Barbara Sargent, Elementary - Memorial School
Barbara Sargent has been a positive presence at Memorial School for well over 20 years. First as an employee, and more recently as a volunteer.
For the past several years, after retiring from her role as a paraeducator, Barbara has taken it upon herself to become the keeper of Memorial’s Lost and Found area. She visits the building on a weekly basis to straighten and organize our Cheetahs' lost items, and she works tirelessly to connect the missing shoes, hats, water bottles, lunchboxes and jackets to their rightful owners.
Not only does she look for labels in each item to help identify who they belong to, but in an effort to help our busy families find their belongings, she posts the missing items on a variety of social media sites targeting our town’s caregivers. She has even been known to make house calls to parents who are unable to get to the school during business hours. Barbara works tirelessly to identify the lost clothing and gear, and she has single handedly helped Memorial’s families recover countless items! At the end of each season, after every effort has been made to recover the misplaced belongings, Barbara packs up and donates the remaining items to those in need.
When Barbara is not taking care of Memorial’s lost and found, she can be seen working for the East Hampton Ambulance Association. Barbara Sargent is a generous, dedicated, supportive member of our community. One mom referred to her as a community treasure, and we couldn’t agree more.
Barbara Sargent is a true Friend Of Education.
Bob Millham, East Hampton Middle School
We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Bob and his therapy dog Kolbe for visiting our school throughout the year. Your presence brought so much joy, comfort, and calm to our students. It was wonderful to see their faces light up as they interacted with Kolbe, taking a break from their day to enjoy the companionship of such a gentle and loving dog.
For many students, this visit provided a much-needed moment of relaxation and peace. Whether they were simply petting Kolbe or sitting quietly by their side, his visit created a space where students could feel safe, cared for, and understood. It was especially touching to see the positive impact on those who might have been facing challenges, as Kolbe quietly helped them to pause, breathe, and feel a little bit better.
Thank you, Kolbe and Bob, for being such an incredible support for our students. Kolbe unfortunately passed away last spring, but his visits have made a long lasting impression, and we are grateful for the happiness and warmth he has brought into our school community.
We would like to honor Kolbe along with his owner Bob with an East Hampton Public Schools Friends of Education award.
Oakley, Center School
Since joining our team, Oakley has become an integral part of our school community. Whether providing a calming presence during stressful moments or encouraging students who are feeling overwhelmed, Oakley’s impact has been remarkable. His gentle nature and instinctive ability to connect with students create a supportive atmosphere that helps our learners thrive, both socially and emotionally.
Oakley’s day-to-day interactions with students provide comfort, reduce anxiety, and foster positive connections. He’s there for students during reading sessions, where her quiet companionship helps build confidence in emerging readers. His presence is also invaluable for students working on emotional regulation, as many children have shared how much they feel more at ease simply by spending time with her.
Being named the "Good Apple" recognizes Oakley’s unwavering dedication to promoting student well-being. We are immensely proud of the positive influence she brings to Center School, and we look forward to continuing to see the wonderful ways Oakley supports our students. Congratulations to Oakley for his well-deserved recognition as the "Good Apple"!
Nancy Nafis , High School
Nancy has been president of the Music Boosters for 3 years as well as a member of the Booster for the past 7 years. In that time, she has been a tireless supporter of music in East Hampton. She helped keep the boosters going despite the pandemic and we know that her efforts are a major part of the reason we still have a Music Booster organization.
They’ve helped the program in substantial ways, including the purchase of a piano, an electric piano, completion, and repair of the auditorium sound system, fundraising to offset the costs of trips, and many other things that keep us able to offer opportunities to every child. Her passion and dedication to the EHHS Music program has been instrumental in its successful trips to Disney and Virginia Beach along with student success in Regional and Sectional Music competitions.
Nancy has been a true Friend of Education for the East Hampton Public Schools.