Bob Sympson of East Rockaway has been named Lay Educator of the Year by Phi Delta Kappa, an international professional organization whose members include classroom teachers, school administrators, college and university professors, and educational specialists. Sympson accepted his award last Friday evening at Hofstra University.
William Metkiff, Lynbrook's superintendent of schools, introduced Sympson and fondly referred to him as the "tree man" who contacted him back in the spring of 1998 and asked that they walk the grounds of South Middle School. As a member of the district's bond project committee, Sympson asked Metkiff what he saw in the barren landscape.
"I started to see the vision that he had," Metkiff said, and complimented Sympson for having the foresight to propose the planting of trees that now outline the property and the addition of a wood chip walking path for the community to enjoy nature. The following spring, Sympson teamed up with local Boy Scout Ryan Fleishman who, as part of his Eagle project, recruited fellow scouts to help establish the trail. As a member of the Long Island ReLeaf network of volunteers, Sympson lobbied to secure grants to help fund the environmental project, and suggested the annual tradition when children visit the arboretum and plant trees. The nature path is now in its third growing season, and has been a source of pride amongst the school district and the local community.
"He had this whole vision come true by not only meeting us and educating our children, but he had this old piece of property transformed into something we're all proud of and see growing on a yearly basis," Metkiff said of Sympson's accomplishments. Children from each school are transported to the trail every year by bus. "Every year he's there to help them learn about trees and plant them."
Before his retirement, Sympson taught science and horticulture for the Valley Stream School District for over 25 years. He is also a director of the Friends of East Rockaway Grist Mill Museum, which offers an educational program that teaches, through classroom visits, the historical significance and day-to-day function of the grist mill, which contributed to the area's growth, trade and economic prosperity. Sympson has also worked with children at the district's kindergarten center and individual elementary schools.
Metkiff further described Sympson as a man with vision, passion, and dedication in educating both children and adults, and thanked the Sympson family for their continued support of local schools and active participation in the Lynbrook-East Rockaway community. "It tells me an awful lot about what one person can achieve," said Metkiff. "He teaches us all, especially our children, recreational respect and a love of trees and become a tree hugger."
"The clich
