Making a teacher’s day

Pam Gallopini, a teacher at Lawrence Middle School, received a pleasant surprise as four OfficeMax representatives presented the long-time music educator with office supplies valued at $1,000, a leather desk chair and a beautiful bouquet of flowers on Oct. 7.

Gallopini’s presents were part of a nationwide event “A Day Made Better” sponsored by Adopt-A-Classroom (a program that seeks to create partnerships between community and the classroom) and OfficeMax. The 27-year veteran of the Lawrence School District was nominated for the recognition by her principal, George Akst.

To help encourage a respectful environment through the activities and events that are planned, such as the Sept. 11 ceremony and the Thanksgiving Dinner Dance coupled with social emotional learning to instill good values and traditions at the middle school, is part of Gallopini’s goals as a teacher.

She is instrumental in planning all school events, including Halloween Hot Skates, concerts in December and May and the Moving Up ceremony in June.

“I am honored to have been nominated by Mr. Akst & Ms. [Rina] Beach (the middle school’s assistant principal) and selected by Office Max for ‘A Day Made Better’ award, thank you,” Gallopini said.

Currently, she is the middle school Orchestra director for grades five through eight, the Drama Club director for nearly 20 years and co-advisor to Student Government for the past five years.

Gallopini, whose primary instrument is the violin, directs the middle school’s Chamber Orchestra and she prepares students for New York State Student Musician/Musical A, the Long Island String Festival and All-County performances.

Her education includes a bachelor’s from Adelphi University, a master’s from Queens College and her administrator’s certification from SUNY Stony Brook.

She is supported in her career by her husband Robert, a social studies teacher in the Long Beach School District and her two sons, Michael and Thomas.