Roslyn educator to be honored by LIU

Bill San Antonio

Mary Cronin is a chemistry and physics teacher at Roslyn High School, but on Friday will put on a cap and gown and join the procession during LIU-Post’s commencement services.

That’s because Cronin, who also teaches part-time at Nassau Community College, will be presented with the university’s annual Secondary Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony in which Post officials said recognize contributions an educator has made to their school community.

“I feel very honored, I really do,” the East Meadow resident said in an interview with the Roslyn Times. “I know how many talented and dedicated teachers there are out there. I work with many of them here.”

In addition to the award, Cronin will receive a $500 honorarium at the commencement services. The Roslyn School District will also be presented with a $1,000 check as part of the award during a pre-commencement breakfast on Friday morning.

Cronin was nominated for the award by a Roslyn High School committee that included Superintendent of Schools Dan Brenner and Thomas Lynch, chairman of the high school’s science department. 

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Mary for this award,” Lynch said on Monday. “She’s taught the full variety of Roslyn students, from the Harvard kids to those you may see at Nassau Community College.” 

Cronin said she had to submit her resume – which also includes time at the former Academy of St. Joseph in Brentwood and a teaching assistantship at Hunter College – along with a letter describing what her 35-year career has meant to her. 

Cronin said she wrote about the fulfillment she gets from educating teenagers, who she called “a very interesting subculture” of young people.

“You have to like them, you have to love them and treat them as individuals,” she said. “They’re old enough to appreciate your jokes and take academics seriously, but they’re young enough that they make you laugh. They realize that you do have a life. You’re a teacher, yes, but you do have a family and other responsibilities.”

Robert Hannafin, the dean of Post’s College of Education, Information and Technology, said in a statement that Cronin was selected particularly for her efforts to help students struggling with chemistry or physics. 

“Her sincere desire to help them succeed translates into the trust needed to help these students overcome challenges,” he said.

Cronin this year began teaching a chemistry support group during school hours that Lynch said has helped students who scored poorly on the state regents exam.

“When you watch her work with those kids, it’s like you’d see her at Starbucks having a cup of coffee with them,” Lynch said. “The kids know she knows the material and that she’s going to present it 900 ways to Sunday to make sure they get it.”

Cronin will retire from Roslyn High School at the conclusion of the 2014-15 school year but said she plans to continue teaching at Nassau Community College.

She described her experience at Roslyn as “wonderful” and said “it has a lot to do with the quality of education we provide and the quality of people I’ve been fortunate enough to work with.” 

“But I couldn’t imagine not teaching at all,” she said. “Even my daughter said, ‘I can’t imagine you not going to school every day.’”

BY BILL SAN ANTONIO

Mary Cronin is a chemistry and physics teacher at Roslyn High School, but on Friday will put on a cap and gown and join the procession during LIU-Post’s commencement services.

That’s because Cronin, who also teaches part-time at Nassau Community College, will be presented with the university’s annual Secondary Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony in which Post officials said recognize contributions an educator has made to their school community.

“I feel very honored, I really do,” the East Meadow resident said in an interview with the Roslyn Times. “I know how many talented and dedicated teachers there are out there. I work with many of them here.”

In addition to the award, Cronin will receive a $500 honorarium at the commencement services. The Roslyn School District will also be presented with a $1,000 check as part of the award during a pre-commencement breakfast on Friday morning.

Cronin was nominated for the award by a Roslyn High School committee that included Superintendent of Schools Dan Brenner and Thomas Lynch, chairman of the high school’s science department. 

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Mary for this award,” Lynch said on Monday. “She’s taught the full variety of Roslyn students, from the Harvard kids to those you may see at Nassau Community College.” 

Cronin said she had to submit her resume – which also includes time at the former Academy of St. Joseph in Brentwood and a teaching assistantship at Hunter College – along with a letter describing what her 35-year career has meant to her. 

Cronin said she wrote about the fulfillment she gets from educating teenagers, who she called “a very interesting subculture” of young people.

“You have to like them, you have to love them and treat them as individuals,” she said. “They’re old enough to appreciate your jokes and take academics seriously, but they’re young enough that they make you laugh. They realize that you do have a life. You’re a teacher, yes, but you do have a family and other responsibilities.”

Robert Hannafin, the dean of Post’s College of Education, Information and Technology, said in a statement that Cronin was selected particularly for her efforts to help students struggling with chemistry or physics. 

“Her sincere desire to help them succeed translates into the trust needed to help these students overcome challenges,” he said.

Cronin this year began teaching a chemistry support group during school hours that Lynch said has helped students who scored poorly on the state regents exam.

“When you watch her work with those kids, it’s like you’d see her at Starbucks having a cup of coffee with them,” Lynch said. “The kids know she knows the material and that she’s going to present it 900 ways to Sunday to make sure they get it.”

Cronin will retire from Roslyn High School at the conclusion of the 2014-15 school year but said she plans to continue teaching at Nassau Community College.

She described her experience at Roslyn as “wonderful” and said “it has a lot to do with the quality of education we provide and the quality of people I’ve been fortunate enough to work with.” 

“But I couldn’t imagine not teaching at all,” she said. “Even my daughter said, ‘I can’t imagine you not going to school every day.’”

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