"Just one more example that school doesn't stop when the bell rings."

I'm going to devote this month's column to congratulating our 5th Grade teacher Cindy Smith

After learning about a classroom project at a math curriculum workshop, Cindy had her students design a house. The "Build A Dream House" project not only showed the students that math has a purpose in real life but won an award for the teacher. Cindy received the New York State Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in Elementary Education and is now eligible for an award on the national level. Cindy will go to Washington for a four-day event where she will meet with recognized national, state, and local officials, and other Presidential Award winners.

Cindy will receive a grant of $7,500 to spend at AES for improving science and math programs at her direction.

Congratulations, Cindy. Keep up the good work.