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James LeCain ~ 2011 LYC Educator of the Year
The Law, Youth &
Citizenship Program of the New York State Bar Association presented the
Emil Zullo Distinguished Service Award to its 2011 Teacher of the Year,
Mr. James LeCain, on Friday, Nov. 18.The award was first presented in
1990 and LeCain became the 25th recipient of the designation.
LeCain, an educator at the
Brookwood Facility in Claverack, NY, has been teaching students at the
high school and college level for many years. He brings history,
government and Constitutional knowledge to his students. He participates
in the highly acclaimed national We the People curriculum, administered
in New York State by NYSBA's Law, Youth and Citizenship
Program.
"The first time I met Jim, I
knew he was someone special. He not only had a passion for
his subject area, but more importantly, a passion to see his students
grow and learn," noted LYC Director Eileen Gerrish. "As a teacher, I
know how one great teacher can affect thousands of lives, and we all
know that this is the case for his teaching career."
LeCain was presented the award
in the presence of his colleagues and students who had nominated him for
the distinction. One of his students wrote, "Mr. LeCain deserves to be
nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award, yet in my mind, he deserves
an award for being the greatest teacher on earth!”
The award is named in honor
Social Studies teacher, the late Emil “Butch”
Zullo, a Social Studies teacher at Kingston High School. It recognizes
the New York educator who has made an outstanding contribution to
law-related education and whose efforts:
- 1) foster understanding of the
values of our legal and judicial systems;
- 2) inform and educate students
as to the roles in society of the law, the courts, law enforcement
agencies and the legal profession;
- 3) stimulate a deeper sense of
students’ individual responsibilities, duties, and
rights;
- 4) encourage effective
law-related education programs in school and community; and
- 5) increase communication and
understanding among students, educators and those involved
professionally in the legal system.
2011 LYC Teacher of the Year James LeCain (left) with
Beth M. Pelligrino,
Education Director of the Brookwood Secure Center, Claverack, NY.
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