Suffolk Reporter

Barbara McAdam has been recognized as the 2024 William Floyd Alumni Association Outstanding Educator. Her journey in education began when she moved from Ozone Park, Queens, to Brentwood in 1959. As a student in the Brentwood School District, she was encouraged by her teachers to develop her talents in music, language, and writing.

McAdam pursued a degree in French at SUNY Stony Brook with the aim of teaching. However, due to a decline in foreign language courses on Long Island by 1973, she shifted her focus to English. After a brief stint as a leave replacement teacher in Smithtown and subsequent unemployment, she was hired by William Floyd as an English teacher.

“Teaching at Floyd revived that excitement and joy in the learning process that I had not felt since graduating from Brentwood HS,” McAdam expressed. She became known for her engaging teaching methods, which included dressing up as literary characters and incorporating performance into lessons. Her approach not only made learning enjoyable but also led to consistently high scores for her students.

McAdam collaborated with colleagues like Paul Breschard and Bill Hennessy to bring literature to life through improvisation. This method helped students grasp complex concepts from novels such as "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Reflecting on her career, McAdam stated, “The real reward for me is in the boxes of thank-you notes, letters and cards that I received over 30 years at Floyd; the joy I feel when I learn of the success of one of ‘my kids’ or in the family photos they still send; the gratitude and love Tom and I feel for Jackie Giacalone who is, in every way, our daughter.” She expressed gratitude for the joy teaching brought into her life.