IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. (WROC) — Congratulations to Bernadette D'Amato, our latest Golden Apple Award winner. She is a third-grade teacher at Briarwood Elementary in the West Irondequoit School District. Interim Principal Barbara Battin says, "her classroom is so warm, welcoming, and inviting.  It's really focused on learning, but she knows her kids so well you can just tell how much she cares." Meghan Heisner decided to nominate Mrs. D'Amato for the award after seeing her daughter's excitement coming home each day. "She's excited to go to school.  Not that she wasn't before, it's just this year she is so excited every day to come here," she says. She believes one reason for this is because school has become about much more than just the basics. "She goes above and beyond for our students every single day.  She teaches more than the basic writing, math, all of the things you would expect your child to learn.  She teaches mindfulness, how to be kind, and she teaches them how to be good humans, not just good students and she is just in a bracket all on her own."   Battin adds, "Mrs. D'Amato is really a great example of creating leaders and good stewards in the building."   Bernadette D'Amato has been teaching for 11 years. 6 of them in West Irondequoit. "I am so thankful to be working with these kiddos and so grateful for the support from these families," she says.   She's made it her mission to help her students grow into good human beings. "Our main class moto, which is hanging above our board, is what good will I do this day? That is something that we do weave into all the things we do." says D'Amato. We can all see the good she is doing each and every day.