For anyone stepping into Laura Allicino’s kindergarten class, it’s clear that you’re in a special place. As she teaches her students about any subject—be it counting by fives, Abraham Lincoln or the weather—she does it with enthusiasm and a never-fading smile.
And if you ask her students at Fork Lane Elementary School, they’ll say she’s “the best teacher in the whole world.” So it seems only fitting that Allicino was recently nominated as a LifeChanger of the Year, an annual program that recognizes and rewards K-12 educators and school employees from around the country.
Allicino was nominated for the award by Fork Lane principal Chris Scardino and colleague Lori Koerner.
“She’s well deserving of it. She’s loving and kind and hardworking,” said Koerner. “She maintains a positive attitude regardless of any situation she’s confronted with. She’s a beautiful role model for her colleagues.”
“She is one of those quiet, hardworking educators that everyone admires,” said Scardino. “Teachers like Laura do not come along every year. They are rare, special and one of the key ingredients to our overall success here at Fork Lane.”
Hundreds of nominees from all over the country will be reviewed by a committee comprised of past LifeChanger of the Year award winners. The winning teacher will be awarded $10,000; split into a $5,000 personal cash award and a $5,000 donation to the school.
One of the things that the selection committee looks at is positive comments left on the nominee’s profile on www.lifechangeroftheyearnominees.com. Since February, former students, parents, coworkers, and Allicino’s friends and family have taken to the web to praise Allicino and express their gratitude for the effect she has had on their lives. There are more than 50 comments on the LifeChanger of the Year award website, and they all say the same thing—Allicino is truly a life changer.
“Mrs. Allicino is an amazing individual…[she] demonstrates compassion, enthusiasm and creativity in every aspect of learning,” said one parent. “She is kind and caring and has the most creative ways to get her students to understand her lessons,” gushed another parent. “She is the best foundation any parent would like for their kids.”
Allicino says she has been completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
“It means so much that everyone is taking the time and thought to write these things,” Allicino said. “I didn’t realize that I had that kind of an influence on people. Knowing people are happy with what I’m doing…I’ve won already.”
Allicino credits her success to the great support she gets from the Fork Lane community.
“This is a fabulous school,” she said. “I have such great support from my principal and colleagues and parents and that’s why I can do the things we do. We share ideas and like to work as a team.”
The 19-year Fork Lane teacher described her class as a family and said she strives to make learning fun for her students.
“You can take anything and make it fun for the children,” Allicino said. “I feel like I’m a cheerleader. When you make the students feel good they want to do more. It motivates them.”
Though being an educator has presented several challenges over the last few years, Allicino’s passion for the profession remains unwavering.
“My heart is in my job,” she said. “I’m so happy to come every day. This is what I want to do and where I want to be.”
Find out more about Allicino at www.lifechangeroftheyearnominees.com/2015/01/31/laura-allicino/
