Kindergarten Teacher Surprised by Golden Apple Award

As administrators and colleagues poured into her classroom around noon on Tuesday, April 9, a stunned Marisa D’Itri began to fight back tears. She wasn’t sure what was happening exactly, but the rush of emotions only intensified when her husband and children followed the others into the room.

“I was shocked,” Mrs. D’Itri said. “I really had no idea what was happening.”

Mrs. D’Itri, a kindergarten teacher at Frank G. Lindsey Elementary School, was a surprise recipient of the Golden Apple Award by WHUD 100.7. A representative of the station presented her with the honor, which is given to WHUD’s Teacher of the Month.

A beaming Mrs. D’Itri hugged family members and colleagues before posing for pictures with her class. She was congratulated by FGL Principal Cynthia Kramer, Hendrick Hudson Board of Education president Alexis Bernard and Vice President Erica Mills, and Superintendent of Schools Michael A. Tromblee.

“Hen Hud is near and dear to my heart,” Mrs. D’Itri said. “I’ve been blessed with amazing families and students during my career. I’m really honored to accept this amazing award.”

Mrs. D’Itri, who has been a Hendrick Hudson teacher since 2007, was nominated by Lisa Rudner, a mother of one of her students. In the nomination, Rudner praised D’Itri for being kind and compassionate while giving her son the tools to develop and thrive academically.

“She’s a rock star in my son’s eyes,” Rudner wrote. “I don’t know where we’d be this year without her.”

Frank G. Lindsey has served as a second home for D’Itri for most of her life. She attended kindergarten through fifth grade at the school and then graduated from Hendrick Hudson High School in 2001. She returned six years later and has spent all but one year of her career teaching kindergarten, which she deemed “her favorite.”

Both of her children are currently students in the district as well.

“I always say of myself that I am the proudest Sailor around,” Mrs. D’Itri said.