Meet Elizabeth Padavano, who teaches second-grade at Minisink Valley Elementary School!

What’s your favorite aspect of your job?

My favorite aspect of my job is, simply, working with these amazing children each day. Of course, I love to see their growth from the beginning of the year to the end. They make me laugh and bring me so much happiness. Even in these challenging times, the children come to class with eagerness and excitement. They are an example of the best qualities in humanity. I think they teach me just as much as I teach them.

Why do you believe in and support the work of the Minisink Valley School District and what it does for the community?

The Minisink Valley School District is the hub of our tight-knit community. We all come together here to work, learn, see our children succeed, and help each other. This school is not only where I work, it is where I send my own children to grow and learn. I am invested in seeing this district succeed in educating the children both on a personal and professional level.

How has this pandemic refocused the work you do every day?

This has been the most challenging year of my career so far! I have had to become accustomed to teaching lessons on camera and I’ve had to juggle working with kids both online and in person at once. I miss the days when the children surrounded me on the carpet while I read them a great book. Now they surround me in boxes on the computer screen or desks 6 feet apart. Still, they love the stories just as much as ever and come to hear them with the same eagerness and hunger for literature. Thankfully, some things will never change. No pandemic can stop a love of learning.

What do you want to say directly to the community about the importance of your work?  

Education is the pillar of our society and these children are our future. This job is the most important job in the world and all of us at Minisink will do whatever we can to help the children succeed. These children and their families have been so strong and resilient under extraordinary circumstances. I want them to know that we are here doing the best we can for them now and in the future. We will never stop doing our best.