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Awardees

Highlights of the Empire State Excellence in Teaching Program

The Empire State Excellence in Teaching Program awardees are teachers of science, math, English language arts, social studies, kindergarten, special education, art, physical education, robotics, technology, world languages, economics, English as a new language, and even P-TECH programs. Learn about the winners of this award, by region, below.

Round 3 Awardees (announced June 2022)

Capital District

Christopher Anderson
Averill Park Central School District

Laura Eggelston
Mohonasen Central School District

Kurt Hassenpflug
North Colonie Central School Distrcit

Jennifer O'Leary
Saratoga Springs City School District

Central NY

Sylvia Amoreena Tellaeche
Cortland Enlarged City School District

Lisa Geraci-Civiletto
Fayetteville-Manlius Central School Dstrict

Astrid Helfant
Hamilton Central School District

David Amidon
LaFayette Central School District

Nicole Lener
McGraw Central School District

Matthew Harbinger
North Syracuse Central School District

Bobby Kunnath
Syracuse City School District

Finger Lakes

Christopher Albrecht
Brockport Central School District

Long Island

Ashley Bloch
Islip UFSD

Jacqueline O'Neill
Jericho UFSD

Jessica Koch
Longwood Central School District

Jennifer Glatzer
Lynbrook Union Free School District

Julianne Horowitz
Oceanside School District

Christine Christianse
Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District

Carisa Steinberg
Syosset Central School District

Marina Philippe
Uniondale UFSD

Martin Palermo
William Floyd School District

Mid-Hudson

Jessica McCann
Brewster Central School District

Paul Gruner
Kingston City School District

Jennifer Luongo
North Rockland Central School District

Juliet Boone
The Hyde Park Central School District

Tara Berescik
Tri-Valley Central School District

Monica Baker
Webutuck Central School District

Mohawk Valley

Colleen Cushing
Fort Plain Central School District

Stephen Costanza
Whitesboro Central School District

Sara Stamboly-Warner
Whitesboro Central School District

New York City

Elizabeth Brennan
District 3

Cynthia Soriano
District 6

Anastasia Difino
District 25

Eleuterio Timbol
District 28

Takeisha Babb
District 09X517

Deanna D'Onofrio
District 15

Taniqua Scott
District 30

Giancarlo Malchiodi
District 13K430

Danielle Monock
District 27

Ayah Rifai
District 20

North Country

Lori Atkinson
Copenhagen Central School District

Sara Narrow-LaPoint
Gouverneur Central School District

Mary Pennock
Jeff-Lewis BOCES

Bridgette Havens
Ogdensburg City School District

Kylie Pinkerton
Ogdensburg City School District

Michael Comet
South Lewis Central School District

Southern Tier

Theresa Sherman
Delaware Academy Central School District at Delhi

Michelle Lehr
Johnson City Central School District

Lori DePauw
Sidney Central School District

Jodie Day
Walton Central School District

Whitney Freije
Windsor Central School District

Western New York

Alayla Henry
King Center Charter School-Buffalo

Amber Chandler
Frontier Central School District

Lon Knappenberger
Westfield Central School District

Round 2 Awardees

Capital District

Lori Lebel |Schenectady

  • Schenectady High School, English Language Arts

Shannon Lundgren | Bethlehem

  • Bethlehem Middle School, Spanish

Deborah Mabey | Hoosick Falls

  • Hoosick Falls High School, Science

 

Thea MacFawn | North Colonie

  • Shaker High School, English

Christopher Mazura | Guilderland

  • Guilderland High School, English

 

Julianna Palomba | Bethlehem

  • Eagle Elementary School, 4th Grade

Central NY

Kathleen Argus | Syracuse

  • Syracuse CSD Institute of Technology, Social Studies

Julie Kielbasinski | Cazenovia

  • Burton Street Elementary, 2nd

 

Nicholas Little | Oswego

  • Fitzhugh Park Elementary School, 4th Grade

Kathryn Smith | Syracuse

  • Bellevue Elementary School, Multi-Classroom Leader for Special Education

 

Sarah Whelan | Syracuse

  • Frazer PreK-8 School, Special Education Consultant Teacher

Finger Lakes

Rachel Dobbs | Rochester

  • George Mather Forbes School #4, Music Teacher

Michael Geraci | Penfield

  • Bay Trail Middle School, English Language Arts

 

