Daniel J. Bachman - 2018 Teacher of the Year
Daniel J. Bachman - 2018 Teacher of the Year
Massapequa High School ~ Massapequa, New York
ALA PresidentAnne Santorelli and Lucy Harrison presenting the ALA 2018 High School TOY Award and check to Daniel Bachman
Daniel Bachman is the Lead Teacher for the Massapequa High School Law Program as well as the Teacher Advisor for the school's Mock Trial Club.
Brandon Draper, a trial attorney and judge who has worked with Daniel, writes that, "Mr. Bachman has created an ideal environment for achieving excellence in legal education while also providing students with the tools necessary to be mature and well-rounded adults."
Dr. Brian Trapani, Curriculum Associate for Social Studies (K-12), writes that Mr. Bachman, "keeps the spirit of democracy alive by teaching multiple sections of AP U.S. Government annually. Civic participation is a guiding theme for this course."
Mr. Bachman also created the curriculum for and teaches three separate law-related elective classes. Daniel's own advocacy work led to the construction of a law classroom in the school - complete with a judge's bench, witness stand, and podium - as well as a jury box.
“I was overwhelmed by the company I was sharing the award with. I was speechless to be sharing an award with two educators whose careers were phenomenal to me. The judge who spoke before me was truly inspiring and everyone’s hospitality was beyond my expectations. My regret is that it was so unlikely I’d be in the same room with all of these wonderful educators and that my family couldn’t be there to share this once in a lifetime experience.”
In 2000, when he started at Massapequa, he inherited two law classes and a Mock Trial Club. He has turned this into five classes and a powerhouse mock trial team. His students have participated with great success in the Nassau County Moot Court Appellate Competition, the Empire International Mock Trial Competition, the Harvard University Mock Trial Training Seminar, and numerous other competitions. In addition, he coordinates and presents civics and law programs to all fifth grade classes in his school district.
Mr. Bachman has a Masters of Science in Criminology from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Secondary Education from Hofstra University in New York. He was also an adjunct professor at Long Island University.
In 2014, he won the Distinguished Educator Award from the Long Island Harvard Club and was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the Nassau County Police Athletic League for his 25 years of volunteer work.