Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School English teacher Matthew Miles has been named a Distinguished Teacher of 2022 by the Harvard Club of Long Island. He will be honored at a virtual awards ceremony on April 2, along with seven other teachers from across Long Island. Mr. Miles has been teaching in New York for 32 years, 28 of which have been in the Copiague School District. He currently teaches AP Language and Composition, College Prep and English 2. He also coaches junior varsity field hockey and is the assistant varsity lacrosse coach. Mr. Miles graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in secondary English education and received a master’s degree in liberal studies from Stony Brook University. Copiague School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon said, “Mr. Miles is not only a teacher, but an artist who puts on an award-winning show in his classroom, and his students buy a ticket to the show every day because they do not want to miss out on the life lesson being taught. He has a keen ability to connect the subject matter to his students’ lives, making everything he says and teaches credible. Through humility and understanding, Mr. Miles connects with his students and builds genuine relationships, making his classroom the safe haven that students need as they walk the ever-challenging path of adolescence.” This year’s Distinguished Teacher Award winners were nominated by current Harvard undergraduates and then selected by Harvard Club of Long Island board members. Miles was nominated by former Copiague student and Harvard undergrad (Class of 2025) Kiran Ahmad. “What makes Mr. Miles unique is that instead of sending us home every day with an assignment, he sent us home with some new mindset that would inspire my classmates and me to be the best human beings we can be,” she said. “Every day, he made someone’s day better; every day, he inspired someone. He’s taught me to live life to the fullest and be open to everything.”
Date Added: 3/25/2022