Santilli wins Bammy Award
SANTILLI, from Page 1
acknowledge that teachers can’t do
it alone and don’t do it alone. The
Awards aim to recognize the collaborative nature of education, to
encourage respect in and across the
various domains…”
The Bammy Awards are organized by BAM Education radio.
“It truly was an event that really
celebrated the education commu-
nity as a whole, especially with the
fact that there are 26 categories,”
Santilli said.
Santilli is a 1993 graduate of
Hammonton High School. He has
been at the William Davies Middle
School in Mays Landing for eight
years, the last four as principal or
as he prefers “Lead Learner.”
Santilli said he is a collaborative
leader.
“I think a lot of it has to do with
collaboration and community, realizing that it is not about the ideas
or influences of one person but the
entire school community and most
importantly the students. Everyone has a voice. I look at school at
times like a business. At times you
have to listen to your clients. My
clients are the parents and the
kids,” he said.
He said he did not expect to win
and credits his win to the people in
his school.
“It is because of the people who
surround me every day,” Santilli
said.
The William Davies Middle
School Student Council put up a
congratulatory sign following his
win.
“It made me really think. I am
usually singing their praises and
here they are singing mine,” Santilli said.
According to Santilli, retired
teacher Becky Garafolo nominated
him.
“She nominated me in late winter and I got a notice that I was
nominated. This was only the
third year they had it. Then it went
from there,” he said.
He said that during the voting
period students, parents and fellow
educators became involved. Santilli said the Bammys have a council of peers that narrow down to
five people within each category.
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Wednesday, October 15, 2014 • The Hammonton Gazette • Page 3
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