Long Island University to Honor Outstanding Teachers
Two distinguished Nassau and Suffolk County teachers will be honored
this May with the Long Island University Secondary School Teacher of the
Year Award.
Kieran C. Morris (Nassau County), an English teacher at Carle Place
High School and John Turnbull (Suffolk County), teacher of English and
social studies and coordinator of the academic enrichment program at Southampton
High School, will be honored. "Both teachers have enjoyed successful
careers and are exemplary educators," said Michael Arons, Vice President
for Academic Affairs at Long Island University.
Kieran C. Morris of Baldwin will receive his award on Sunday, May 9
at graduation exercises at Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus in
Brookville. John Turnbull of Sag Harbor will receive his award on Sunday,
May 23 at Long Island University's Southampton College commencement ceremonies.
Kieran C. Morris - Nassau County Secondary School Teacher of the
Year Award
His colleagues calls Kieran Morris a "Renaissance man" for his
vast knowledge and his versatility in the classroom. "On each of
the three grade levels that he teaches English at Carle Place High School
- which have included 10th, 11th, 12th and Advanced Placement - he finds
ways to customize his classroom and make his lessons relevant, engaging
his students on every possible level - physical, mental and emotional,"
said Dr. Raymond A. Rombone, Director of English Language Arts/Social Studies/Foreign
Languages/ESL at Carle Place High School.
Morris advises the Culture Vultures Club, the student newspaper and
the Community Service Club. He and his students have served New York City's
homeless in soup kitchens, joined an environmental clean-up project to
restore historic Mount Beacon, and organized a monthly newsletter for residents
of the Westbury Home for Adults. This past year, Morris and his students
enjoyed a 10-day tour of England and France. He has shared his expertise
by writing curricula for the journalism, service learning, English Regents,
honors and A.P. programs. He serves his community through the St. Agnes
Cathedral Parish in Rockville Centre and as cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack
163, as well as committee chair for Boy Scout Troop 163.
John Turnbull - Suffolk County Secondary School Teacher of the Year
Award
John Turnbull is a master teacher known for his intelligence, sensitivity,
scholarship, commitment to life-long learning, and ability to reach students
on many different levels. For 19 years he has been coordinator of the
Academic Enrichment Program, teacher of advanced placement English and
social studies, and varsity track coach at Southampton High School. A
man of broad interests and talents, he has worked with Mother Teresa in
India, completed a year's sabbatical at Harvard Divinity School, and is
an instructor of Martial Arts. He is the recipient of a Japanese Keizikoho
Fellowship, two National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships, and
two Fulbright Hays Fellowships.
Always eager to share his expertise with others, he served on the district's
staff development and Middle States evaluation committees, and has been
a peer coach for fellow teachers, observing and advising new teachers.
He is a research adjunct with Project Zero of Harvard University's School
of Education, and he is trained in conflict mediation and Socratic seminars.
Turnbull has "the capacity, sensitivity and commitment to truly
teach all students," said his principal Josephine DeVincenzi. "He
teaches English to our most needy students at the same time he teaches
AP literature courses." He has his B.A. and M.A. from the City University
of New York and is pursuing his Ph.D. at Columbia University.
Long Island University instituted the Secondary School Teacher of the
Year Award in 1991. The award is presented annu ally to two outstanding
secondary school teachers, one from Nassau County and one from Suffolk
County. Teachers are nominated for Long Island University's Teacher of
the Year Award by their school superintendents. Their applications and
letters of nomination are then reviewed by a committee of faculty members
from C.W. Post's School of Education. At commencement ceremonies, both
Kieran Morris and John Turnbull will be presented with a check for $500
for themselves and another check for $1,000 for their school district.
Long Island University offers one of the widest ranges of teacher-training,
counseling and administration programs in the region.
For more information call the C.W. Post Public
Relations Office at (516) 299-2333 or e-mail pr@cwpost.liu.edu
or send mail to: Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus, 720 Northern
Blvd., Brookville, New York 11548-1300.
