TURNERS FALLS — The annual Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards have been doled out, and Franklin County Technical School teacher Mark Amstein is a winner.
The award, presented by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, honored the Landscaping and Horticulture program teacher, who was nominated by the school’s administration.
“Whenever we can honor a teacher of his level, it’s obviously a good thing for Franklin County Technical School,” Principal and Assistant Superintendent Shawn Rickan told The Recorder.
Amstein grew up in Colrain, currently lives in Buckland and was a 1988 graduate of Mohawk Trail Regional High School. He later gained an associate degree from Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts and a bachelor’s from UMass in plant and soil sciences. He has been a teacher at the Tech School since 2007.
“I feel honored to be selected,” Amstein said in a press release. “There are a lot of strong teachers at Franklin County Tech that could have won this award. It’s nice to be recognized.”
The award is given to teachers in the region for their dedication to enhancing education, according to the foundation.
“Mr. Amstein is looked up to by his colleagues and the students alike,” FCTS Superintendent Richard Martin said in the foundation’s release. “He demonstrates exemplary levels of performance on a daily basis and is a role model for others to follow. His consistent demeanor, interpersonal skills and approach to teaching helps support all range of learners.”
Rickan talked about Amstein’s approachability and organizational skills as a teacher as points of admiration by the administration.
“His demeanor and his skills and his approach to teaching hits all ranges of learners,” Rickan said. “From kids who are highly skilled to those students who really struggled.”
A banquet to honor the recipients of the award throughout the Pioneer Valley will be April 27 at The Log Cabin in Holyoke.