Sayville Middle School Teacher Named Educator of the Month

Thinking outside of the box is what helped Jean Galima stand out to those selecting Dowling College’s Educator of the Month Award. Galima, a teacher at , received this honor on Tuesday during a ceremony that took place where she loves to be – her classroom.

Dr. Clyde Payne, Dean of Dowling’s School of Education, presented Galima with a plaque and the honor of Educator of the Month on Tuesday with the proud teacher’s students, colleagues, principal and daughter looking on.

“Mrs. Galima will be honored by Dowling College and News 12 at a dinner in June with all of the Educators of the Month,” said Payne. “All that Mrs. Galima does, in and out of the classroom, puts her above the pack. She teaches the students knitting, which is a pastime and so important. She takes reluctant writers and helps them succeed.”

Payne also mentioned Galima’s PenPal program and soldier writing campaign as examples of her “thinking outside of the box,” which attributed to her receiving this recognition.

“This is a great honor,” said Galima. “I always get full support for what I do and that is a great testament to the Sayville School District. They let us teach and I am grateful for that.”

Galima has been a teacher at the Middle School for 16 years and teaches her students lessons that will translate into the real world. In her sixth grade Communication Skills class, the students learn public speaking, articulation, power point, communication skills, video and camera skills, writing, editing and how to “say what you mean and mean what you say.”

“This class is fun because we learn how to speak in different tones,” said Joey.

Abby agreed. “You also taught us how to speak in front of people,” she added.

“Mrs. Galima is kind and caring and I appreciate all she has done for us,” said Holly, another student in the communication skills class. 

Emily said that she was going to miss her teacher, since Tuesday was the last day of the Communication Skills class for this group of students. "I really learned how to communicate in this class and I am going to miss Mrs. Galima."

In addition to teaching English writing labs, the Gifted SEED program as the Middle School Gifted Facilitator, and Communication Skills, Galima opens up her classroom during her lunch period to students interested in a knitting club. The energetic students eat lunch and learn to knit, but their efforts are not left in the classroom. Together, the students work on knitting hats for premature babies born at local hospitals, blankets for residents living in homeless shelters and other items that are donated back to the community.

“There is no question that Mrs. Galima is an outstanding educator and everything that she does is because she cares. A lot of the things that the students are doing here right now are going to reach far outside of this classroom,” said , Sayville Middle School Principal, who delivers some of the handmade pieces that the students make to local hospitals and shelters. “Thank you Mrs. Galima for making Sayville Middle School a great place.”