Thursday, October 1, 2026
Ashley Garry, a Gifted and Talented teacher in Valley Stream Union Free School District 13, was recognized as a 2025 NASTECH NASTAR award recipient by Nassau BOCES and the Nassau Association of School Technologists.
Garry was one of 27 educators selected from across Nassau County to receive the award, which acknowledges contributions to the advancement of educational technology within their respective districts. The award is presented annually to educators who have demonstrated involvement in supporting technology initiatives in their schools. Each recipient is nominated by their school district based on these criteria.
“Ms. Garry demonstrates exceptional leadership and innovation in her role, transforming our Gifted and Talented program into a rigorous, technology-integrated collaborative learning environment,” Andrea DiMango, Executive Director of Technology and Human Resources for VSUFSD 13, who nominated Garry for the award, said. “She has developed a comprehensive curriculum entirely from her own expertise, which has received recognition from multiple gifted education organizations for its educational excellence.”
The NASTAR awards were established by the Nassau BOCES NASTECH Service to recognize individuals working in K–12 education who engage in instructional or operational technology efforts. This year’s recipients were acknowledged during a ceremony organized by Nassau BOCES NASTECH, with participation from the agency’s Data Privacy and Security Service Supervisor Laura Pollak and Program Specialist Barbara Deal.
“Ms. Pollak and I are honored to celebrate the dedicated educators
who champion technology programs across Nassau County districts,”
Deal said. “This award not only recognizes their tireless efforts but also shines a spotlight on the innovation and inspiration they bring to our schools. We look forward to recognizing even more outstanding educators next year.
According to the organizers, the award is intended to highlight efforts related to innovation, leadership, and support in technology use across educational settings. The program includes representatives from a variety of roles, including classroom teachers, specialists, and administrators.
Garry was nominated by VSUFSD 13 for her work in the gifted and talented program. The district identified her as a contributing staff member in its efforts to integrate technology to support instructional practices.
“Under her direction, Ms. Garry has successfully expanded our push-in enrichment program to encompass third-grade students through robotics and coding instruction, while advancing fourth-grade students into deeper exploration of physics principles,” DiMango said. “Her implementation of artificial intelligence components provides meaningful reflective learning opportunities for students and exemplifies current best practices in educational technology.”
The event marked the sixth annual NASTECH NASTAR awards ceremony. Other educators from public and nonpublic schools throughout Nassau County were also recognized, though the focus of each award remains on contributions within individual school districts.
Nassau BOCES, which co-sponsors the award, is a regional educational agency that provides services to schools across Nassau County. These include technology services, instructional programs, and professional development designed to support both student learning and district operations.
A full list of 2025 recipients are available through Nassau BOCES.
For more information about the NASTECH NASTAR program, visit nassauboces.org.
