Monday, December 2, 2024
Joseph LaTorre, an English teacher at Oceanside Middle School and a co-founder of the school district’s Bridges Program, has been named an Educator of Excellence by the New York State English Council, an affiliate organization of the National Council of Teachers of English.
LaTorre, 41, of Long Beach, earned the honor for his dedication to his students, his innovative approach to teaching and his passion for helping young people develop not just academically but as individuals poised for success in life.
LaTorre was honored on Oct. 7, after being nominated by the district. He was notified about the award in August.
LaTorre is known for making lasting connections with his students, and creating a fun atmosphere in his classroom that helps foster learning. His teaching style is anything but traditional, as he fills his lessons with music, personal stories and humor, making learning a dynamic and engaging experience.
“Mr. LaTorre blasts music in the mornings, and it gets us going,” Minka Palazzolo, one of his students, said. “He makes his learning plans fun.”
LaTorre’s positive energy is evident from the way his students talk about him. They often mention how he motivates them to be their best, not just academically, but in their personal growth as well.
“He really pushes us to do our best, and makes us feel confident,” Samantha Godelman, another one of his students, said. “I love how he tells stories and makes the class interesting.”
For LaTorre, teaching is much more than following a curriculum — it’s about building a community. His classroom is filled with his students’ memorabilia, from inside jokes and shared experiences to April Fools’ Day pranks and themed competitions. Students also gather occasionally to make class TikTok videos.
In LaTorre’s view, his classroom environment provides students with a space that they could feel comfortable being themselves, allowing them to open up and express their ideas.
“Everything in my classroom is deliberate,” LaTorre said. “We’re not just learning literature — we’re thinking critically, and I’m helping my students develop skills they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives. I want them to leave here with the confidence to solve any problem.”
LaTorre’s Educator of Excellence Award reflects not just his classroom work but also his innovation in creating opportunities for students beyond traditional education models. One of his proudest achievements is co-founding — along with Mitch Bickman, the district’s social studies director — the Bridges Program, an initiative that connects the school districts of Oceanside and Uniondale.
LaTorre described the program as a way to “hack the standard career day” by offering students a deeper look into a wide variety of careers through small group meetings and real-world insights from professionals.
The program, now in its eighth year, is designed to help students develop the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in their future careers. Students apply to the program in seventh grade and remain in the cohort until they graduate from high school. Along the way, they engage in sessions that emphasize leadership, communication and purpose-driven career exploration.
“Bridges is all about getting students to rethink what matters,” LaTorre said. “We want them to consider not just what they’ll do for a living, but what will make them feel happy and purposeful.”
The success of the Bridges Program has been remarkable, with alumni reporting life-changing impacts. LaTorre added that several students have gone on to universities such as Cornell, crediting Bridges with opening doors they hadn’t thought possible. Some even continue to collaborate with LaTorre, returning to speak to current students about their careers.
“We had one student who told me, ‘I didn’t know I could talk to people like this until I did Bridges,’ and now she’s in law school,” LaTorre said.
One of the most striking aspects of LaTorre’s career is the lasting relationship he builds with his students. Even after they graduate, many former students stay in touch with him, seeking advice or just checking in to share their successes.
“I get messages from former students all the time, and it’s always so rewarding,” LaTorre said. “They’ll call me up years later with life problems or just to chat. That connection never really goes away.”
LaTorre spoke about one former student, now a Long Beach police officer, who ran with him along the boardwalk after going through a difficult breakup in college.
“We were walking back to the car, and he just broke down in tears,” he said. “That’s the kind of lifelong relationship I want to have with my students.”
Central to LaTorre’s teaching philosophy is the idea of “high-agency thinking” — the belief that no problem is unsolvable. He instills this mindset in his students, encouraging them to approach challenges with resilience and creativity.
“I want my students to leave here knowing that there’s no problem they can’t solve,” LaTorre said. “That’s what being a high-agency person is all about. I want them to take ownership of their lives and their futures.
“It’s not just about getting a job,” he added. “It’s about creating a life that makes you happy and allows you to contribute to your community.”
LaTorre said being named an Educator of Excellence is a wonderful honor, but he doesn’t want to rest on his laurels. He said he wants to continue expanding the Bridges Program and find new ways to support his students in achieving their dreams.
“I’m thrilled to be recognized, but I’m always thinking about what’s next,” LaTorre said. “I want to keep pushing myself and my students to be the best we can be.”
