Allan Houston Makes Heroes of NYC Teachers

"Teachers don't get the recognition they deserve," added Houston. "Day in and day out, they shape the future, our children, and they do it sometimes under very difficult conditions. Yet, society as a rule looks at others -- athletes such as myself, show business figures, etc. -- to emulate. I can't say that I'm completely comfortable with that."

To recognize and acknowledge teachers as the REAL difference-makers, Houston started the "My Teacher Is My Hero" program three years back. This year, students in all of New York City's 1400 public schools were invited to write an essay about why their teachers are heroes. From the 2000-plus essays received, Houston selected the winners -- one each from elementary school, middle school, and high school -- who were invited to watch a Knicks game from a Madison Square Garden luxury box. The trio of students and their teachers were honored in a warm half time ceremony by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and also had a chance to visit with Houston after the game.

How does someone become a SPECIAL teacher? "I had a teacher myself -- Mrs. McConnell in the seventh grade -- who I really looked up to," Ms. Caroline Mackey, a 4h grade teacher in Brooklyn's P. S. 10, smiled. "She made all the difference in my life -- and I wanted to do the same for others." Mackey certainly made a difference for 10-year old Rivelino Lucas, a blind child thriving wonderfully in her mainstream classroom. "Ms. Mackey and Liz (paraprofessional Elizabeth Connelly) are my heroes because they believe in me," Rivelino said. "They help me fit in just like everybody else." It wasn't easy: in addition to his disability, Rivelino -- who hails ftrom Haiti -- spoke only French-Creole when he first arrived at P.S. 10. "Now he's a little chatterbox -- in English," the teacher patted his hand lovingly.

Mackey and Connelly went to the mattresses for Rivelino, even fighting the Board of Education which wanted to put the blind student in a special education class. "He's made a world of improvement this year," said Mackey. "Sure, you have to be resourceful: I adapt all my lessons for him, Liz puts them in braille. We give him lots of one-on-one attention. We have 30 students in our class -- and we spend lots of extra time meeting, discussing, and planning about how to teach Rivelino. It does take lots of teamwork and support. But he's worth every second of it."

"He's a happy little guy -- everyone adores him and he's friends with all the kids in the class now. And you should hear him sing!!"

"I think we should thank HIM," added Connelly. "He surely made me into a better teacher. I am more patient, more loving, more everything since I've met Rivelino."

High school winner Ms. Barbara Wolk -- a thirty-year teacher -- became an educator because "it is my opportunity to give students the love, caring, and attention that I personally did not get when I was growing up." When Norman Thomas High School 11th-grader Angeline Gomez lost her father and uncle on 9/11 -- both of them were chefs in the Windows On The World Restaurant -- Wolk was "totally blown away. Here was this wonderful, gorgeous, sweet girl -- frozen," the teacher said.

Wolk made it her business to reach out and talk personally to Gomez, sometimes for hours, every day. "She went way above and beyond the call of duty," says Gomez. "I don't know what would have happened to me if it wasn't for Ms. Wolk." "Well, I have sons," the misty-eyed teacher said, putting her arm around her student's shoulders. "Three of them. Angeline here is the daughter I never had."

And middle school winner Samantha Lopez is the daughter NOONE has ever had -- except maybe J. Lo's Mom and Dad. "I want to be an actress," the tiny perpetual-motion firecracker with the captivating smile says. "Just like Jennifer Lopez. But I know that that wouldn't ever be possible without Ms. Frank." M. S. 127 sixth-grade teacher Jennifer Frank grew up under unenviable circumstances herself. "I think that's why I can relate to these kids," she says. "I grew up in a tough neighbourhood in Parkchester -- but there's nothing like growing up in the Bronx."

"She's very giving and loving to us -- and we always do cool stuff," says Lopez, who's also the President of her class. "School used to be boring -- now we can't wait to get there and we never want to leave." Among other things, Frank's class runs food and clothing drives for the homeless and sponsors a sick little girl in Honduras. "She teaches us to have respect," smiles Lopez. "And she teaches us to care about others and how to become responsible citizens."

As little JLo wrote in her essay, "A hero can be anyone: a basketball player, a musician, a maid, a postman, even a teacher. It's simply someone who works really hard at being their best and makes a difference in other peoples' lives."

"This is my teacher, Ms. Frank."