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Ithaca's Samantha Little Named Educator of the Year

Samantha Little, the Director of Athletics and Wellness for the Ithaca City School District (ICSD), has been awarded Educator of the Year by NAMI-NYS. This recognition is due to her dedication to promoting mental health awareness and her work with NAMI Finger Lakes through the Huddle Together Initiative. The Huddle Together Initiative, created by former Cornell Head Football Coach David Archer and NAMI Finger Lakes Board Member, aims to use sports as a platform to educate and raise awareness about mental health. Little collaborated with Archer and Sandra Sorensen, the Executive Director of NAMI Finger Lakes, to bring this program to ICSD schools. As a result, ICSD student-athletes had access to mental health resources and heard from community leaders. NAMI representatives were present at home games to provide resources, and Coach Archer delivered presentations on the importance of mental health. Additionally, NAMI Finger Lakes provided a webinar called "Ending the Silence" for families. Stephanie Valetta, the Coordinator of Student Wellness and Athletics, praised Little for prioritizing scholar wellness and ensuring that the athletics program is successful by focusing on wellness. Little was honored at the 2023 NAMI-NYS Education Conference in Albany, NY, where all honorees were recognized for their efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues and provide education and support services. Little's vision for student well-being and her commitment to expanding the Huddle Together program were also acknowledged. The ICSD recognizes the importance of mental health, especially during the pandemic, as 70% of U.S. public schools have reported an increase in students seeking mental health services. The ICSD has trained professionals such as school psychologists, social workers, and school counselors who can provide guidance and support for students with mental health concerns. If students or parents need assistance, they can reach out to their school or visit the Tompkins County website for a list of available services. The ICSD is dedicated to prioritizing the mental well-being of its students and will continue to find ways to address mental health. The collaboration between NAMI Finger Lakes, ICSD staff, and scholar-athletes and their families was made possible with the efforts of Stephanie Valetta, Kari Burke, and others.

Dec 24, 2023 at 9:07 AM

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