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People in the News James Egbert of West Babylon High School and resident of Glen Cove has been named "Distinguished Teacher of 2007" by the Harvard Club of Long Island. One of about a dozen teachers from across Long Island to receive this award - for which a hundred were nominated - Mr. Egbert received his award at the Harvard Club's University Relations Lunch in April. Egbert, who has taught English at all levels - ninth grade Regents, tenth grade honors, and AP English - has been at West Babylon for 10 years, previously teaching at a private school in NewYork City where he also taught biology and life sciences. At West Babylon he advised the newspaper for three years before forming the Shakespeare Club this year, where students learning Shakespeare are also creating a spring performance for the school. He has written almost a thousand recommendations over the course of his teaching, about ten of which have been for West Babylon students applying to Harvard. When Mr. Egbert learned of the award, he thought of something his mother often said regarding the success of her life. "I am so proud of all of my children. They have all taken up careers that make the world a better place." He attributes all of his success as a teacher to the lessons she instilled in him. Mrs. Egbert taught Art in Dix Hills for a short time, before becoming a full time teacher-by raising five children. She was killed in an automobile accident on May 18, 2006. Prior to teaching, he excelled across a range of experiences, spending five years operating heavy machinery and working his way up from a McDonald's counterman in high school to a store manager in college. Hobbies today include restoring antiques, old electrical equipment, and old cars. He has earned his district's Teacher of Excellence from the parent organization and the Joseph P. Whitehead National Educator of DistinctionAward in 2002. Nominated by Rory Michelle Sullivan, a graduate of West Babylon High School who now attends Harvard College, Egbert was described as "the kind of teacher that students still come to visit years later. He teaches English - and Life." Sullivan explained. "I know I owe a lot to many teachers in West Babylon; we really do have some gems."
Distinguishing Mr. Egbert, she added that he "is such a positive influence on so many students, seducing them from videogames into becoming voracious readers of challenging texts. He changes lives."
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