Paul Hazard | Geneseo

  • Geneseo Middle School, Social Studies

Vicki Newman | Hilton

  • Hilton High School, Math

 

Lisa Parish | Waterloo

  • Waterloo High School, Environmental Science

Elizabeth Peters | Wayne

  • Freewill Elementary School, Counselor

 

Hudson Valley/Mid-Hudson

Brittany Kozlenko | Brewster

  • Brewster High School, Physics

Lawrence Perretto | Mamaroneck

  • Hommocks Middle School, Science

 

Heather Gorman | Wappingers

  • Roy C. Ketcham High School, Biology

Zelig Kurland | Valley

  • Valley Central High School, English

 

Rebecca Zilinski | Wappingers

  • John Jay High School, Art

Long Island

Lauren Desiderio | Huntington

  • Huntington High School, History

Elizabeth Held | Elwood

  • James H Boyd Intermediate School, 3rd and 4th Grade

Maria Kaminsky | West Islip

  • West Islip High School, Sign Language

Lauren Maywald | Baldwin

  • Brookside Elementary School, 5th Grade

 

Christina Pawlowski | Commack

  • Commack High School, Math

Terrence Bissoondial | Hewlett-Woodmere

  • George W. Hewlett High School, Science

Mohawk Valley

Shane Bonney | West Canada Valley

  • West Canada Valley High School, Wind Ensemble Director/Woodwind Specialist

Celia Garretson-Rathbun | Richfield Springs

  • Richfield Springs High School, Social Studies

 

Gianni Notaro | Westmoreland

  • Westmoreland High School, Social Studies

Andre Short | Frankfort-Schuyler

  • Frankfort-Schuyler Central High School, English Language Acquisition

 

Sarah Elaqua | Waterville

  • Waterville Jr/Sr. High School, Biology

Carrie Styles | Schoharie

  • Schoharie Elementary School, Music

 

New York City

Arthur Everett | NYC

  • High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology, History

William Fong | NYC

  • Central Park East 2 Elementary, Special Education

 

Magdalena Louis | NYC

  • South Bronx Preparatory, English Language Arts

Julie Mann | NYC

  • Newcomers High School, English as a New Language

 

Alyssa Scherer | NYC

  • S. 64 Robert Simon School, Science

Regina Zafonte | NYC

  • High School for Math, Science and Engineering, Social Studies

 

North Country

Stephanie Bisceglia | Norfolk

  • Norwood-Norfolk Middle School, 5th and 6th Grade

Jara Filiatrault | Potsdam

  • A. Kingston Middle School, History

 

Christina Frank | Ogdensburg

  • Ogdensburg Free Academy, Spanish

Marcie Goodrow | Massena

  • Jefferson Elementary, Special Education

 

Sean McGrath | Edwards-Knox

  • Edwards-Knox High School, Social Studies

Sonal Patel-Dame | Plattsburgh

  • Plattsburgh High School, Science

 

Southern Tier

David Buchner | Ithaca

  • DeWitt Middle School, Technology Engineering

Jessica Carl | Union- Endicott

  • Charles F. Johnson Elementary School, English as a New Language Teacher

 

Kimberly Malone | Horseheads

  • Horseheads Intermediate School, 6th Grade

Sheri Morse | Addison

  • Tuscarora Elementary School, 4th Grade

 

Scott Symons | Windsor

  • Windsor High School, Social Studies

Steve Weissburg | Ithaca

  • Ithaca High School, Math

 

Western New York

Margaret Helmes | Williamsville

  • Williamsville Alternative Instruction Model, Science

Laura Hodara | Salamanca

  • Seneca Elementary School, 5th Grade

 

Kristin Lawrence | Hamburg

  • Hamburg High School, Business Education

Richard Pyszczek Jr. | Buffalo

  • Buffalo Virtual Pathways, Social Studies

 

Elizabeth Scully | Niagara Wheatfield

  • West Street Elementary School, Reading Specialist

Nicole Zugelder | Kenmore

  • Thomas A. Edison Elementary, Physical Education

 

