Teacher of the Year tries to see world through eyes of pupils

The educator teaches summer and night school, tutors pupils and is a coach.
By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The school board calls him Youngstown's Teacher of the Year.
But ask some of Dennis Mamone's former pupils, and he's even more than that.
"He's the best teacher in the world," said Brittney Taylor.
"He's really caring about all students," said Robin Rowbotham.
"He personally cares for each of us," added Meysha Harville.
The eighth-grade girls were among the pupils in Mamone's social studies classes at Hayes Middle School last year. The 20-year veteran of the Youngstown school district is the district's Teacher of the Year for 2003-04.
"It's a rewarding field," Mamone said. "I enjoy working with the kids, interacting with them, the rewards of seeing the kids perform well. It's a fun job."
He also makes topics like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution relevant to pupils' daily lives and has learned that he can adapt to their many different learning styles. With this year's seventh-graders, he's also trying to make them understand that it's time to start thinking about the future.
Nominated by principal
Mamone, 53, was nominated for the teaching award in May by Hayes Principal Carol Staten. He then went up against nominees from each of the district's other schools, being notified of his selection in June.
Besides teaching at Hayes, he's a sports coach and teaches summer school and night school.
His tutoring has helped proficiency test scores jump by 20 percent, Staten said, and he does whatever it takes to help pupils succeed, including making a visit to their homes.
"Dennis is a competitive person. He's like a coach to them, so when they're successful, it's like a win to him," Staten said. "He always has a plan. If he needs something, he develops something."
She said pupils "take a lot away when they leave his class," including Mamone's never-ending support.
"Anywhere, anytime, if they've got Dennis Mamone, they've got a buddy," she said.
His classroom
Mamone's classroom is a bit of a history lesson in itself. Among the posters representing historical figures and documents are pictures of Bart Simpson, The Three Stooges, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jordan and the Hayes boys basketball team he coaches, and above a chalkboard hangs a stuffed Tasmanian Devil. Pupils also see messages that warn against the dangers of AIDS, teenage sex and gangs.
He also posts a weekly "Sweet Agenda" that lists academic objectives (on a recent week they dealt with the Constitution and Bill of Rights); a quote (Muhammad Ali said, "The person who has no imagination has no wings"); a song (John Lennon's "Imagine"); and an extra-credit question (What four president's are featured on Mount Rushmore?).
New perspective
A glimspe of Mamone's teaching philosophy is offered in an essay he submitted for the teaching award. His perspective on teaching -- and on life -- changed when he entered East High School, his first permanent teaching job, in 1989.
"I began to see a different view of the world. A view of fatherless children, group homes, teen mothers, despair and self-doubt. I began listening more and lecturing less.
"The more I listened, the more I grew. As a result, I now encompassed a greater passion for teaching than I had ever felt. As I developed a sense of trust and personal commitment with my students, they in turn developed a sense of self-worth and achievement."
Mamone said he remains positive in the face of the urban district's academic struggles and believes teachers and staff here are top-notch.
"The school system is probably the best thing in Youngstown," he said. "These kids look forward to coming to school. That's because we do a good job.
"I always try to stress the positive because there are so many negative things going on. If you stress the negative, you're going to end up with the negative. You have to find the positive and build from that."
Rewards
The effort has paid off. Mamone said rewards lie in seeing pupils pass proficiency tests, or when they come back years later to see him, invite him to graduations or send wedding invitations.
The effort also pays off from the pupils' points of view.
Robin said she was inspired to think about a law career by Mamone's teaching of the Constitution. And, she added, he helped her get involved by asking her to keep score for basketball games.
Brittney and Meysha said they so enjoyed participating with Mamone in History Day at Youngstown State University that they wish he could advise them again this school year.
Brittney said Mamone also helped her with her basketball shot (although sometimes she helped him) and also inspires her to keep shooting higher.
"He pushes you to do what you gotta do," Brittney said. "You gotta go for it."