Marvin Maurer Award Recpient 2010: Barbara Kulpa

"Emotional Literacy not only taught me how different emotions affect different people, but how, they can raise some of the worst and best things in life. It has taught me about how to use my emotions and to think about how emotions affect me, my family and friends.”
~ ONE OF MS. KULPA'S MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

Congratulations to Ms. Barbara Kulpa, the winner of the 2010 Marvin Maurer Award, from Our Lady of the Snows in the Catholic Schools of Brooklyn and Queens

Ms. Kulpa was admittedly doubtful at first about being able to balance Emotional Literacy with all of her other academic obligations. However, she has been teaching Emotional Literacy in her 7th and 8th grade language arts classes for two years and she is now one of Emotional Literacy’s biggest advocates. Not only does she use innovative teaching methods in her classroom, she also serves as the Emotional Literacy liaison for her school.  In addition, Ms. Kulpa recently developed a curriculum resource binder that outlines the ways in which Emotional Literacy map onto New York State standards and grade level curricula goals. Her students love learning about the Feeling Words and plotting themselves on the Mood Meter so much, that if she skips it one day, her students are quick to request it! Ms. Kulpa exemplifies Emotional Literacy in action, and provides a sense of what is possible when an effective teaching approach is enriched by social and emotional learning curricula.