Round 1 Awardees

Capital District

Theresa Bradway
  • Music director of the Jr. High School Concert Band, Sr. High School Concert Band, Jr. High Jazz Band, Sr. High Jazz Band, Girl’s Barbershop Ensemble, Boy’s Barbershop Ensemble and Marching Band.
  • Mentors untenured teachers
  • Member of Saratoga Soundtrack Chorus-Saratoga Springs, NY
  • Associate member of the Barbershop Harmony Society
Daniel Anderson
  • Math and Computer Science Teacher
  • In the first cohort on the NYS Master Teacher, where he lead the “Play with Math Mini Course”
  • Keeps  a blog where they take one picture of the classroom every day to share with the community
Kathryn Peterson
  • Selected to partner with National Park Service for “Call to Action Class” at the Vanderbilt-Roosevelt Historic Site
  • Advisor for the Community Service Club where the students make blankets for shelter animals
  • Trained her dog to become a therapy dog for students who are anxious
Frank Adamo
  • National Board Certified English Teacher
  • Modified Lacrosse Coach, Drama Club Advisor
  • Creates curriculum for the Positivity Project, a nonprofit working to develop positive character traits
  • Used technology so that students could co-write poetry with students in Australia
Willard Hardin III
  • Nationally Board Certified in Mathematics
  • Advisor to the math club, homework club, and National Honor Society
  • Coaches two teams of students to participate in Moody’s Mega Math challenge
Bernadette Wehr
  • Dual certified English and Special Education Teacher
  • Taught a 15:1 class with 100% pass rate on the English Regents
  • Coordinated the school-wide mentoring program

Central NY

Daniel Bondgren
  • Teaches AP Biology, General Earth Science, General Physics, General Chemistry, and Regents Chemistry at Jordan Elbridge HS.
  • Co-Founder and Organizer of Jordan-Elbridge Graduates of Distinction Program
  • Head Varsity Soccer Coach
  • Member of the Science Leadership Community through the local BOCES
  • Facilitates authentic research-based curriculum on photosynthesis and respiration.
Kathleen Totman
  • Third grade teacher at Homer Central School District
  • Curriculum Area Lead Teacher for Math
  • Leader in Writing and Technology at Grade Level
  • Hosted student teachers and participated in action research as a cooperating teacher at a PDS school through a SUNY Cortland partnership
  • Students coach each other in Math and ELA through PALS (Peer Assisted Learning Strategies) program
Stephanie Hughes
  • Teacher at Edward R. Andrews Elem School in Morrisville-Eaton Central Schools
  • Team Leader representing Grades 3-5
  • Implemented and facilitated ELA Professional Learning Community in the school
  • Member of Parents as Reading Partners Program
  • Created differentiation stations for students to work on their own levels independently
Michael Ferris
  • Media teacher at East Syracuse-Minoa HS
  • Created and administers the Central NY HS Film Festival
  • Organizes media-related internships for students
  • Recipient of The Post Standards New Teachers to watch in 1996 and Technology Alliance of CNY Technology Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Jessica Keane
  • North Syracuse Middle and High School French Instructor
  • Advisor of the Multi-Cultural Club (Middle School)
  • Co-Advisor of the French Club (High School)
  • Her room is transformed so students are surrounded with French culture
  • Incorporates cultural education into French class that includes art and food exploration
Prin Furst
  • Auburn HS Chemistry and Life Science Teacher
  • Central Science Teachers Association of New York State Chemistry Section Area Representative
  • New Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Department of Education Science Standards Writing Team in 2015
  • Collegial Circle Leader for three school years
  • Will help district develop science curriculum for P-TECH program

