Since 1994, D'Amato has worked with students from Pre-K to high school in academic and recreational settings. His experiences range from community work with youths in Harlem, New York, to educational research in Paris, France. Michael James D'Amato, a former Teacher of the Year, is currently a middle school teacher in New Jersey. He is also the coach of his school's Academic Competition Team, a Student Government mentor, a Learn & Serve coordinator, and their "O" Ambassadors facilitator. D'Amato's work has appeared in "NEA Today" (the country's #1 teachers magazine), several newspapers, and also on "Classroom Close Up" (the NJEA weekly television show). D'Amato considers the highlight of his career to be the 17-day trip to southern Italy in 2005 with his eighth grade students. During the trip the students visited Naples, Pompeii, and Rome. In 2007, 2008, and 2009, D'Amato traveled to the Dominican Republic with a coalition of teachers as part of "Friends Beyond Borders." During these social justice expeditions the teachers toured the Haitian border, visited an AIDS orphanage, spoke with civil rights activist Sonia Pierre, and heard firsthand stories from the legendary Dede Mirabal from the famous novel, "In the Time of the Butterflies." In 2008 and 2009, D'Amato was nominated for GQ Magazine's "Better Men, Better World" Award. D'Amato presents at workshops and conventions and is available for speaking engagements. For direct inquiries, please write to turtle0038@yahoo.com