LOCAL TEACHER EARNS FASNY HONORS

Paula Candella of Westmoreland Road Elementary School
Honored as FASNY “Teacher of the Year”

(WHITESBORO, NY) The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) Fire Prevention and Life Safety Committee has named Mrs. Paula Candella from Westmoreland Road Elementary School in Whitesboro, NY as the recipient of FASNY’s 2012 Teacher of the Year Award. Mrs. Candella was recognized during an awards ceremony at the school on Thursday, June 21 for her ongoing efforts to educate her students about fire safety.

Mrs. Candella, a resident of Marcy, NY, has taught first grade at Westmoreland Road Elementary School, a school that encompasses students from all walks of life, for the past 11 years. It is through her dedicated efforts that her students and their families have lived safer lives. She has continued to make a positive difference, and is recognized as the type of educator who helps gives students the chance to live their dreams to the fullest in a fire-safe and injury-free environment. She’s professional, goal-oriented and responsive to the needs of her students, and most of all, she strongly supports fire safety and learning.

“Mrs. Candella utilizes a positive approach to fire prevention instruction, and her students are not the only ones impacted by this,” said FASNY President David Jacobowitz. “She’s a leader with her staff, believing that ‘an ounce of prevention’ is worth the time it takes to design creative, customized lessons for her students. As a former educator, I know how important it is to instill these lessons early with positive reinforcement and consistent communication.”

Mrs. Candella realizes that many families do not regularly practice fire safety plans within their homes. As a result, she has developed lesson plans that incorporate FASNY fire prevention and life safety lessons and address this serious issue. Evidence of her perseverance in fire prevention has been seen throughout the years by the Whitesboro Fire Prevention team and she plays a vital role in the school’s Team Risk Watch. Mrs. Candella has also achieved the meritorious honor of being chosen as the recipient of the Learning Disabilities Association Teacher Certificate of Award for Excellence in 2007-2008.

“Mrs. Candella is involved in the planning process for fire and life safety visits brought to the school by the Whitesboro Fire Prevention team,” said FASNY Director Brian F. McQueen. “Her classroom is designed to exhibit a yearly theme that focuses not only on fire safety, but on life safety initiatives as well.”

She utilizes curriculum appropriate for her student’s young age level with real examples and facts in a proactive, non-threatening manner. She spends a great deal of time teaching her Friendly Firefighter Program to her students which helps them to not be afraid of firefighters or their appearance when dressed in full gear. She also emphasizes how important it is for every family to have a fire escape plan in place. Her students have had a number of projects that involve family participation in order to create their own family escape plan.

Mrs. Candella’s passion for fire safety education goes beyond just a professional level. She has lived much of her life surrounded by firefighters. Her father was a volunteer firefighter for 52 years and her older brother for 30, both in Whitesboro. Her husband has been a career firefighter for 18 years, currently an officer with the Utica Fire Department. With these influences around her, it comes as no surprise that she takes teaching fire safety to a different level. She uses her background knowledge on firefighters’ roles in our community and incorporates it into educating the children on fire safety issues.

Mrs. Candella was nominated for this honor by Whitesboro Fire Chief Peter Sobel and FASNY Director Brian F. McQueen.

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About FASNY
Founded in 1872, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) represents the interests of the more than 130,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York State. For more information, visit www.fasny.com.