Finger Lakes

Jessica Flanders
  • 4th grade general education teacher at Rochester’s Adlai Stevenson Elem. School
  • School Based Planning Team Member
  • Run Spirit Committee
Adel Bouallagui
  • ESL Teacher at Rochester’s Vanguard Collegiate HS
  • Diverse student demographics include Hispanic, Asian, Arabic, Nepali, and African
  • Uses technology-based and art-inspired projects where students can exercise their multi-faceted skills, expand their imagination, and most importantly reveal their creativity.
  • Encourages students to be leaders and positive agents of change.
Joe Gallina
  • Technology Teacher at Spencerport HS
  • 2005 and 2008 recipient of the United States Air Force Outstanding Teacher Award
  • Rated Highly Effective
  • Teaches Project Lead the Way Courses for pre-engineering
  • Transformed what used to be a paper and pencil class into a fully automated, digital environment.
  • Sits on NYS FIRST Robotics Committee
  • Coaches Football
Deborah Ingerick
  • Art teacher at Munn Elementary School in Spencerport
  • Students have access to a variety of materials from the computer to paints, clay, printmaking, textiles and many more 2-D and 3-D mediums.
  • Curriculum includes: Art Making, Art Critiquing, Art History and many multicultural and interdisciplinary lessons.
  • One project was based on Gesture Drawing, Origami and Stage Design and ended with a Computer Generated Image that we made in the Computer Lab.
Michelle Ebert
  • Earth Science Teacher at Greece Arcadia HS
  • National Board Certification in Young Adult Science
  • Central Western Subject Area Representative for Earth Science
  • Current Member of the New York Science Teachers Association Presenter at the 2001 -2016 New York State Conference
  • Uses flipped classroom strategies, peer review, and student led instruction.
  • Incorporates current events into curriculum.
James Porta
  • Chemistry and Physics teacher at Brighton HS
  • NYS Master Teacher and Member of the Region’s Chemistry Professional Learning Team
  • Science Coordinator at Brighton HS
  • Outdoor Club and Mountain Bound Advisor
  • Co-advisor of the Science Research Club
  • Collaborates with other departments to discuss curriculum overlap and organizes cross-discipline observations.

Hudson Valley

Kira Lamarre Herbert
  • Humanities teacher at Pierre Van Cortlandt MS in Croton Harmon
  • Developed grade level rubric for “Behaviors That Promote Learning”
  • Strengthens ELA skills in various subjects, i.e. social studies
  • Led 6th grade students in painting a mural in the cafeteria
  • Curriculum coordinator and team leader
William Yager Jr.
  • Science teacher at Millbrook MS
  • Mid- Hudson School Study Excellence in Teaching 2011
  • SUNY New Paltz Dean’s Award Instructional Leadership & Teaching Excellence 2011
  • Lego Robotics Team Coach
  • NYSTRS Delegate
  • Dyson Inquiry Based Science Curriculum Writing Project
Dorothy Venditto
  • Tiered support teacher/instructional coach at West Patent Elem in Bedford
  • National Board Council of NY Faculty Member
  • Planned school-wide enrichment program with colleagues to encourage an atmosphere of engagement, excitement and enthusiasm in the building
  • Wrote several grant applications to self-fund school-wide enrichment program
  • Facilitated the implementation of a reading intervention program, Reading Plus
  • Oversaw implementation of computerized reading assessment program in the building
  • As instructional coach, worked with teachers in small groups and 1:1 to provide guidance
Nancy Fabrizio
  • Science Teacher at Valley Central MS
  • National Board Certified
  • Rated Highly Effective three years in a row
  • Students make their own “textbooks”
  • Class begins with inquiry and evolves into development of ideas
Cynthia Sandler
  • North Salem MS/HS Library Media Specialist
  • Runs library program for entire MS/HS including print and digital collection development
  • Teaches lessons and projects grades six through twelve.
  • Advises Video Broadcasting Club, Middle School Robotics Club, High School Robotics Team.
  • Serves on Mission Committee, Digital Learning Committee, Professional Learning Team, Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Council.
  • Google Certified Innovator, Google Geo Certified Teacher, Flat Connections Certified Teacher. Local and National Presenter including ISTE 2016. Local and regional Professional Developer.
Danielle Scalera
  • Art teacher at CV Starr Intermediate at Brewster CSD
  • Administrative Coordinator of NYS Summer School of the Arts in Fredonia
  • Curriculum evolves so that students slowly take more initiative as they learn more about the elements of art.

