TRR photo by David Hulse Art Teacher Bruce Bidwell gives a lesson to students at ECS. (Click for larger image)

Bidwell: tops in Sullivan and the Metro area

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED — District officials announced Monday that veteran Eldred Central School (ECS) Art Teacher Bruce Bidwell has been named the recipient of two best-teacher awards.

The ECS instructor, who has taught for 28 years, has won the Sullivan County School Boards Association, Outstanding Teacher Award for 2001 and WABC-TV in New York City has similarly honored him with the station’s top teacher award. “We have some really good people working here,” District Superintendent Candace Mazur reminded the board as Bidwell’s honors were announced May 7.

Secondary Principal Ivan Katz said Bidwell was the unanimous choice of the WABC-TV award judging panel and that he was selected from some 500 nominations from the station’s New York, New Jersey and Connecticut service area.

Katz said the station would be sending a recording crew to ECS early next week to videotape Bidwell in action, for a special June 16 program on education in the Metropolitan Tri-State region.

Bidwell is slated to receive his WABC-TV award at a New York City presentation on May 17.

The Sullivan County School Boards Association award will be presented at the association’s annual awards banquet, to be held at the Meadows in Fosterdale on May 22.

Bidwell’s honors were the result of a NYS Teacher of the Year nomination prepared by the district.

The soft-spoken teacher said Tuesday that he was honored by the recognition, and admittedly a little embarrassed by the notoriety. “I generally like my recognition a bit more on the quiet side,” he said.