Teacher Lori Moccio, a Brock University graduate, is pictured in her classroom. She recently received the Carousel Players' Norah Morgan Memorial Award.As a little girl, Lori Moccio (BEd ’98) always looked forward to the performances of the Carousel Players theatre group at her elementary school.
Moccio now teaches dramatic arts for Grades 1 to 8 at Jeanne Sauvé Immersion Public School and is humbled that the Carousel Players chose her to receive the 2016 Norah Morgan Memorial Award.
She finds joy in encouraging her students to learn through the arts and works to ensure every child can fully participate in the arts.
“It’s an overwhelming feeling to be nominated by such a wonderful organization. I put my heart and soul into my career and to be acknowledged in such a thoughtful way is something I never imagined,” says Moccio.
The Norah Morgan Memorial Award was created in memory of drama education pioneer Norah Morgan by the Carousel Players. She was an ambassador of drama education for both students and teachers during her career. The award honours her leadership and influence in enriching the lives of young people through the arts. Moccio joins a notable group of Brock graduates who have also received the award.
She was nominated by her school principal Candi Sitko.
“Lori is passionate about teaching through the arts and engaging students in creative, authentic ways and has taught the arts to all elementary grades throughout her career,” Sitko said in a press release. “She is an engaging, knowledgeable and approachable teacher who has led DSBN initiatives such as the Niagara Elementary Music Festival, created many after school workshops and served as a great mentor to help DSBN teachers integrate the music curriculum into their classrooms.”
After graduating from Brock University, Moccio moved to Toronto and is now living in Niagara Falls with her husband Eric Moccio and their two sons Sebastian and Xavier.
The following Brock alumni have also been recognized with the Norah Morgan Memorial Award from the Carousel Players:
2012 Nancy Gill (BA ’96; BEd ’97)
2011 Laurie Crain-Anez (BA ’94; BEd ’95)
2010 Sharon Hellinga (BA ’94; BEd ’95)
2009 Anneliese Burke (BA ’75; BEd ’76)
2008 Jerome Black (BA ’97; BEd ’97)