Long Island

Kristen Drury
  • Chemistry Teacher at William Floyd HS
  • Co-facilitated the New Teacher Institute
  • Created a website that includes all websites, class links and videos
  • NYS Master Teacher
  • Currently studying to complete a Masters in Geology with a concentration in Earth and Space Sciences from SUNY Stony Brook
Stephanie O’Brien
  • Chemistry Teacher at Commack HS
  • Understanding by Design Department Ambassador
  • Science Honor Society Advisor
  • Sunshine Committee
  • Inquiry Lab Curriculum Writer
  • National Chemistry Olympiad ACS Mentor
Leslie Rubenstein
  • Government and Economics Teacher at Carle Place HS
  • Member of the Accreditation for Growth Committee on Critical Thinking and Technology
  • Curriculum includes campaigning and role playing
  • Developed and coordinated school-wide mock election project
Pam O’Brien
  • Mathematics Teacher at Ward Melville HS
  • NYS Master Teacher
  • Started and grew the AP Statistics Program at Ward Melville HS
  • Delivers Presentations at the Long Island Math Conferences
Jason Manning
  • Social Studies Teacher at Oceanside HS
  • Model Congress Club Advisor
  • Athletic Pride Club Co-Advisor
  • Helped create the new Big History curriculum for the Department
Marianne Schoepflin
  • Mathematics Teacher at Smithtown HS East
  • NYS Master Teacher
  • TORCH Award 2014
  • SCOPE Teacher Service Award 2015
  • Served as co advisor for the Math Honor Society for the past nine years. Coordinated annual district wide Math Fun Night for upwards of 800 students in grades 4 – 12. Developed over 60 hands-on activities to spark an interest in mathematics for this annual event. This is currently the largest district wide event in the Smithtown School District.

Mohawk Valley

Anita Stabrowski
  • New York State Master Teacher
  • Nationally Board Certified in Science
  • Brought the Future Cities competition to the district
Diane Stevenson
  • English as a New Language Teacher
  • Helped Create a Sheltered ENL/Science class for ninth and tenth graders
  • Modified girls soccer coach
Tiffany Piatkowski
  • Technology teacher at OHM P-TECH
  • Also teaches summer courses for youth at Oneida Community College
  • As a technology educator, her students use a mix of traditional device (band saw) and new (3-d printer) preparing them for the careers ahead
Benjamin Atwood
  • Certified to teach secondary social studies and special ed
  • Site Supervisor of the Young Scholars Liberty Partnership Program to help support students in regard to college readiness, and other support they need
William Chapman
  • Coach of the Envirothon team
  • Awarded Conservation Educator of the Year form the soil and water office
  • Students beamed a Metallica song around the school on a laser beam
  • Said would use the funds from the award to develop an astrological clock for the students to learn astronomy concepts.
Mollie Burgett
  • Science teacher currently undergoing National Board Certification process
  • Organized salamander crossing for AP environment students
  • Partnered with SUNY Cobleskill and NYS DEC in a water quality grant
  • Coached Envirothon team

New York City

Jonelle Hinchcliffe
  • Teaches Geometry at Westchester Square Academy Bronx, HS
  • Is a Model Teacher with the DOE leadership program
  • Spent weeks last summer figuring out how to incorporate "flipped" model into her classroom by reading books, joining online communities and speaking with colleagues.
  • This year uses the flipped model in Geometry class to instruct students, which allows students to use videos to prepare them for class the next day (not an add on of extra work from yesterday’s lesson). All videos and classwork for her class are on her website where kids can go back and re-watch a video on any topic from the entire year.
Jamie Cacciola-Price
  • Partners with various organizations to get students involved in music.
  • School was selected as one of only a few schools to be a Theatre Development Fund Open Door Scholar school which allows schools to partner with a theatre professional.
  • Partnered with Manhattan Theatre Club for a playwriting program where several students participate in the after school "Write Now" program. Students plays have been produced in Off-Broadway play festivals. These are just a few examples of the partnerships I have forged to benefit my students.
  • Pursuing a doctorate in educational theatre
    Michelle Rand
  • Math teacher at Queens United Middle School
  • collaborated with author Judy Dodge on the book “Core Instructional Routines: Go-To Structures for the 6 – 12 Classroom” which highlights best practices and incorporating literacy skills into specific content areas.
  • Helping to re-write the 6 – 8 math curriculum at QUMS and next year will be staff-developer to help coach other teachers in my building.
Kristine Mraz
  • Teaches Kindergarten at PS 59 The Beekman Hill International School
  • Contributed to online educational professional communities like Kinderconfidential and Chartchums
  • Published 5 books:
    • Mraz, Kristine, Porcelli, Alison, and Tyler, Cheryl (2016) Purposeful Play: A Teacher’s Guide To Igniting Deep and Joyful Learning Across the Day. New Hampsire: Heinemann
    • Hertz, Christine and Mraz, Kristine (2015) A Mindset for Learning. New Hampshire: Heinemann.
    • Martinelli, Marjorie and Mraz, Kristine (2014). Smarter Charts for Math, Science, and Social Studies: Making Learning Visible in the Content-Areas. New Hampshire: Heinemann.
    • Calkins, Lucy, Golub, Barb, and Mraz, Kristine (2013). Writing Information Books: Units of Study in Writing Workshop in First Grade. New Hamphire: Heinemann.
    • Martinelli, Marjorie and Mraz, Kristine (2012). Smarter Charts: Optimizing and Instructional Staple to Create Independent Readers and Writers. New Hampshire: Heinemann.
Patrick Honner
  • Mathematics Teacher  at Brooklyn Technical High School
  • Instructional Coach
  • Sloan Award winner
  • Three-time Math for America Master Teacher
  • New York State Master Teacher, and the runner-up for the inaugural Rosenthal Prize for Innovation in Math Teaching
Andrea Chaves
  • STEM teacher at Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Has coordinated annual events such as the "Hour of Code" her school as a way to expose underrepresented teenage girls to the discipline of computer coding.
  • Featured and recognized as a TechnoloChica (January 2016)
  • Directed students on the creation of a short documentary "The Power of All Girls Schools" launched at the opening event at the National Coalition for Girls Schools (February, 2016)
  • Recipient of Computer Science White House Champion of Change (January 2016)
  • Recipient of NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Educator Award (May 2015)
  • Directed students through the Dream it, Code it, Win it, MIT contest that has led TYWLS TechCrew receiving recognition for the creation of apps that seek solutions to social issues. (April 2015) (April 2014)
  • Directed students through the national Follett Challenge Contest that led TYWLS of Astoria receiving the second place of the challenge: 20.000 granted. (March 2015)
  • First ever recipient of the Innovation Educator Award from Hispanic Heritage Foundation in New York, NY. (December 2013)
  • Facilitator of student projects and activities that incorporated Apple technologies and team leader for the application process and iBook creation that led to TYWLS of Astoria receiving the Apple Distinguished School Award. (November 2013)

