RHFA giving away books, Strever to be honored at Apple Blossom Day
Red Hook Central School District
The Red Hook Faculty Association will give away nearly 1,000 children’s books and Lego boxes at Saturday’s Apple Blossom Day in honor of Martha Strever.
The RHFA secured a $5,000 grant for the giveaway through the American Federation of Teachers’ Reading Opens the World campaign. Several educational leaders and elected officials will be represented at the event, including AFT President Randi Weingarten and representatives from Congressman Pat Ryan and County Executive Sue Serino’s offices, among others. A presentation involving Ms. Strever will begin at 11:30 a.m.
The Red Hook Rotary’s Apple Blossom Day this year will feature music, entertainment, crafts, vendors and food trucks. The free annual event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the village parking lot.
Ms. Strever in this, her 64th school year, has received a number of honors. Among them, the Linden Avenue Middle School teacher was highlighted at the State Capitol as part of the Legislative Women’s Caucus’ annual Women’s History Month celebration; she was named among USA Today’s Women or the Year, the only honoree from New York; and she was given an official Certificate of Recognition from the state Education Department.
Late last month she was given the International Society for Key Women Educators – Delta Kappa Gamma – New York chapter Frederica Hollister Professional Educator’s Award, which honors someone who “exemplifies the best in education.”
Along with a plaque, Ms. Strever was given a $1,000 award, which she says she will donate back into her own Martha Strever Scholarship. For the last 15 years, the scholarship has given $500 to a graduating senior who plans to go into a math-related field and has been active in the school or surrounding community. She’s increasing scholarship this year to $1,000.
“I want it to be a person who has math achievement throughout their high school years, a person who financially it can be a help, because that’s what I needed,” she said of a good scholarship candidate, “good standing in all subjects but they don’t have to have the top average.”
Ms. Strever is the longest-serving active teacher in New York and has three applications for Guinness World Records pending, including longest teaching career in one school, longest career for a female math teacher and longest-serving department head.