LI teacher a contest finalist on Kelly Ripa's TV show

Danielle Greco was watching the basketball team she coaches as they took possession of the ball and made their way down the court at Bethpage’s John F. Kennedy Middle School last year.

She saw her players scrambling to get open, and one in particular, Peter Ingenito, who was being guarded by someone much bigger. But Peter managed to get around him.

In a stroke of confidence and caught up in the excitement, Peter reached up and gave his opponent a high five.

“He was so confused,” Greco said of the other team’s player. “But Peter got by him.”

To Greco, that moment says so much about Challenger sports, a league of various sports for children with special needs. Greco was instrumental in bringing the league to Bethpage last year.

She said Peter, a 13-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, joined the team reluctantly as a shy boy who was agitated by transitions and confused by too much stimuli. His smooth move on the court showed someone who was social, confident and unafraid of a challenge.

Denise Ingenito, Peter’s mother, said she’s noticed the same changes in her son and credits Greco, who was Peter’s teacher last year.

“He’s more independent, he’s happy with himself,” she said. “It’s great to see him succeeding.”

Touched by her son’s transition and similar achievements she saw in Greco’s other students, Ingenito looked for a way to recognize Greco for her dedication.

In February, she nominated Greco for the “LIVE! with Kelly” 3rd Annual Top Teacher Search, and Greco was chosen as one of the top 12 competitors. Last week, after a round of online voting, Greco was chosen for the Top 5 and will appear on the program Monday at 9 a.m. on WABC.

After another round of voting, the Top Teacher wins a new car and $25,000 for her school district, Greco said.

Greco, who will be 36 next month, grew up in Bethpage and began teaching in the district as a leave replacement as soon as she graduated college.

“I was very fortunate,” she said. “I love Bethpage, I think it’s a great place to grow up, to go to school and to live. I still live here.”

David Schneider, principal of the middle school, said Greco is one of his most dedicated teachers and his “go-to person.”

He said she’s also involved in the student council, runs the social skills club -- which pairs general education students as mentors with special education students -- the yearbook, and is the principal of the special education summer school program.

He said Challenger games held at Bethpage are huge events for the entire school. Hundreds of students and their families fill the stands, cheerleaders perform and the school’s mascot -- the Golden Eagle -- keeps enthusiasm high.

“It is an unbelievable benefit to their social and emotional development,” he said of the students on the team. “They have an opportunity to feel like and be treated like all students do through a team atmosphere and working together.”

Greco said she hopes this platform she’s been given will bring more attention to Challenger sports.

“If more schools on Long Island participate, the students will have more opportunity to play,” she said.

Peter Ingenito said it doesn’t matter whether Greco wins or not.

“Ms. Greco’s gonna be the No. 1 teacher,” he said. “Even if she doesn’t, she’s No. 1 teacher to me.”