North Country

Megan Nemier-Green
  • Chateaugay HS Mathematics Teacher
  • Uses flipped classrooms and technology to engage students and create more student-led curriculum
  • Before becoming a classroom teacher, was a special education teaching assistant for 8 years
  • Classroom time is spent with students actively tackling issues while the teacher walks around and facilitates, rather than lectures.
Amanda Zullo
  • Saranac Lake Senior HS Chemistry Teacher
  • Student Council Advisor
  • National Board Candidate Support Provider
  • Each unit of curriculum includes a problem assignment which students must work to solve throughout the unit
Molly Reilly
  • Economics teacher at Alexandria HS
  • Collaborates with SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY Jefferson Community College to offer concurrent enrollment courses in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Political Science and History.
  • Sits on Central NY Council for the Social Studies and NYS Council for the Social Studies
  • Prepares students for the Entrepreneurship NYS Business Plan Competition (HS), as well as, the Center for Economic Growth NYS HS Business Plan Competition at Siena College
Dianne Drayse-Alonso
  • Art teacher at Ogdensburg Free Academy
  • Advisor of the HS Art and Gallery Club
  • Art Department Chairperson
  • Class space features a large instructional area for general art classes, a mini-Mac lab, a still-life painting zone, a printmaking zone, tons of storage space, moving display walls, and an adjacent small studio space for Independent Study students
Charlene Rydgren
  • Physics teacher at Franklin Academy HS in Malone
  • Developed Science Skills Curriculum for at risk students
  • Developed World of Technology/Science Skills for IEP diploma students
  • Advisor for Epsilon Honor Society & Whiz Quiz team
  • Classes are hands on and student led
Michele Armani
  • Coordinator of ADK P-TECH
  • Uses a skills based, student centered, research driven approach to teaching and learning
  • Participates on the Leadership Board and Curriculum Review Council
  • Facilitates Faculty Professional Development in Project Based Learning
  • Monitors student progress throughout the Program, including academic achievement, industry mentorships, summer work placements, partner school guidance staff, and college attainment
  • Communicates with Clinton Community College and Clarkson University faculty and staff

