J.W. Dodd Middle School English Teacher Lori Cohen
to be Honored as Teacher of the Year at C.W. Post Commencement

Brookville, N.Y. – Lori Cohen's love of literature and writing was evident at an early age. By the time she entered eighth grade she was devouring Nancy Drew mysteries and had faithfully kept a journal chronicling her life during the tumultuous 1960s. She knew her life's calling was to be an English teacher, and she found the opportunity at J.W. Dodd Middle School in Freeport, N.Y.

Such fervor has led to adoration from her students, admiration from her colleagues and her selection as Nassau County Secondary School Teacher of the Year by the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. Cohen will receive the honor during the 50th Commencement exercises at C.W. Post on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11.

“Lori's passion for teaching is reflected in her lessons and through her dedication to her students' lives,” noted Raymond A. McCloat, the Freeport Public Schools Interim Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. “Her confidence, knowledge and vision are contagious.”

Cohen earned a bachelor's and a master's degree in English/secondary education from Queens College. After graduating, she accepted a position teaching at J.W. Dodd Middle School and began a career that has provided her with the opportunity to mentor hundreds of students, instilling within them her enthusiasm for literature and writing.

Teaching, like literature, is a give-and-take for Cohen. She learns from her diverse students and credits them with teaching her the meringue. In turn she strives to broaden their horizons by inviting guest speakers to her class. In 2007 her students received a visit from Holocaust survivors who told their stories of hardship, survival and courage. This poignant meeting was the focus of an article in Newsday.

In addition to her classroom duties, Cohen serves as a teacher on special assignment, administering and scoring State English Language Arts assessments, training ELA scorers and providing professional development. She also is the lead teacher for the J.W. Dodd seventh- and eighth-grade English/Reading Department.

In 2005, she received the J.W. Dodd PTA Founder's Day Honorary Life Award for going above and beyond regular duties on behalf of the children and families of Freeport . She also is a winner of the Principal's Award for Teacher of Excellence.

Cohen acknowledges that children, like all good writing, are works in progress and take time and great care to develop. “I know that I make a difference in the lives of my children and in my school,” she said.

A resident of East Northport, Cohen is the daughter of Fran Cohen and the mother of Rachel Klein, Ryan Coyne and Brian Hieronymous, a former student of whom she took legal guardianship of 17 years ago.

Long Island University introduced the Secondary School Teacher of the Year Award in 1991 and invites school superintendents to nominate distinguished teachers for the honor. A committee of faculty members from Long Island University then reviews the applications and letters of nominations and selects an annual recipient.

Commencement exercises will take place on the Great Lawn at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville, NY beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 11. The Class of 2008 includes 1,022 baccalaureate degree candidates, 1,434 master's degree candidates, 15 graduates receiving the Psy.D. in clinical psychology and 4 receiving the Ph.D. in information studies. C.W. Post's commencement ceremonies also include graduates from the Brentwood Campus, Southampton College, Southampton Graduate Campus and Long Island University at Riverhead. 

Posted: May 8, 2008