2007-'08 Teachers of the Year:

Lisa Kreider and Kathy Conlon
Two dedicated special education teachers were named Teachers of the Year at the annual Harrison Community Schools Recognition and Retirement get-together May 9th. Lisa Kreider, 17-year teacher currently at Hillside, was named Elementary Teacher of the Year, while Kathy Conlon, 21-year educator at Harrison Middle School, was named Secondary Teacher of the Year.

LISA KREIDER

     Kreider came to Harrison in 1992 and is always devising new ways to reach struggling students. “She does not back down from a challenge,” notes a fellow teacher, and math is one of her passions. “Lisa’s soft voice and gentle mannerisms help earn the respect of her students. She believes in building a learning community in the classroom where all learners are valued for what they bring to the table.”
     During the past four years, Kreider took on a new challenge as a co-teacher with Heather Jensen in a fifth grade classroom. Another teacher notes, “The progress of her students is clearly evident in the MEAP scores as they move on to sixth grade.” Kreider is a member of the Math Leadership team and is “always ready to go the extra mile.”

KATHY CONLON

     Conlon currently teaches some of the most challenging special education students at the Middle School, and manages to keep a cool head around sometimes volatile students. “Kathy works hard to ensure the success of her students. She works well with the teaching staff to give her students the best chance for success as possible,” writes a fellow staff member. Conlon is also currently president of the Harrison HEA union.

HONORED RETIREES:
DICK HARRIS AND MIKE PETRONGELLI

     In addition to the above awards, long-time educators Dick Harris and Mike Petrongelli were honored for their combined 68 years of teaching and coaching at Harrison as they will retire after this year, while Dave McAndrew wore a myriad of hats as well as being a teacher during his 30 years at HCS before retiring earlier in the school year. Theresa Haley and Jamie Kellogg, long-time loyal Harrison Schools employees, were also noted as retiring during the past year.