Schools
Gelinas' Vorwald Adds to Awards Collection
Junior high science teacher's latest prize is for being a distinguished earth science teacher.
Gary Vorwald, a P.J. Gelinas Junior High School teacher and science department chairman, has received the first Distinguished Earth Science Teacher Award from the New York Earth Science Teacher’s Association.
The award was given to honor an active earth science teacher in a public or private school in New York. Candidates were evaluated on profile information submitted, their outstanding results with their students, participation and leadership in professional organizations as well as their commitment to earth science.
Vorwald has taught in the district since 1998 and has been a teacher for 29 years. During his time in Three Village, he has taught nearly every science course offered at the junior high and coaches the award-winning Science Olympiad team.
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He’s also active in numerous professional organizations and has served several roles in the Science Teachers Association of New York State, including Suffolk section president, subject area representative for earth science and conference chairman. He is also a member of NSTA, NESTA, NYESTA, NAGT and the Long Island Science Congress. He presents at the annual coaches clinic and is the event writer and supervisor for the rocks, minerals and fossil events.
He’s no stranger to awards. Vorwald was awarded the outstanding earth science teacher in New York State award by the NAGT in 1997. Suffolk STANYS presented him with their service award in 2005. He was honored by the Harvard Club of Long Island as a distinguished teacher in 2011 and received the STANYS Excellence in Teaching Award for intermediate level science teaching in 2012. Earlier this year he was named a New York State master teacher.
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Caption: P.J. Gelinas Junior High School teacher Gary Vorwald (center) received the Distinguished Earth Science Teacher Award from the New York Earth Science Teacher’s Association. He is pictured here with (l-r) Board of Education president William F. Connors, Jr. and Gelinas principal William Bernhard.
Photo provided by the Three Village Central School District.
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