- Creator & Coach of the Suffolk Zone Fit Club
- Program Advisor for Fuel Up to Play 60
- Played in the “Sayville Serving Sayville” volleyball game which raised money to help families in our community.