LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Penny Ellis upon the occasion of her
designation by "LIVE with Regis and Kelly" as a 2011 Top Teacher of the
Year

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend illustrious individuals of distinguished purpose whose lives
have been committed to the pursuit of excellence in the education of the
youth of the Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Penny Ellis, a special education teacher at Oceanside High School, upon
the occasion of her designation as a 2011 Top Teacher of the Year in the
second annual Top Teacher nationwide search held by the morning talk
show "LIVE with Regis and Kelly"; and
WHEREAS, Penny Ellis wanted to be a special education teacher ever
since she was a young girl; her father worked at the Town of Hempstead's
Anchor Program in Lido Beach, a program for special needs children;
Penny volunteered there when she was 14 and knew immediately exactly
what she wanted to do with her life; and
WHEREAS, She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education
from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1979 and a Master
of Science degree in Special Education from Hofstra University in 1981;
and
WHEREAS, A teacher for 27 years, Penny Ellis, who has two daughters,
has been with the Oceanside Union Free School District since 1990; she
originally applied for a job filling in for a teacher on maternity leave
and was, instead, offered a position as part of a new program the
district was starting; and
WHEREAS, She accepted and, helping to pilot the district's first
special education program, spent the next 16 years teaching the same
group of nine students, starting when they were 5 years old and staying
with them through elementary and middle school and on into high school,
from which they, with her invaluable help, encouragement and support,
graduated at age 21; and
WHEREAS, Though she now teaches a different group of special needs
students, she still speaks to this first group of students; they call
her and leave messages on the phone because those are some of the life
skills she taught them; and
WHEREAS, Penny Ellis has a keen ability to see a child's potential and
to nurture it with every tool available; when her students wanted to
enter a film contest, she jumped right in, including other students from
their Best Buddies club and non-disabled peers, even teachers and admin-
istrators; and
WHEREAS, With an open mind and an open heart, Penny Ellis uses innova-
tive and creative strategies, and limitless energy and compassion to
engage her students, and to instill in them the skills they need to
flourish, and to become productive and active members of society; and
WHEREAS, Penny Ellis' talent and advocacy go beyond the classroom; she
has demonstrated to her students, to her school, and to the community
how integration and inclusion are not only possible, but hugely success-
ful and rewarding for all; and
WHEREAS, She has paved the way for employment and training opportu-
nities for those with special needs and made clear the reciprocal bene-
fits society receives when it invests in the education of all children;
and

WHEREAS, A teacher who is an unconditional advocate for her students,
Penny Ellis makes house calls and interrupts her own weekend plans for
her students' benefit; and
WHEREAS, Active in her profession and in her community, she has
fittingly been honored many times; she has earned the SEPTA (Special
Education Parent Teacher Association) Heart and Soul and Lifetime
Membership Awards, the Molloy College Student Teacher Mentor Award, and
the New York State Excellence in Teaching Award; and
WHEREAS, Nominated as a Top Teacher by her aide, Mary Bores, Penny
Ellis is truly one of the great teachers who has had great impact on
those who have been lucky enough to be in her classroom, as well as
those who have worked by her side; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such dedication and accomplishment are brought to our attention
it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend them for the edifica-
tion and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Penny Ellis upon the occasion of her designation as a 2011 Top
Teacher of the Year in the second annual Top Teacher nationwide contest
conducted by the morning talk show "LIVE with Regis and Kelly"; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Penny Ellis.