Practicing what she preaches

Angela Terralavoro brings community service to a higher level

By Sharon MacGregor
Posted 2/24/21

Angela Terralavoro is the quintessential working parent, A guidance counselor at Wallkill Senior High School, she’s also a member of the Valley Central Parent Teacher Student Association …

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Practicing what she preaches

Angela Terralavoro brings community service to a higher level

Posted

Angela Terralavoro is the quintessential working parent, A guidance counselor at Wallkill Senior High School, she’s also a member of the Valley Central Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), Girl Scout Heart of the Hudson, volunteers at her children’s sporting and extracurricular club events, and is a high school guidance counselor at Wallkill Senior High School. Sound busy? There is more.

A resident of the town of Montgomery for 16 years, Angela Terralavoro is married to Christofer and they are parents to Gisella who is working on her Girl Scout Silver Award project at the Walden Humane Society and Gabriella who has baked pies and donated a portion of the proceeds to the same cause. As a family, they can be found volunteering their time, walking shelter dogs on Sundays at Winding Hills Park.

Terralavoro is a member of the Junior League of Orange County (JLOC). Asked to share about this particular aspect of her community services, she says, “JLOC is a wonderful organization of women from all various backgrounds, cultures. We are mothers, single ladies and professionals all coming together to give back to their community. I find this group of intelligent, caring and goal minded women to be organized, welcoming and purposeful. My experience thus far, is that all our projects are carefully planned with collaboration and support from all the members. I wanted to be a part of JLOC as the provisional training allows me a platform to volunteer with a purpose, learn new organizational tools, mentor, advocate, and network in Orange County. I joined JLOC in the fall of 2019. I am currently in the Provisional Group, which is reserved for members in the first year of membership which is dedicated to training. As part of the Fall Provisional class, I am working with Leslie Brown and Kathleen Eyler on a community garden and healing center in Crystal Lake, Newburgh.”

Raising a family, working full-time, already contributing to one cause, as well as volunteering at the Food Bank of Orange County, why chose to do more?

“I volunteer because it gives me a chance to connect to my community. I enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures. In addition, I stress to my students the importance of volunteering as they can acquire life skills, knowledge as well as find a passion or interest that may lead to a career choice that they might not have thought of. Practicing what I preach is important,” said Terralavoro.

Asked her secret to being able to have such a full plate, she quickly answered, “I have really strong time management skills. It’s all about purpose and having boundaries. I write it all down and it never feels like work. It’s a good problem to have.”

Each aspect of Terralavaro’s life seems connected - family, volunteering, and work. So, it is not surprising to learn she also reaches out beyond the formal role of her job.

“I am also most excited to be on the committee to promote and award the annual President’s Scholarship for Volunteer Service to a graduating high school senior of the Class of 2021,” she adds. “As a counselor for the past 16 years, I feel as though I could be a liaison between the league and the High School Counseling Offices in Orange and Ulster Counites.

Applications will be sent out soon to all School Counseling Offices and I look forward to reading about all the great volunteering that our young people have been spending their time on and what they have learned from it.”

Connecting with the students as an example is important to Terralavaro as she enjoys sharing her experiences and reminds youth, they do not have to belong to a formal organization to help others.

At a time when meeting, planning, and organizing, all present various challenges during the pandemic restrictions, she points out this just means scheduling needs to be done in advance and a bit of creativity is necessary. It’s an atmosphere in which she thrives.