Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, together with members of the Town Board, honored 10 extraordinary recipients at the eighth annual Town of Oyster Bay Women of Distinction Awards ceremony, held at Town Hall March 28. The award recognizes the outstanding achievements of women who either live or work in the Town.

"A distinguished awards committee, once again, had the difficult task of selecting exceptional designees as the 'Women of Distinction' in one of eight categories," Supervisor Venditto said. "This year marked the first that the Town had 10 recipients of this award.

"The 'Women of Distinction' Program has certainly proven to be a memorable tradition, honoring women who stand as role models for the younger generation in the Town of Oyster Bay," Supervisor Venditto continued. "These women are a shining example of the outstanding citizenship that has made the Town of Oyster Bay such a special place to live and raise a family."

Amonh the 10 recipients was Farmingdale High School teacher Jo Ann Miltenberg. She is a distinguished math instructor who has been teaching for nearly 30 years, about half of which she has taught in the Farmingdale School District. The U.S. Department of Education recently honored her as New York's recipient of the American Star of Teaching Award, which is presented to only one teacher from each state in the country. Jo Ann was selected over thousands of entries to be honored for her classroom creativity.

She was one of the first teachers in the entire region to receive training on the scientific calculators that are now used in nearly every high school math classroom, and she, in turn, trained her peers as a Technology for All Students instructor.

Farmingdale's Superintendent of Schools Dr. Roberta Gerold has said that Jo Ann sees teaching as a calling, not as a job. Jo Ann's students and colleagues agree. She devotes time outside the classroom to her students in Farmingdale and also assists many in her hometown of Hicksville. She is a gifted, caring and dedicated individual with a superb mathematical background and extraordinary teaching skills that reach every child in her classroom.

"These fine honorees have dedicated themselves to service and achievement, and their remarkable accomplishments are an inspiration to us all," Supervisor Venditto said. "Young women throughout the Town do not need to look to Hollywood actresses or pop stars for their role models, they can look right here in the Town of Oyster Bay."