Memorial School Teacher Receives Award

Allyson Singleton, a third grade teacher at Memorial Elementary School in East Hampton, was recently honored with a Local Hero Award from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

Ten teachers from Connecticut and Western Massachisetts were selected for the fifth annual awards for having exhibited tremendous dedication to their profession and outstanding efforts in servicing their schools and communities.

The recipients were honored by the RMHC Board of Directors at the Connecticut Governor’s Residence in Hartford on Nov. 16, and were joined by superintendents and principals from their respective districts and schools, as well as other invited guests. Each honoree was presented with a plaque commemorating their award.

Along with the plaque, RMHC awarded a $1,000 grant to Memorial Elementary School in Singleton's honor.

Singleton has been teaching third grade at Memorial School for more than 20 years. Her smile and positive attitude are contagious to her colleagues and students. Her classroom environment allows children to be engaged, motivated and active learners. They have fun with Africa Day, Pilgrim Day and Class Safari all while learning and being challenged to reach new plateaus. Her students are even excited and motivated to take the CMTs thanks to the personal goals Singleton helps them set.

Singleton not only works to help her students succeed academically, but also emotionally as well. She has a strong rapport with each of her students, stresses classroom community, and reinforces her students’ positive behaviors during all class lessons. She has a terrific relationship with parents as well, offering an open-door policy that allows them to have an active role in the learning process, and even having parents and community volunteers help with the classroom Reader’s Workshop.

A mentor for new teachers, Singleton also attends many evening events, including Family Math Night and Non-Fiction Reading Frenzy Night.  She is also involved with the local Lion’s Club to promote the annual “My Hero” writing contest, as well as the school store, which she runs to help her students make change and kindergarteners learn to identify coins. She is seen as a leader within Memorial School, and thus, RMHC was pleased to recognize her with the Local Hero Award. Memorial Elementary School Principal Dr. Karen Fitzsimmons notes that the grant money from the award will be put to good use with Singleton’s input.

“Our board of directors is proud to acknowledge these exceptional teachers for their tireless commitment and important service,” said Laura Phillips Ward, President of RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. “Our RMHC chapter awards grants to local nonprofits that provide a brighter future for children, with a particular focus on supporting education. With the Local Hero Awards, we are able to thank the devoted professionals who help children everyday – our outstanding area teachers.”

There is no application or nomination process for the RMHC Local Hero Awards. Instead, the local charity works closely with partnering organizations, such as the Connecticut Association of Schools, Connecticut State Department of Education and the Massachusetts Department of Education, to identify these "Heroes" throughout the region.