The Stern Center for Language and Learning presented this year’s Above and Beyond Award for Excellence in Educational Collaboration and Innovation to Jericho resident, Kris Hoffman. Hoffman, who serves as Education Supervisor at Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center (Woodside), was presented the award by Stern Center President and Founder Blanche Podhajski at the organization’s Annual Board Meeting on Wednesday, October 5. Each year, the award is presented to an organization or individual in the community who has demonstrated unwavering support and commitment to the Stern Center mission both in theory and in practice.
In her role as Education Supervisor, Hoffman directs all academic services within the therapeutic residential program at Woodside and is tasked with the challenge of an ever-changing student body, often resulting in multiple priorities. However, despite these challenges, she finds her work with youth and families offers substantial rewards, which is why she has been with Woodside for more than five years now. In fact, prior to her time at Woodside, she served in a similar role for 11 years at Lund Family Center.
Kris Hoffman is this year’s Above and Beyond recipient as a result of her dedication to providing high-quality instructional support to students at Woodside as well as professional learning to the educators at Woodside. Since the inception of the Stern Center/Woodside collaboration in 2014, Kris has been instrumental in furthering accessibility to this high-need youth population in Vermont by working closely with Stern Center staff to supplement and enhance the existing Woodside instructional program.
Hoffman has a degree in Liberal Arts from Hamilton College and earned her Vermont teacher certification from Trinity College of Vermont. She also earned a Master’s in Special Education from Saint Michael’s College. She has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco and enjoys knitting, cooking, bicycling, gardening, dancing, and yoga.