Mineola Public Schools is thrilled to celebrate Christina Sotsky, our incredible STEAM teacher at Jackson Avenue School, for receiving the prestigious NASTAR award for innovation and exemplary technology leadership! Jointly presented by Nassau BOCES and NASTECH, this honor recognizes educators who don't just "use" technology, but leverage it to truly transform how students learn, create, and interact with the world.

Ms. Sotsky has become the driving force behind Jackson Avenue’s tech-forward momentum, helping elementary students shift from passive media consumers into enthusiastic creators. Whether her gardening club members are tracking plant growth, learning how to raise bullfrogs or using a digital video bird feeder, they are constantly using digital tools to expand their horizons. A perfect example of this hands-on approach was her students' recent victory in the Canva Create Design Challenge, which has since blossomed into a student-led digital newsletter and a collaborative gardening podcast produced alongside Mineola High School students.

Her impact as a leader and natural collaborator is felt across our entire district. As a key member of the District Design Thinking Committee, Ms. Sotsky has spearheaded amazing cross-level partnerships, including a composting collaborative with the High School Environmental Club, a newsletter feature interviewing the Middle School Greenhouse Club and a project with the High School Fabrication Lab to design CNC-machined garden signs.

Her deep roots in Mineola began eleven years ago when she first joined us as a per diem substitute teacher, always dedicated to instilling confidence in her students. She has consistently stayed ahead of the curve, serving as an early technology adopter and the very first teacher at Meadow Drive School to implement a Google Classroom.

Please join us in giving a huge congratulations to Ms. Sotsky on this well-deserved honor! We are so incredibly proud of you!