Out of Springville-Griffith Institute Central School District’s 160 teachers, Kim Pazzuti ’99 ED, ’05 MSED was named Teacher of the Year through the Springville Wal-Mart store in 2008. This honor came with a $1,000 donation to Springville through the Wal-Mart Foundation, and $100 in Wal-Mart gift cards to purchase classroom supplies.

 

“The $1,000 donation went towards Springville’s efforts to build schools in Africa,” says Pazzuti. “That was our (school’s) big push this year.” Wal-Mart representatives and Springville administrative officials surprised in her classroom with the oversized check (pictured) and her son, who was brought over from his classroom for the occasion, Pazzuti offers, “I had no time to prepare.” For a teacher who spends hours each week preparing lessons and activities, this was unfamiliar territory.

 

Pazzuti earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, which have led to a nine-year career in the Springville district, with one year as a first grade teacher, and the past eight years in a third grade classroom.

 

“I went to Erie Community College, and considered becoming a physical education teacher, but then I started looking into an elementary teaching degree. A friend, who is also a Medaille alum, recommended Medaille for me,” she explains. Pazzuti now coaches the junior varsity girl’s basketball team in addition to her teaching duties.

 

Having been a student teacher herself through Medaille’s education program, Pazzuti has hosted other student teachers in her class. “It’s great to see their new ideas and to reflect on how they teach,” says Pazzuti. “The first student teacher I had was hired to teach at the same grade level in Springville.”

 

“Kids are like little sponges,” Pazzuti offers, “And kids are my life.” She lives in the village of Springville with her husband and two children.