Congratulations to Silas Wood’s Teacher of the Year Ms. Michelle Berger. Ms. Berger has been part of the South Huntington family as a special education and inclusion teacher since 2005. She spent her first two years at Countrywood before moving to Silas Wood, where she has taught core education subjects in nearly every special education setting – from Resource Room, to Self-Contained classes, to Integrated Co-Teaching. Silas Wood principal Stephen Toto says Ms. Berger’s strength is “not only in what she teaches, but in how she teaches. She builds strong, trusting relationships with students and families, helping them navigate challenges and celebrating growth at every step. She is a champion for equity and inclusion, advocating for her students with professionalism, strength, and relentless dedication.”

 

Students and parents appreciate the “calm, inclusive environment” she creates in the classroom. One parent called it “a safe space where [students] can have the courage to answer a question or take a guess and know it’s okay to make a mistake because Ms. Berger is there to support them with patience and understanding.” Colleagues praise her ability to help her students become independent and celebrate their accomplishments. One student said “having [Ms. Berger] as a teacher helped me learn to believe in myself.”

 

Ms. Berger has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education from the University of Delaware, and a Master’s Degree in Education Technology from LIU Post. She also received a Post Master’s Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership from Stony Brook University. She spoke with us about her teaching career and what being named Teacher of the Year means to her.

 

Q & A

 

What inspired you to become an educator?

One person can change you for a lifetime, and for me, that person was Philip Bach. Philip and I met through a peer leadership program I participated in when I was in middle school. Philip was born with a rare genetic disorder. But Philip never let his disabilities hold him back. He loved numbers and he loved to learn. Over the years, we spent hours together, laughing, talking, and just being friends. He taught me about unconditional love, perseverance, and determination.  Most importantly, he taught me to focus on the positives in any situation, rather than the challenges. Philip, and his incredible family, inspired me to pursue a career in special education so I could help other children with disabilities thrive in the classroom.

 

What is your favorite part of the school day?

My favorite part of the school day is watching a student find success with a challenging concept or helping them realize the unique gifts they bring to the world. Those moments when confidence grows and belief replaces doubt are what make teaching so meaningful to me.

 

What have your students taught YOU?

Every day, they teach me to persevere through hard times, to never give up, and to believe in myself. They remind me that each of us has a special gift, even if it’s hard to find at first, that we all make a difference in one another’s lives, and that no two of us see the world from the same perspective.

 

How do you show your Wildcat Pride?  What makes the South Huntington School District  special to you?

South Huntington is important to me because it represents a shared commitment to our students, families, and community. It provides the support, collaboration, and resources that allow us as educators to meet students where they are and help them grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Our students learn and grow at different levels and in different ways, and that diversity challenges us as educators to be flexible, creative, and inclusive.

 

 

What does being named Teacher of the Year mean to you?

Being named Teacher of the Year is incredibly humbling and deeply meaningful to me. This honor doesn’t just reflect my work, it reflects the amazing students I have the privilege of learning from and advocating for every day, as well as the incredible staff I am fortunate to work alongside. It takes an entire team to support our students, and our teaching assistants and paraprofessionals play an especially vital role in the lives of students with special needs. Their patience, dedication, and unwavering belief in our students make success possible. This recognition represents the countless moments of perseverance, growth, and small victories, and the hope that each student leaves believing in themselves a little more than they did before; even on the days when learning feels hard and success doesn’t come easily.

 

(this interview has been edited and condensed for clarity)
 

 

 

Silas Wood principal, Mr. Stephen Toto (right) and assistant principal, Mr. Adam Obletz (left) join in congratulating their building’s Teacher of the Year, Ms. Michelle Berger (center).