Helen Bach Moss Memorial Better Beginnings Award

2023 Application is Closed

Anticipated award announcement in June

The award, which is sponsored by the Board of Regents, honors the life and career of Helen Bach Moss, a young New York State educator who passed away in 1988. Mrs. Moss touched the lives of many people; her career was distinguished by a genuine respect and love for children. She was ever caring toward students and their parents and acted as a worthy role model in all of her endeavors. Her family and friends petitioned the Board of Regents to establish a memorial fund that would go annually to other elementary teachers exhibiting these qualities and provide an endowment to award a cash stipend of $5,000 to an elementary teacher with an additional $1,000 for the teacher’s school district. This award recognizes early childhood education as the most effective investment for long-term educational success.

The simple nomination process for the Better Beginnings Award involves the preparation of statements of support from students, parents, other educators, and the local community. Nominees should be current teachers who are skilled at engaging young minds and developing nurturing relationships with elementary school students.

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Honors the life and career of Helen Bach Moss, a young New York State educator

who passed away in 1988.

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Purpose

The purpose of the award, which celebrates the life and career of Helen Bach Moss, is to recognize elementary teachers who are gifted in finding and nurturing the strengths of each student and fostering trusting relationships among pupils, parents, teachers, and administrators.

Better Beginnings Award Recipient

 Mary Turi is the 2020 Better Beginnings Award recipient.

She is a Kindergarten teacher at Fishkill Elementary School in Fishkill NY in the Wappingers Fall Central School District ,