Former teachers saluted by Southeastern students

Twenty students at Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical High School paid tribute to their past teachers last week, leaving the teachers with memories they described as “priceless.” 

 The ceremony was the culmination of an “Excellence in Education” program, in which freshmen wrote essays that described why they appreciated their former teachers. This is the third year of the program, and over 500 letters were submitted.

 Guidance counselors chose 20 letters that focused on nine teachers that had had positive influences on the students.   Those teachers, who teach in public schools in Brockton, Mansfield, East Bridgewater, and Foxborough, were then visited by Admissions Counselor, David Joseph in a surprise visit to their schools. 

 Joseph presented all nine teachers with flowers, telling them that they had been honored by a certain student at Southeastern, and giving them an invitation to an “Excellence in Education” ceremony, which took place on January 25.  He kept the names of the students who had written the letters a surprise until the ceremony.

 The visits thrilled the teachers, who had no idea they had been singled out by the students.

 “I was headed out of the cafeteria, and David Joseph and another guidance counselor appeared with flowers for me.  It was great – I never experienced anything like that in my entire career,” said Dan Williams, a math teacher at the Ahearn Middle School in Foxborough.

 As part of the ceremony, Joseph read excerpts of all the students’ letters, one by one, and then brought the teachers as well as students up to accept their awards.

 Some of the teachers said that they were excited to find out which student(s) had honored them. Kelly Cooper, a teacher at the West Middle School in Brockton, said she tried to guess which student had honored her, and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was Aryanna Bennett-Fernandez. 

 “When I had her in reading, I thought she was a really sweet kid, and then when I found out if was Aryanna, it all made sense,” Cooper said.

 Robert Howard, a math teacher at Plouffe Academy in Brockton, was honored by seven students.   His students described him as someone who would push them to do their best.  

 “For them to think about you after you’ve gone makes you know that you’ve made the right decision to be a teacher.  It’s priceless,” Howard said.

Olavo “Billy” Gomes, a math teacher at the North Middle School in Brockton, was also given multiple honors, through five students.  He teaches health and wellness and coaches basketball, soccer and intramural programs.

 “It’s a huge accomplishment, and a real sign that I’m doing a good job.  This is one of my greatest awards, and I know that what I’ve been doing has been working,” Gomes said.

 Joseph and Southeastern Guidance Director, Christina Guarini also thanked the teachers.  Joseph said that it is not always easy for teens to say thank-you, especially when thanking a teacher outside of their present school.  He thanked the teachers for shaping the students in a positive way before they got to the high school. 

 Guarini commended the teachers for making a long-lasting impact on their students.

 “When you have an impact on students that lasts well beyond your time with them, that really says something about who you are as a person and as an educator,” Guarini said.

 The teachers received the letters that the students had written as well as plaques and wooden boxes, which were made and engraved by students in the school’s cabinet-making shop.   

 A list of teachers and students 

Mr. Mark Richardson –Eighth grade history teacher at North Middle School in Brockton.  Student:  Yailiz Monteiro

Ms. Kelly Cooper – seventh and eighth grade reading teacher at the West Middle School, Brockton.  Student:  Aryanna Bennett-Fernandez  

Mrs. Jessica Strunin, theater teacher at the Qualters Middle School,  Mansfield.  Student:  Taylor Mackie. 

Ms. Eva M. Andrews, teacher, West Bridgewater Middle-Senior High School.  Student:  Jaime Auger 

Mr. Daniel Parks, eighth grade teacher at Gordon W. Mitchell Middle School, East Bridgewater.  Students:  Kayla Payton and Cameron Joyce 

Mr. Dan Williams, social studies teacher at Ahearn Middle School, Foxborough.  Student:  Declan Moloney 

Mr. Robert Howard,  math teacher at Ploufee Academy, Brockton.  Students:  Destiny Fuentes-Guerra, Joshua Adorno, Keyonna Prudent, Angelino Xenos, Lizender Santos Afonso, Roberto Cardona, Nimalu Correia Martins 

Mr. Olavo “Billy” Gomes, health and wellness teacher at North Middle School, Brockton.  Students:  Lavonte Azor, Kennedy Duarte, Daniel Valdez, Jonathan Alves, Tatiano Dias 

Mr. Robert Buckley, teacher at the Edgar B. Davis School, Brockton.   Student:  Anthony Mendes