Fire Safety Educator of the Year

 

For more than two decades, firefighter Maryann Laspada has been a cornerstone of fire safety education in Chatham, N.Y. Her work goes beyond presentations — she creates meaningful, lasting experiences that teach students not just about fire safety, but also about responsibility, teamwork, and the value of community service.

Each fall Laspada leads a district-wide program that unites many local fire companies for a large-scale, interactive presentation for elementary students — complete with fire trucks, demonstrations, and real-life scenarios. She also coordinates firehouse visits where students learn how firefighters respond to emergencies, what equipment is used, and how different roles like traffic control and interior attack work together.

Her lessons are practical and empowering. She teaches students how to create family escape plans, identify safe meeting spots, and alert firefighters to pets left inside. Her programs often spark an interest in volunteer service, and she actively encourages students to consider becoming Junior firefighters.

As one of Laspada’s strong supporters wrote, “She demonstrates unwavering dedication, fosters collaboration, and is a shining example of what a leader and mentor should be.”

Laspada’s work has touched countless lives and continues to build a more informed, safety-minded community — one student, one classroom, and one firehouse at a time.

Past Award Recipients

2024	James Alheim	Greenwich Fire Department
2023	Lt. Julie McKinnon	Hastings-on-Hudson Volunteer Fire Department
2022	Richard M. Nemier	Nedrow Volunteer Fire Department
2021	Edward Scharfberg	Oceanside Fire Department
2020	Robert Brewer	Lincoln Volunteer Fire Department
2019	Dean Smith	Barnard Fire Department
2018	Robert Sutton	Central Islip Fire Department
2017	Danny Dunn	Enterprise Hose Co. No. 1
2016	William J. Wren	New Hartford Fire Department
2015	Jennifer Cortese	Whitesboro Fire Department
2014	Aaron Cook	Johnsonville Volunteer Fire Co.
2013	Harry Prodromides	Lindenhurst Fire Department
2012	William C. “Billy” Schroeder	Lancaster Fire Department
2011	Chief Richard D. Tarello	South Farmingdale Fire Department
2010	Kenneth Clair Jr.	Brewster Fire Department
2009	Brian Niggli	Penfield Fire Company
2008	David Bowen	Vischer Ferry Volunteer Fire Company
2007	Donald P. Dalrymple	Valois, Logan & Hector Fire Company, Inc
2006	Jeffrey S. Burkhart	Oriskany Independent Fire and Hose Company
2005	Glenn Sickles	Scottsville Fire Department