Congratulations to Stimson Teacher of the Year nominee, Ms. Jennifer Schmelter. Ms. Schmelter has spent her entire 34-year career at Stimson Middle School teaching what she loves - MUSIC! She has shared her love of music with her students in many different capacities over those years, including band director, conductor of wind ensemble, pit conductor, director of the marching band, and pit orchestra director. In addition to teaching, she also remains a performing musician. Ms. Schmelter has appeared with North Shore Symphony Orchestra, CW Post Symphony Orchestra and the Huntington Community Band to name a few. Students, parents and colleagues have described her as inspiring, dynamic, encouraging, and brilliant at her craft.
Ms. Schmelter began at Stimson Middle School in 1989 after graduating from SUNY Fredonia. She earned her Master’s degree from Stony Brook in 1992 as well as her SDL certification in 2008. The inspiration to become an educator came from Ms. Schmelter’s high school band director, John Mangione, from Copiague High School. She says the fundamentals of music he taught helped her to become a well-rounded musician, and she felt there needed to be more teachers with those qualities that motivated her to go into music education.
Ms. Schmelter especially loves teaching her small group lessons because it helps her individualize her instruction to her students’ specific needs, and gives her the opportunity to know her students better. Being such a staple in the Stimson music community allows Ms. Schmelter to take part in many district wide events including Spirit Weeks, Homecoming, concerts, musical productions, and sporting events- and that allows her to experience something else she loves a lot - seeing her present and former students outside of the school day!
Stimson Principal, Mr. Mike Duggan (left), presents Ms. Jennifer Schmelter as the middle school's Teacher of the Year.