By Jennifer La Lima
To Newbridge Road children, Podolski is known as Miss Nancy. She has enjoyed many years as a lunch aide and monitor at the school, and she is well-liked by Newbridge students, with whom she spends recess playing kickball and other games. But her recent act of heroism revealed Podolski's true character. In a lunchroom buzzing with children's voices, she said she took immediate notice of a voice calling for someone to help Nicole.
"I saw that her face was turning red,² Podolski said. ³I went straight to her. There was no thought; I just did it."
Sherrelle and Thomas Hayes, Nicole's parents, credit Podolski with saving their daughter's life. They honored the lunch monitor at a recent PTA meeting. "Not only did Nancy go above and beyond the call of duty, but she saved our daughter's life,² Sherrelle said. ³It terrifies me to think of what could have happened had Nancy not been there at that very moment. Our family will be forever grateful to our hero, and we will never forget what she has done for us and our daughter."
Podolski said she received emergency first-aid training at the very start of her career at Newbridge. At the time, it was required. Although it no longer is, Podolski said she made sure to refresh her training over the years at the North Bellmore Fire Department.
The incident at Newbridge Road brought a heightened awareness of the importance of emergency training in the lunchroom to the North Bellmore School District. At this month's meeting of the North Bellmore Board of Education, Superintendent Dominic Mucci commended Podolski for her quick response. Mucci also said, "As a result of this incident, all lunch monitors will receive Heimlich and CPR training."
Newbridge Road Principal Marilyn Hirschfield also praised Podolski for her quick thinking. "In emergency situations, people react in different ways," Hirschfield said. "Mrs. Podolski acted with courage. We are so proud to have her as one of our lunch monitors."
Podolski, of North Bellmore, was a student in the North Bellmore School District. She feels a special bond with the district and its students. "I just really love working with all of the children,² she said. ³They are all 'my kids.' They trust me and confide in me. I get very attached to them."
Podolski has long been known to students and parents as someone who goes above and beyond to bring a sense of fun and confidence to children during their recess and lunch periods. She takes notice of the more reserved students and brings them into the action by teaching them how to play kickball. Nicole Hayes is one such student who has become a star kickball player on Podolski's recess team.
Rosemarie Corless, a Newbridge Road mother and Board of Education trustee, attested to Podolski's popularity. "My children talk about Miss Nancy all of the time,² she said. ³She has helped so many of the shyer students by teaching them kickball. She's always a hero to the kids."
Nicole said that she loves her favorite lunch monitor, and will always remember what she did for her.
Podolski was also awarded a Town of Hempstead citation.
Comments about this story? JLaLima@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
