Joanne S. Calcagno is a former teacher at P.S. 214, a school located in Flushing, New York. Specializing in kindergarten and fourth-grade elementary instruction and curriculum development, Mrs. Calcagno helped children to achieve academic success, set and accomplish goals, and recognize and accomplish their fullest potential for more than three decades. In addition, she served as a computer cluster teacher. She has garnered a reputation of distinction for her peerless efforts; she was named a Teacher of the Year 2008 by Cambridge Who’s Who, and she continues to strive for excellence in her every endeavor.
 
Mrs. Calcagno retired in March 2010 and has shifted her focus to writing publications that are both educational and enjoyable for children and adults. She has written several children's books, including "Before Bullied After Friendship: A Boy's Quest For Hope" and "Finally an Answer." Mrs. Calcagno belongs to the National Association of University Women, the AAUW, The Women's Prosperity Network and The International Women’s Leadership Association.
 
Her book “Before Bullied After Friendship: A Boy's Quest For Hope” can be found on Amazon.
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Her book “Finally an Answer” can be found on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.
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Mrs. Calcagno's third book was released in 2017. "Rewind Fast Forward: A Practical Guide of the Transgender Student for Teachers" can be found on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. Learn more about the book here.

Mrs. Calcagno has been published in teaching magazines in recognition of the creative classrooms that she has created. In addition, she has enjoyed many years of success as a professional in her field. Her first five years were spent teaching in a challenging homogeneous setting. She taught in a heterogeneous setting at levels including the top, middle and bottom for the following seven years, and her teaching skills have proven effective as her students always achieve their goals. Mrs. Calcagno experienced a life-changing event in 1998 when her mother passed away; she thought that her life was over, until her husband encouraged her to follow her mother's struggles and achievements by showing her how much she and her mother were alike and that she could do a lot of acts of grace for society. She has been eternally grateful for his direction and care.

The most important words that Mrs. Calcagno lives by are found in the Serenity prayer: 'Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.' She has written a book about an immigrant child who goes on adventures while becoming acclimated to New York City life in Queens, entitled “Raaof.” She also recently published, “Finally an Answer,” which explores the life of a young girl as she grows older and eventually comes to terms with having a mental illness.

Mrs. Calcagno has also worked in a nursery school for more than seven years. She was first attracted to the teaching profession after meeting her second-grade teacher, Mrs. Nevins. She was greatly inspired by this teacher, as well as her mother, to pursue a career in education. She is a musically-inclined person who enjoys playing the piano and singing in theater productions. Becoming a teacher was the highlight of her career, and watching her students succeed is the most gratifying aspect of her profession. She largely enjoys announcing: ‘school’s out’ at the end of a long school day. She is especially grateful to all of the teachers of the world, for they are training the leaders of tomorrow.