Lindenhurst High School is home to some of the most dedicated and caring teachers that transcend time.  These legendary instructors continue to teach and educate gaining more experience year after year that add onto their ability to teach with such enthusiasm and passion. This kind of passion is easily noticed among students and staff alike. Mrs. Lederer is a shining example of one of these dedicated teachers who put their skill and devotion into their teaching which can sometimes be very hard to come by in a teacher. I have witnessed first hand as a student the teaching and style of Mrs. Lederer, and I also had the pleasure to sit down and talk with her about her extensive career here at Lindenhurst High School. Mrs. Lederer has had a very interesting story to tell that gives insight to the changes and progress as a school and as a community.

Mrs. Lederer’s career here as LHS started in 1978. With a career spanning such a long period of time she has seen the changes of Lindenhurst and has also had many great experiences here. After asking her what she would consider her proudest moment in her career, she made it clear that there isn’t one specific moment that makes her proud but it’s everytime she sees her students achieve and succeed in their schooling and in their lives. When students get into colleges that she writes their recommendations for, it makes her so proud and then to see them go on to be professions such as doctors and in some cases brings her so much joy. With 40 years of teaching comes the inevitability of teaching students and then eventually teaching their children. In the 1990s was recognized in the “Who’s who of American Teachers” as well as being nominated in 2000 for the Disney Teacher Award.

In 2016 Mrs. Lederer received the “Who Makes a Difference Award” for her hard work and determination to educate her students. From being the Chaperone on trips to Spain in the 1980’s to being the  Advisor of the class of 1989, she has seen generations of students come through the school. From the hair days of the 1980’s to the punk days of the 1990’s even to now she has seen students from all walks of life during her career. I had asked her what she had thought about the change in students and she responded with such a truly nice answer about the “higher caliber” of students now. She is happy to see that today so many more students are willing and striving to continue their education after high school and go forth with a college education, something that has very much increased statistically in more recent years.

With her many years of teaching, she has witnessed many changes in the approach  to teaching in the eyes of the state and education boards. Although for a teacher with such praise from her colleagues and students, it’s tough to find a reason to fix what isn’t broken. Mrs. Lederer says that although she has been successful, it is also essential to learn and incorporate new ideas. She said “I am always learning and can apply what I learn to improve my lessons and teaching.” Her colleagues have been very vocal about how great of a teacher she is specifically in the foreign language department. Although many of her former colleagues have since retired, she believes she is blessed to be working with such great people and says that is part of the reason why she loves her job. All in all, we can never forget to give thanks to such a dedicated and truly kind educator. It was clearly apparent to me during my time speaking with her that Mrs. Lederer truly cares for her students and loves what she is doing. She has a compassion for teaching and such pride in her work and her students.