See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Carmine Santa Maria
Brooklyn Daily
I’m madder than a teacher trying to teach today’s thick-headed teenagers about the proper use of pronouns over the fact that today’s brats don’t appreciate everything that their (the kids’) parents give up so that they (the kids) can waste their (the kids) lives playing video games, twittering, and watching the YouTube when they (the kids) should instead be endlessly at their (the kid’s) parents’ beck and call because they (the parents) do so much for them (the kids).
Fortunately, this is not the case for the 2013 Parent of the Year Linda Dalton who will be feted at the 52nd Annual Bensonhurst West End Community Council (BWECC!) Gala at the beautiful El Caribe Country Club in Mill Basin on April 11.
Linda’s priorities are as follows: family first, then schools, community, religion, and country.
I first met Linda in 2000, when she became active with PS 95, and was immediately charmed with her smiling cheerfulness, willingness to help and optimistic outlook on anything she undertook — and this bundle of dynamite undertakes a lot for others.
Linda, born, raised, and educated in our Bensonhurst and Gravesend area, attended District 21 schools, PS 248, David A. Boody (I.S. 228), and Lafayette High School. As a teen, Linda worked at one of my favorite haunts, Carvel’s, then took a job at Avalon Cleaners, which she kept through college. She received her associates degree at Kingsborough Community College in data processing and went on to work as the assistant import manager at Etna Products, a novelty import company. Linda met her husband Gregory in 1990 and married in 1993. She worked at Etna from 1987 until she gave birth to her first child in 1996, it was then that she decided to start a new career — raising a family.
Linda began her childhood education as a District 21 student, she also became a long-standing District 21 parent volunteer, till this day. Linda has always been a strong supporter of parents, students, and teachers. Her passion is, and will always be, informing and advocating for general education and special education students and their parents. Linda became involved in the PTA at PS 95 when her eldest daughter entered pre-kindergarten in 2000. She volunteered at PS 95 from 2000 until 2009. She began as chairperson of the PTA newsletter committee, determined to involve and inform PS 95 parents.
In 2001, Linda started the first PTA website in District 21, and began to send out weekly e-mail alerts to PS 95 parents and teachers, informing them of school and community happenings. During her years at PS 95, Linda served as recording secretary, treasurer, school leadership team member, Title 1 parent member, president’s council designee, and as recording secretary to the District 21 president’s council.
Linda also managed to work part-time at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bay Ridge from 2006 until 2011 as parish secretary.
In 2011, Linda was elected to serve on the District 21 Community Education Council, she designed and maintains its website and it presence on the Facebook. As a District 21 parent leader, Linda continues to help parents outside of her children’s school, by visiting district schools and speaking at PTA Meetings. Linda also attends and supports evening community-based organization meetings, including BWECC! and CB13, to support and assist anyone who is in need of school information.
A life-long parishioner of St. Simon and Jude Church, Linda is currently a member of the parish council. Linda is in her second year as a member of the District 21 Community Education Council. At her alma mater, David A Boody, her youngest daughter’s school, she is PTA treasurer and webmaster, manages PTA’s presence on the Facebook, and sends out a weekly e-mail blast to parents and staff. She is also the webmaster of the president’s council website.
I don’t want to speak for her, but Linda is honored to receive the “Cesaria Soccoa Parent of the Year Award,” to be in the company of such an esteemed group of women.
Screech at you next week!
Read Carmine's screech every Saturday on BrooklynDaily.com. E-mail him at diegovega@aol.com.