Huntington Highlights: Woodhull’s Mallory Travers Loves Teaching in Huntington

Mallory Travers loves her job and she especially enjoys working in Huntington UFSD as a special education teacher assigned to Woodhull Intermediate School. She has benefited from the support and encouragement of her colleagues and she gives her students everything she has.

Ms. Travers is a graduate of St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was very young,” Ms. Travers said. “When I was young, I would visit my grandmother at her work. She was a school secretary and beloved by her co-workers and students. I watched her spread joy and kindness to everyone. When she passed away from cancer, her school honored her with a garden. I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was eight years old when she showed me how much she loved school.”

Ms. Travers is the fifth faculty/staff member to be profiled as part of a new “Huntington Highlights” initiative that provides community members with insight into those who toil at the district’s eight individual school buildings.

“Ms. Travers has inspired our teachers to reimagine teaching and learning by demonstrating that meaningful, engaging instruction can take place well beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom,” Woodhull Principal Stephanie Campbell said. “Her dedication has created enriching learning experiences for students and strengthened instructional practice across the building, positively impacting both teaching and learning at Woodhull.”

The Woodhull teacher obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue. Prior to coming to Huntington, Ms. Travers worked as a first grade teacher at Laurel Hill School in East Setauket and as a leave replacement teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes in West Islip. She was a permanent substitute at Chippewa Elementary School in the Sachem district and director of adolescent programs at Laurel Hill Camp.

“I like to spend time with my family and my cats,” the teacher said. “I also played college softball, and I played semi-professional slow pitch softball for recreation. I also enjoy playing pickleball with my friends on summer days, and I love going to restaurants. My favorite thing to do in the fall is to play fantasy football with my friends and family!”

Ms. Travers not only played college softball, she was the team MVP in 2015 and 2016 when she excelled at both pitching and hitting. She was a speaker at the St. Joseph College graduation in 2016.

“I have had to most amazing experience working as a teacher in Huntington UFSD,” Ms. Travers said. “Five years ago, I was welcomed with warm, open arms. My co-workers have taught me life-long lessons and have inspired me to be better every day. I've learned how to be true professional, while also being a support system for students and peers alike. My experience has been motivating and meaningful.”

A member of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society, Ms. Travers notched a mastery score on edTPA (Teacher Performance Assessment), a comprehensive assessment for new teachers to demonstrate readiness for the classroom.

“The Huntington School District, specifically Woodhull, has encouraged me to contribute holistically to children’s education; valuing each student for their strengths and their uniqueness,” Ms. Travers said. “I’ve taught every grade level in the school, and now both types of settings to help struggling students in all different ways. I love Huntington UFSD and the encouragement to further my craft and continue to explore my love for teaching.”