In 2024, Madison Mavrogiannis was the St. Thomas Aquinas College Salutatorian, and was awarded the Francis Cardinal Spellman Award, which is presented annually for highest academic excellence in the undergraduate program. Madison is currently studying within the School of Education and is working toward her Master of Science in Teaching degree in Adolescence & Students with Disabilities / Earth Science.
Recently, Madison had the opportunity to participate in the Teacher Residency Program at Clarkstown Central School District (CCSD), which has allowed her to develop a full understanding of what it’s like to be a teacher in 2025. Madison notes: “My certification area is Earth Science, which I chose because of critical issues impacting our planet today like climate change. I believe that the students of today and in the near future need to understand the components of our planet in order to protect it.”
Under the mentorship of two amazing Earth Science teachers in CCSD, Madison is learning strategies in the areas of lesson planning, co-teaching, differentiating instruction, and much more. She notes: “my responsibilities in this program include attending Clarkstown South High School every day for all 8 periods in both special education and regular education settings. This experience has not only made me feel incredibly prepared for my future in teaching Earth Science, but also ensured that this is 100% the profession for me. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and the support through the Teacher Residency partnership St. Thomas Aquinas College has with CCSD.” Madison knows that she will always think back to this cohort as her “first students ever,” and she is very excited for all the future students that she will teach in her own classroom as an educator.
Madison’s story was recently featured in the School of Education Spring 2025 newsletter — read more here.