JFK 'Dancing With the Teachers' Raises $7K for Hurricane Relief

Editor's Note: This article was written by representatives of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District.

Eight John F. Kennedy High School (JFKHS) teachers recently partnered up with professional dancers and showed off their moves at this year’s “JFK Dancing with the Teachers” competition, an annual event sponsored by the PTA and Student Government.

The event raised approximately $7,000 to benefit the Cougar Nation Hurricane Relief Fund, established to assist local families most affected by Super Storm Sandy.

Lisa Scherer, a social studies teacher at Kennedy High School, was crowned the winner of this year’s competition.

Student Government President Scott Fessler, Vice President Jesse Richheimer, Events Coordinator Emily Silverman and Co‐Spirit Coordinators Chris Jones and Troy Lampert worked tirelessly to make the night a success. Teachers Mark Booth (Art), David Burtraw (English), Bruce Reed (Social Studies), Dennis Ringel (Physical Education), Lisa Federici (Art), Debbie Cipolla (Physical Education), Lisa Scherer (Social Studies) and Alexa Vandergoot (Science) rehearsed one‐hour weekly dance lessons over the course of two months. During that period they prepared and perfected a 2‐3 minute dance routine that they performed in front of hundreds of students, teachers, administrators, and parents who attended the school event.

A donation of $1,000 was made to the fund by Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray on behalf of Optimum’s Power to Learn as a part of the organization’s Charity Champions competition, which the JFKHS Student Government’s community service coordinator, Brandon Schneider, entered the club into this past November.