Woodhull Elementary School teacher Shannon Rickard was honored by New York State Sen. Phil Boyle as a Teacher of Excellence in a ceremony held at the North Babylon Fire Department this May.

Ms. Rickard, who currently teaches grades 3 and 4, has taught in Fire Island since 2012 and was praised by Superintendent Loretta Ferraro for her dedication, rigor and advocacy for students. “At any time of the day, when you enter her classroom, you find her students cognitively engaged in meaningful work,” Ms. Ferraro said.

Sen. Boyle has honored teachers annually from the school districts within New York’s 4th Senate District since 2016. Fire Island teacher Jeanene Crawson was also honored with the award in 2017.