NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Ann Marie Rooney, a special education teacher at Ward Elementary School in New Rochelle has been chosen as a semi-finalist for the 4th Annual Top Teacher Search on Live with Michael and Kelly.
12 semi-finalists were announced live on the show just this morning. The 5 teachers who receive the most votes from the public will become finalists. The 5 finalists will be filmed in their classrooms for a feature and they will appear on a future Live with Michael and Kelly show.
Voting begins immediately and will continue until 5pm ET on Monday, April 15th. You can vote at www.livekellyandmichael.com
The 5 finalists will be announced on the show the next morning; Tuesday, April 16th. You can vote once per day. Help spread the word. Vote everyday.
We are doing our part here with Talk of the Sound, contributing a skyscraper ad on every page on the site and another running in our daily newsletter.
Rooney was nominated based on a letter from a New Rochelle parent:
Dear Kelly & Michael
To put into words what Mrs. Rooney has done for our son, Timothy is a next to impossible task. However, I am going to do my best to explain what a wonderful teacher and person she is. Timothy is 7 years old and was diagnosed with Autism when he was 18 months. The news was devastating to my wife and I and we both struggled to find him the help and support he required. Timothy was evaluated by countless psychologists, therapists and doctors all in the midst of attending school. At points, it became too much and Timothy would shut down or throw tantrums. It was next to impossible to understand what was bothering him and why as he did not speak. Timothy did receive excellent care from numerous therapists; however, there was always something missing and a piece that no one could completely grasp to get Timothy to control himself. After transitioning to three schools in three years, Timothy was fortunate enough to end up at William B. Ward Elementary School with a teacher named Mrs. Rooney. In conversations with numerous other parents throughout our city, we heard nothing but praise and kind words about Mrs. Rooney; countless times hearing “she is the best!” Timothy entered Mrs. Rooney’s class last school year with emotional and behavioral problems which are not easy traits for anyone to handle let alone a teacher with other special needs children in the course of trying to stick to a curriculum in a classroom. Timothy is an extremely loving child and always seemed to like his teachers; however, to see our son come home from his first day with Mrs. Rooney and tell us: “I love school and Mrs. Rooney is awesome!” was something that literally brought my wife and me to tears. Here was a child who, in the previous two years, had such tantrums and outbursts, that it required me to leave work to pick him up from school because he couldn’t be calmed down or kept under control. Although Timothy did have moments where he became upset or frustrated in Mrs. Rooney’s class, we would receive daily notes from Mrs. Rooney explaining how she helped Timothy with breathing and relaxation exercises which ultimately helped him learn to control himself from having outbursts. From day 1, Mrs. Rooney has been an absolute angel which we know was not just brought into Timothy’s life by chance. While we are extremely grateful for the assistance Timothy received from other therapists and teachers, Mrs. Rooney has stood out head and shoulders above the rest and we cannot even begin to thank her for all she has done. Mrs. Rooney met with my wife and me constantly throughout Timothy’s first year with her and kept us informed of everything she was doing and planning to do with him throughout the year. She also provided exercises and methods for us to utilize at home to assist Timothy in his development. I only wish you could have seen Timothy two years ago and compare him to the child you see today. The change and development is truly unbelievable! You would never imagine this is the same child who only years ago wouldn’t even utter a word. Timothy is reading, writing and performing at levels now that have allowed him to start participating in several mainstream classrooms with the ultimate goal of him eventually becoming completely mainstream with no further need for special needs classes. When we met with the school board to discuss Timothy’s future there was not even a question that we wanted him to remain with Mrs. Rooney. We asked Mrs. Rooney if she would take him for another year and she accepted without even the slightest bit of hesitation. Mrs. Rooney has treated Timothy like her own child and has cared for him and guided him in a way that few could possibly conceive. Timothy has not had a single emotional outburst this entire school year and that is owed to the tireless efforts of Mrs. Rooney and her unwavering commitment to our son. Mrs. Rooney is a legend in the city of New Rochelle and a hero to our family and especially Timothy. I was compelled to write this nomination for her after my wife saw you discussing the contest on your show. Mrs. Rooney is the most shining example of what we believe teachers should be and what we pray our children are exposed to when entering a classroom. In addition, here is a small poem we worked with Timothy to write about Mrs. Rooney. Please consider her for this award as she is more than deserving of it. We wish we could do more to show our appreciation but this award would mean the world to us and to Mrs. Rooney. Thank you.
Six years ago, my parents cried
They didn’t see much in my eyes.
I did some things that weren’t right
And hurt my family and caused them fright.Five years ago, they tested me
And found that I was spectrum
Autistic is the word they used
I wondered why they went numb.Four years ago, I went to school
For special and retarded kids
I learned to play and dance and move
But boy, it placed me on the grid
With little hope of being much
And hating to be touched or touch
Three years ago, I learned to talk
And stay with other children
Before that though, my world was dark
And even pretty barren.Two years ago, I didn’t smile
Or laugh or sing a lullaby
It hurt to see my family sad
But I just couldn’t seem too glad
Because I didn’t know quite how
To do the things that I do now.Two years ago, I met Mrs. Rooney,
And even though I drove her looney
She held my hand and scolded me
And told me to be Timothy
Not someone else, not someone shy
To just be like a normal guy.And so today, I say to you
That now I am a big boy too
And I can read and sing and laugh
And even sign my autograph.You taught me with your love and heart
That I could always be a part
Of something bigger
Now you know
That people like me can grow and grow!I love my sisters, brothers, too.
I love my entire family who
smiled at me and wished me better
and told me to read and learn my letters
I love my mommy and daddy most
They made me this special toast forMrs. Rooney.
You are the best
I will love you still
when all the rest
Forget the things you did for me
To make me “Real boy, Timothy”Timothy Bavosa