To the Editor:

Barbara Jo Westcott was, according to many sources (Employee Recognition, school principals, subject-matter supervisors, colleagues, and friends) “excited to be part of the changes that occur in children.”

Barbara felt children needed constant attention to their self-esteem. She deliberately created learning experiences that allowed children to feel safe, that increased their self-esteem and at the same time held them to a high standard of learning.

Barbara taught in the Guilderland district for 19 years — at Farnsworth Middle School, and at Lynnwood and Pine Bush elementary schools. She retired in 2005 and moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, to be with her husband, retired high school science supervisor Dale Westcott.

Barbara died in November of 2022 in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Barbara’s friends have created a scholarship in her memory to be called the Barbara Jo Westcott Scholarship awarded to a graduating senior whose intention is to pursue a career in elementary education.

Honoring Barbara in the district where she spent so much of her professional life, we feel is a good way to share our love and appreciation for the time we had with her.

Checks  made out to “Guilderland CSD” may be sent to John Rizzo, Business Administrator, Guilderland Central School District, Post Office Box 18, Guilderland Center, NY 12085. Please write “Barbara Westcott” in the memo line.

Judy Rothstein

Altamont

Editor’s note: Judy Rothstein, now retired, was a longtime teacher at Guilderland High School who chaired the English department.