The “Be Golden” award is a new faculty and staff recognition program at the high school.

This award is given weekly by a faculty/staff member to another faculty/staff member. Whoever receives the trophy on Friday is responsible for awarding it to someone else the following week. The only criteria is to give it to someone who has done something to make the school a better place.

“With the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiative in our school, we want to not only recognize students for being golden but staff members as well,” said Shannon Davis, the award program coordinator. “This is a way to personally thank people we work with every day, but don’t always have the chance to show them how much they are appreciated.”    

Last week the award went to music department director Laura Harris 

She chose to give the award to chemistry teacher Michael Funicelli 

Mrs. Harris’s  Quote:

“You epitomize the word GOLDEN. You are: 

• G – Generous to a fault
• O – Open to other’s thoughts and opinions
• L- Loving and Caring
• D – Devoted to all your students
• E – Enthusiastic and energetic
• N – Noble (showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals)

Thank you for doing all that you do to make our students (and staff) feel valued and important.”

The Eagle Eye interviewed Mr. Funicelli about being this week’s award winner:

Eagle Eye: What encouraged you to become a teacher?

Michael Funicelli: “Ever since I was very young, I found that I enjoyed assisting and leading other people. Whether that was in school by helping others to understand concepts, playing sports by motivating teammates to give their all or hanging out with friends by teaching them new games or activities to fill our free time. I tend to have an active role in whatever job, club, or undertaking I’m involved in, so being a teacher only makes sense. “

EE: What do you enjoy most about being a teacher?

MF: “Honestly, pretty much everything. I love coming to school every day. I love helping students to understand some really challenging concepts. I love being involved with the GOLDEN initiative, quiz league, mock trial, board game club, and graduation. I love motivating students. I love doing demonstrations and ‘blowing stuff up.’ I love my fellow faculty and staff. I love my students. I love Tyrone high school. And after a long and busy school year, I do love summer vacation. “

EE: Is this your dream job? If not, what is?

MF: “In a perfect world, I would either be a professional golfer, a board game designer/tester, or a stay at home trophy husband. However, based on what I am qualified to do professionally, this is indeed my dream job. “