Barbara Vermaelen-Buonagura

Barbara Buonagura is an ENL teacher at Eastern Suffolk BOCES who is dedicated to advocating for both her students and their families. She strongly values lifelong learning and upholds this through participating in cultural and community resources. Since 2018, Barbara has been a proud and active member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council at Eastern Suffolk BOCES. Barbara loves teaching opportunities where Project Based Learning is involved as her goal is to facilitate a collaborative and intentional community of learners. 

She has been the recipient of several Gary D. Bixhorn mini-grant awards, which have served to celebrate diversity, promote social-emotional learning, increase reading fluency, and cultivate student knowledge of healthy ecosystems. Barbara has utilized local community resources to support the creation and maintenance of community gardens, hydroponic gardens, and aeroponic multicultural gardens alongside her students at various ESBOCES locations. Barbara is honored to continue uplifting learners and developing community connections through the Peace Project!