Southern Tier

Elisabeth Bostwick
  • Teaches at Gardner Elementary
  • Is an expert contributor for Participate Learning or Participate.com.
  • Has been invited by Edutopia to write on the topic of Empowering Student Voice through Classroom Culture for their community of educators.
  • In March 2016, co-founded LeadUpTeach, which is an ed-movement committed to inspiring educators as leaders, collaborative leadership, and igniting innovation within teaching.
  • Co-hosts LeadUpTeach live (divisionof Leadupnow.com) on Blab.im and interview leaders in education to provide tips to educators for both inspiration and growth.
Nichole Inthanongsak
  • 2nd grade Teacher at Horseheads Central School District
  • Her philosophy is "be who you needed when you were a kid".
  • Has created a maker's space area in her classroom which allows students to incorporate all aspects of the curriculum.
    Teresa Price
  • Actively in involved NYSAHPERD our organization for health, physical educators, recreation and dance.
  • On the CSZ board of directors and currently hold position of elementary/ middle school chairperson.
  • Awards chairperson for our physically active healthy student awards.
  • Serves on the planning committee for our annual CSZ mini conference held at Cortland State every year.
  • Served as a PE profile trainer for NYSAHPERD where she went to numerous schools in the area to train other teachers in the PE profile.
Jordan Coffed
  • Teacher at Campbell-Savona Jr./Sr. High School
  • Member of the NYS Master Teacher Program
  • National Science Teachers Association Member
    Arthur J. Cass
  • Technology Education teacher at  Chenango Valley HS
  • Member of Southern Tier Technology Education Association
  • Added many technology classes to the school, including Multi-Media class where the students learn about video production and editing, stop-motion animation, web design, and audio production and a Principles of Engineering class.
  • Next year, plans on expanding course offerings by adding a video game design class in order to expose the students to coding.
Lorelle Dutcher
  • Teacher at Franklin Central School
  • Dedicated to planning and preparing lessons that are engaging to my students.
  • Encourages learning through experiences and differentiated instruction

Western New York

Brandi Meacham
  • Fulltime Kindergarten/First Grade Teacher
  • PLC Leader, RtI Team member, Shared Decision Making Team member
  • Professional Development Team for turnkey training
  • Peer Instructional Coach
  • Insurance Representative for Jamestown Teachers Association
  • September 2014-present
Adam Norris
  • Maryvale HS Social Studies Teacher
  • Chosen by the Student Faculty Government for a “Special Recognition” Brick Award (2016)
  • Selected as a top-10 semi-finalist for the New York State Teacher Of The Year (2015)
  • Selected by Buffalo’s distinguished Buffalo Business First magazine as a 2015 Top 25 Teachers of Merit (June, 2015)
  • Recognized by the Maryvale Board of Education for outstanding Advanced Placement United States Placement Scores, which were the highest in the school’s history (September, 2014)
  • Chosen by the Student Faculty Government as “Outstanding Advisor” (2014, 2011)
Ashli Dreher
  • 2016 Fund for Teachers Fellow National Grant Award $10,000 (Austria, Switzerland, Italy)
  • 2015 National Education Association Global Learning Fellow (Peru)
  • 2014 New York State Teacher of the Year
  • 2014 Am-Pol Eagle Education Citizen of the Year
  • 2014 Thomas Sobol Award for Excellence in Education
  • 2014 David Johnson Award for Outstanding Teaching
  • 2014 Chief Council of State School Officer National Teacher of the Year Applicant
Andrea Fortin-Nossavage
  • Teach students at the Regents level in Grade 11 United States History and Government. I teach 4 sections with 104 students ranging in age from 16-18 years.
  • She has three Masters’ Degrees, the most recent of which is in the area of School District and School Building Leadership in May of 2012.
  • Appointment to the New York State Professional Standards and Practices (Since July 2014)
Sarah English
  • Presently the Technology Coach, Sweet Home High School, Amherst, New York.
  • Previously she also served as Adjunct Faculty, Department of Learning and Instruction State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
  • Peace Corps Mathematics Teacher, Armitage High School, Janjanbureh, The Gambia, West Africa
  • 10/13 – Present Master Teacher Program, Western New York Region
Kenneth Huff
  • Science and Mathematics Teacher at Mill MS of Williamsville
  • Board of Directors, National Science Teachers Association
  • Co-Chair, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Teacher Advisory Council
  • Advisory Board, Science Scope, National Science Teachers Association
  • Science Education Steering Committee, New York State Education Department
  • Past President, The Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching
  • Writing Team Member, Next Generation Science Standards, Achieve
Excellence in Teaching Award