by Dawn Kane | Oct 14, 2024
Carolyn Mooney (1948 – 2023) was a classroom teacher, building representative, union officer, and student teacher coordinator in the Hamburg School District for 40 years.
Carolyn was hired in September 1970 as an elementary teacher after graduating from Buffalo State. Armor Elementary School, AES, was her home for the next 33 years. She taught third grade for almost all of those years, most of them with her Level 3 colleagues Marianne Chiumento, Nancy Masters, and Carmen Kluckhohn. Many of Carolyn’s former students fondly remember her “Multiplication and Division Olympics” which helped to ingrain a mastery of basic mathematics.
In 1972 Carolyn, an ardent believer in the importance of student teaching as a critical building block in the development of effective teachers, joined the Fredonia-Hamburg Student Teaching Programs as a charter member. She continued in this program for 40 years, first as a cooperating teacher and a recruiter of other teachers, later becoming the program’s Steering Committee chairman, finally assuming the overall Program Coordinator role conducting classroom instruction for all interns as a n Adjunct Faculty Member of SUNY Fredonia.
In 1987 Carolyn was honored in Albany as an Outstanding Teacher Educator by the New York State Association of Teacher Educators.
In addition to her teaching career Carolyn was a longtime member and former President of the Hamburg-Orchard Park ZONTA club and worked passionately in that role to advance the status of women and girls in service and advocacy.
Carolyn was married to Joseph P. Mooney for 50 years and was the mother of Jeffrey Mooney and Julianne (Jeffrey) Senulis and the grandmother of Cameron Mooney, Anna, Patrick, and Nina Senulis.
Carolyn passed away on November 11, 2023. She is missed to this day by her family, her friends, and her many admirers.
by Dawn Kane | Oct 5, 2023
Teachers who inspired me made me decide by my early teens that the career path for me was education, a decision I have never regretted. Hamburg’s commitments to education excellence have made me proud to be a member of this great community for sixty years.
To my three generations of “great kids”, thank you for the opportunity to live my dream.
by Dawn Kane | Oct 5, 2023
Bill Brand always wanted to be a teacher. He was born in Buffalo, New York and attended high school there. After graduating, he went to the State University of New York at Brockport. While there, he played football and swam on the college team. He graduated with a degree in Health and Physical Education.
After his graduation, he went into the army for two years and when he got out, he got a job teaching junior high science in Buffalo for half of a year. Bill then landed his dream job teaching health and physical education at Hamburg High School. In addition to teaching, he coached golf, JV football, and swimming. While doing all those things, he pursued his Master’s degree in administration at the University of Buffalo. Later in his career, he became Director of Health and Physical Education, where one of his most exciting duties was to open lockers at night when there were bomb threats. Bill was also the Assistant Principal of the high school and Director of Special Education.
After a successful and rewarding career, Bill retired from the district. Subsequently, he worked at BOCES certifying coaches and was President of the School Board for Hamburg Central School District. His wife, Lillian, Director of Pre-K at Hamburg, said it was the only time Bill got to be her boss! One of his proudest moments was watching all four of his children receive their diplomas from Hamburg High School. Bill is proud to be inducted in the Hamburg Alumni Wall of Fame, joining his wife Lillian, and celebrating their love and dedication to Hamburg Central Schools.
by Dawn Kane | Nov 4, 2022
Mrs. Morgan started at Hamburg High in the 1958-59 school year. When she started in ’58, science was just coming to the forefront of education with the launch of the Russian Sputnik Satellite the year previous. Up until her arrival, science curriculum sequence at HHS was for the 4-year college-bound science majors. Morgan introduced Micro Biology, which became a very popular course. Micro Biology offered a much wider scope of preparation for higher education after HHS.
Mrs. Morgan also developed the Microbiology course and wrote both the textbook used and lab workbook. These were purchased by the students, but in draft form / unpublished. It was a lab intensive course, much more than biology ever was. The course drew in a lot of female students when the sciences normally would have been reserved for those going into engineering or sciences in college. Morgan opened up the vision of professional possibilities beyond HHS for a many more females.
She also took charge of the Science Club. Given her likeability with students, membership in the club grew under her leadership. She was a teacher who made a difference. She was special and worthy of recognition.
Mrs. Morgan came from a family of science and medical achievers (9 siblings). Her one brother founded the Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He was a renowned Cancer researcher who is credited with pioneering chemotherapy treatment.
Morgan distinguished herself from the traditional teacher. She made new inroads and incentivized her students to greater achievement. She made friends with every one of her students and made them feel special. She retired in 1971 and passed away in March 2002. The Class of 1971 chose her to acknowledge in their ECHOES Yearbook dedication. A very heart felt dedication.
by Dawn Kane | Nov 4, 2022
“Momma Meis” lived to age 95. She passed Nov 1, 2004. She retired from HHS in 1972. She started as Miss Birdsey 1937. She was a tall stature, striking woman with white hair and strong directive voice. She was front and center of many activities. She was the Senior High English teacher and much more to all of us.
The yearbook was her leadership. The theatrical performances were at her helm, as was the Make Up Club and National Honor Society. Social activities such as dances all were with her involvement. She was the one to have influence on us in our last steps of transitioning to adult hood.
She was active in the community and professional organizations, long into her retirement years. She had those qualities as a teacher that could inspire, stick with you, and help unlock your potential.
She was active in:
- AARP – National Chairwomen of committee looking to protect the rights of elderly
- Traveled to Washington DC to lobby lawmakers
- Business and Professional Women’s Club – Named Woman of the Year
- NYSERTA – NY State Retired Teachers Association (35,000 member Organization)
- Served as President (1st Woman) 1985-1988
- In 1995 received highest award of “1995 Certificate of Recognition Award”
- Inducted into the Delta Kappa Gamma, International Society for Women Educators
- World Who’s Who of Women 10th edition: listed in / awarded certificate of merit
- Chairman of 14 member NY State Legislative Committee
- In later days of career, spearheaded program to provide remedial reading improvements to Hamburg 2nd and 3rd graders
- Hamburg Garden Club, Hamburg Women’s Club, and Hamburg Antiques Society
- Active member and leader
- Presenter of Programs for Organization Mtgs across the country
