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ASSET Award

Whitney O’Donnell has been named a Bright Light by the Association of Suffolk Supervisors for Educational Technology (ASSET). Bright Lights are selected due to their exemplary integration of technology into their educational environment. Ms. O’Donnell, the Library Media Specialist at Lloyd Harbor Elementary School, was honored at an ASSET luncheon on January 12 at The Heritage Club Bethpage, accompanied by Valerie Massimo, Lloyd Harbor Principal; Joseph Monastero, Executive Director of Instructional and Administrative Technology; Jill M. Gierasch, Superintendent; and Genevieve LaGattuta, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. Ms. O’Donnell’s tenure at Lloyd Harbor began in 1999 as an elementary teacher for 20 years. During the 2007-08 school year, Ms. O'Donnell took a sabbatical and worked as an editorial assistant at Random House Children's Books, where she learned more about the back end of how books are created. In 2019, she moved from her sixth-grade classroom to the library next door. On a daily basis, Ms. O’Donnell’s knowledge and talents in the field of technology help students and staff members in areas of research, guided technology learning, movie making, MakerSpace, coding, and problem solving. She shares her love of reading with children through book talks, author studies, a schoolwide “March Madness Book Tournament,” and many other creative outlets. Each morning Ms. O'Donnell helps produce an LHTV broadcast, directing students behind the scenes and streaming content live into the classrooms. She was also instrumental in assisting the Lloyd Harbor team win its National Blue Ribbon award, which culminated in a trip to Washington, D.C., with Principal Massimo and Superintendent Gierasch for the ceremony and award designation. Congratulations on a well-deserved recognition!