Schools

East Lyme Middle School Teacher Named 'Local Hero'

Kathy LaPlatney was honored and East Lyme Middle School was given a $1,000 grant.

A press release from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts:

Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts has honored 10 area teachers with the seventh annual RMHC Local Hero Awards. The selected teachers from Connecticut and Western Massachusetts have all 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, Conn., on Tuesday, October 22, and were joined by Superintendents and Principals from their respective districts and schools, as well as other invited guests including local McDonald’s owners and Ronald McDonald himself. Each honoree was presented with a plaque commemorating their award. 

Among those honored with the prestigious award include Kathy LaPlatney, who is a mathematics Teacher at East Lyme Middle School. To further recognize Mrs. LaPlatney for her hard work, RMHC awarded a $1,000 grant to East Lyme Middle School in her honor.

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“Our board of directors is proud to acknowledge these exceptional teachers for their tireless commitment and important service,” said Edward Abraham, 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. 

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Kathy LaPlatney teaches Mathematics to multiple grades at East Lyme Middle School and encourages self-regulation in her students, requiring each class to design their own rubrics and assess their individual work. Mrs. LaPlatney fosters a learning environment filled with trust and respect that has brought each of her classes to its greatest learning potential. As the Math Department Head, she has played an instrumental role in integrating the Common Core State Standards into her department, and also piloted the Smart Balanced Assessment to help educate elementary schools on CCSS. One of Mrs. LaPlatney’s greatest attributes is her ability to build meaningful and lasting relationships with students and their families; so when the concept of ‘looping’ was first introduced at ELMS, she embraced the model and forged strong bonds with students and parents over a multi-year period. The positive climate she created by piloting this program led to the full practice of looping at East Lyme Middle School. This clear leadership and true dedication to excellence is one of the many reasons why RMHC was pleased to recognize Mrs. LaPlatney with the Local Hero Award. East Lyme Middle School Principal Judy DeLeeuw notes that the grant money from the award will be put to good use with Mrs. LaPlatney’s input.

 


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