Tracey Ann Amodio
It is my honor to nominate Tracey Amodio, elementary physical education teacher, to the Branford Education Hall of Fame. As a former educator with the Branford School System for 38 years, I speak from experience and exposure to many fine talented teachers, and Ms. Amodio is a leader in her field. Tracey is also a distinguished Branford Teacher of the year.
Ms. Amodio has inspired students for the past 31 years to enjoy physical education and make a personal commitment to living a healthier lifestyle. Tracey leads by example in her own life. She can be found; working out with staff after school hours, hiking, playing tennis, basketball and her passion, cycling.
Unlike other elementary teachers with a classroom of twenty students, Tracey's classroom, her gym, is where her enthusiasm reaches hundreds of students every week from pre-K to 4th grade. These children would all join their voices to exclaim physical education as their favorite part of the week. Ms. Amodio believes all children can be successful and reach their best potential. She provides an environment full of encouragement and positivity. Tracey plans her instruction with modifications to accommodate students with limitations. She is sure all students are engaged, feel valued and most important are participating.
Watching or taking part in Ms. Amodio's program, one will quickly realize the importance and pride she takes in her profession. In one class period her students participate in a series of warm up activities, self guided, and to music. After all music is a great motivator in movement. This is then followed by a well planned and orchestrated variety of stations. When instruction in the classrooms took a greater focus on the Common Core State Standards, Ms. Amodio was sure to extend her instruction to include rolling dice to add and multiply before determining the number of repetitions necessary for an exercise. Reading and picture cues were included, based on readiness, so students could self monitor their activities. To see one woman manage multiple stations of 5 and 6 year olds is truly a feat parents only wish they could achieve. It is Ms. Amodio's carefully planned instructions that builds the students' ability to engage independently. Ms. Amodio's skill in engaging many young children, in a large open space, comes from years of perfecting her craft, along with her knowledge of how to develop leadership, cooperation, team building, and compassion within in her young students. Ms. Amodio teaches the whole child. While developing a love for physical activity, Ms. Amodio sees that her students demonstrate an awareness of their peers and work together to help one another. They celebrate each other's strengths and or encourage small steps to overcome a weakness. Her students understand the significance of good sportsmanship. Tracey's classes end with time to debrief and reflect on class behaviors. She also provides the time for her students to calm their bodies through breathing exercises and direct their thoughts away from the active program they just completed while preparing to return to the classroom. All of these portions of one class are smoothly joined to make for a wonderful experience.
Ms. Amodio's enthusiastic manner is a ray of sunshine to her colleagues as well. Tracey believes in being in the moment, listening to others and inquiring as to their day. Tracey greets substitute teachers and all that visit the building. On any given day you can hear Tracey greeting her colleagues in the hallways establishing a real sense of community. Ms. Amodio spent many years being the Staff PTA representative. She attends all evening meetings and communicates the notes to the staff. Tracey will also be found participating and attending in all PTA functions. Very important to note is Tracey's decades of working with the American Heart Association to run a school wide fundraiser called, Jump Rope for Heart. Through her yearly tireless effort Tracey involved nearly 500 Murphy School families to contribute to this cause raising thousands of dollars yearly. The students would then celebrate their efforts with a jump roping event.
I wish everyone voting tonight could witness the exemplary physical education program Ms. Amodio brings to her students. Ms. Amodio enriches the lives of her students and she helps create individuals that will value her lessons, words of encouragement and passion for life. All of this, making them better citizens in our community or where ever they should land.
Ms. Amodio has inspired students for the past 31 years to enjoy physical education and make a personal commitment to living a healthier lifestyle. Tracey leads by example in her own life. She can be found; working out with staff after school hours, hiking, playing tennis, basketball and her passion, cycling.
Unlike other elementary teachers with a classroom of twenty students, Tracey's classroom, her gym, is where her enthusiasm reaches hundreds of students every week from pre-K to 4th grade. These children would all join their voices to exclaim physical education as their favorite part of the week. Ms. Amodio believes all children can be successful and reach their best potential. She provides an environment full of encouragement and positivity. Tracey plans her instruction with modifications to accommodate students with limitations. She is sure all students are engaged, feel valued and most important are participating.
Watching or taking part in Ms. Amodio's program, one will quickly realize the importance and pride she takes in her profession. In one class period her students participate in a series of warm up activities, self guided, and to music. After all music is a great motivator in movement. This is then followed by a well planned and orchestrated variety of stations. When instruction in the classrooms took a greater focus on the Common Core State Standards, Ms. Amodio was sure to extend her instruction to include rolling dice to add and multiply before determining the number of repetitions necessary for an exercise. Reading and picture cues were included, based on readiness, so students could self monitor their activities. To see one woman manage multiple stations of 5 and 6 year olds is truly a feat parents only wish they could achieve. It is Ms. Amodio's carefully planned instructions that builds the students' ability to engage independently. Ms. Amodio's skill in engaging many young children, in a large open space, comes from years of perfecting her craft, along with her knowledge of how to develop leadership, cooperation, team building, and compassion within in her young students. Ms. Amodio teaches the whole child. While developing a love for physical activity, Ms. Amodio sees that her students demonstrate an awareness of their peers and work together to help one another. They celebrate each other's strengths and or encourage small steps to overcome a weakness. Her students understand the significance of good sportsmanship. Tracey's classes end with time to debrief and reflect on class behaviors. She also provides the time for her students to calm their bodies through breathing exercises and direct their thoughts away from the active program they just completed while preparing to return to the classroom. All of these portions of one class are smoothly joined to make for a wonderful experience.
Ms. Amodio's enthusiastic manner is a ray of sunshine to her colleagues as well. Tracey believes in being in the moment, listening to others and inquiring as to their day. Tracey greets substitute teachers and all that visit the building. On any given day you can hear Tracey greeting her colleagues in the hallways establishing a real sense of community. Ms. Amodio spent many years being the Staff PTA representative. She attends all evening meetings and communicates the notes to the staff. Tracey will also be found participating and attending in all PTA functions. Very important to note is Tracey's decades of working with the American Heart Association to run a school wide fundraiser called, Jump Rope for Heart. Through her yearly tireless effort Tracey involved nearly 500 Murphy School families to contribute to this cause raising thousands of dollars yearly. The students would then celebrate their efforts with a jump roping event.
I wish everyone voting tonight could witness the exemplary physical education program Ms. Amodio brings to her students. Ms. Amodio enriches the lives of her students and she helps create individuals that will value her lessons, words of encouragement and passion for life. All of this, making them better citizens in our community or where ever they should land.