A JFK Middle School educator is being recognized as her after-school program draws more than 40 students.
UTICA, N.Y. A crochet club that began as a small after-school gathering has grown large enough to need two groups. The inspiring teacher behind it, Colleen Emond of John F. Kennedy Middle School, is preparing to receive a statewide teaching honor.
Emond will receive an Educators of Excellence Award from the New York State English Council later this month, according to an October 15 profile from the Utica City School District. She is in her 15th year of teaching.
Colleen Emond’s dedication to her students and the community has been remarkable, making her a role model for aspiring educators.
A place to make something and connect
The club is open to seventh- and eighth-grade students. More than 40 attended its most recent meeting, the district reported. Over four years, the group has become one of the school’s most popular extracurricular activities.
That growth is prompting Emond to divide the weekly club into two groups so she can spend more time helping individual students. Many participants are students she does not teach during the school day.
Emond supplies the yarn, hooks, instructions and small accessories. Students can use school computers to watch tutorials, and materials shared through Google Classroom let them continue projects between meetings. Phones remain off-limits.
Recognition for classroom work
The district describes Emond’s English language arts classroom as a place where students can try creative ways of expressing themselves. A former SUNY Oswego professor nominated her for the award. Three current colleagues added letters supporting the nomination.
The honor comes from an organization focused on English language arts education. Under the council’s published award rules, nominees must be full-time educators with at least three years of teaching or related administrative experience. A school or district must have a council member, and nominations are limited to one per building or educational level.
The council selects recipients from nominations and recognizes them during its annual conference. Its awards cover several parts of education, including individual teachers, mentors, collaborative teaching teams and school programs.
Growth beyond the school day
For JFK, the district’s account offers a concrete picture of the club’s reach: participation has climbed, students from both middle-school grades can join, and the format is changing to make more individual attention possible.
The district has not announced the new group schedule in its profile. Families interested in the club can check with JFK Middle School for current participation details.
Reporting is based on the school district’s October 15 profile and the New York State English Council’s published award information. Graphics are original explanatory illustrations.
