Mary Ellen Michalenko Mary Ellen Michalenko (photo by Jim Howe) (photo by Jim Howe) For more than 20 years, Mary Ellen Michalenko has been the teacher for the school within the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. She coordinates with school districts throughout Central New York in order to meet the educational needs of hospitalized patients, from kindergarten through high school. The goal is to make sure they do not fall behind in their schoolwork during their hospital stay. She tells how the hospital's "one-room schoolhouse" operates. For more than 20 years, Mary Ellen Michalenko has been the teacher for the school within the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. She coordinates with school districts throughout Central New York in order to meet the educational needs of hospitalized patients, from kindergarten through high school. The goal is to make sure they do not fall behind in their schoolwork during their hospital stay. She tells how the hospital's "one-room schoolhouse" operates.