Congratulations to Oakwood’s Teacher of the Year, Ms. Christine Le Claire! Ms. Le Claire became part of the Oakwood teaching team in 2016 when she was hired as the primary center’s Library Media Specialist, but you can also call her the school librarian (her students do)! But she’s been part of the South Huntington family since long before then. First, as a parent with three daughters in the district, and then as a substitute teacher in every one of our schools from 2012 - 2015. In fact, Oakwood principal Annie Michaelian says Ms. Le Claire’s “love for South Huntington is what propelled her to apply for the Library Media Specialist position.”  

Colleagues and parents credit Ms. Le Claire with helping her students fall in love with reading and teaching them how a library can enrich their lives from books to technology and beyond. Ms. Le Claire gets to know her students through the books they like and can often be found in the hallway saying hi to her students and letting them know about a new book she knows they’d love to read. Her fellow teachers appreciate that she often asks them what subjects or topics they’re working on in class so she can supplement those lessons during class time in the library. Ms. Le Claire’s library space at Oakwood is described as a place of creativity with not only beautiful books but also “with walls covered in colors to inspire, stars to encourage to look up and reach for your potential, and art pieces that can spark curiosity in young minds.”

This top teacher says her love of libraries goes back to when she was a teenager volunteering as a page at the Plainedge Public Library. “I admired the amazing librarians there. Those were the days before quick Google searches and answers, and I was fascinated by the myriad ways in which those dynamos culled the best resources for our patrons,” said Ms. Le Claire. But it didn’t become her career choice until later.

After graduating from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, she spent some time working in retail management, fitness, and as a stay-at-home mom. But the aura of the library kept calling her and in 2010 she decided to go back to school for Library Science. Ms. Le Claire received her Master of Library and Information Science degree from Palmer School at LIU and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning with Technology from Stony Brook University.

Working in South Huntington is not just a job for Ms. Le Claire. She sees it as a commitment to shaping the future of her community. She believes the district excels at preparing students to be well-rounded individuals. As a book lover, she hopes she’s creating readers for life. As an educator, she can see her students gain confidence and start to trust their own voice. “Other highlights of my day include tying shoelaces, zipping jackets, and marveling at newly-missing teeth,” she shared.

For Ms. Le Claire, the honor of being named Oakwood Teacher of the Year is more than a personal achievement, but a recognition of the enduring relevance of libraries in the 21st century. “Libraries are environments where students feel safe to explore, ask questions, and grow,” says Ms. Le Claire. “This distinction amplifies my voice in advocating for the importance of library programs and resources in education. It confirms that supporting the love of reading, multiple literacies, curriculum and instruction, technology integration, equity and access for all, and a sense of lifelong curiosity won’t fall by the wayside due to Google and AI.”
 

Oakwood principal Dr. Annie Michaelian (right) and assistant principal Mrs. Sarah Schlessinger (left) join in congratulating the primary center’s 2024-25 Teacher of the Year.