ALBANY, N.Y. December 4, 2007 -- New York State United Teachers today recognized the accomplishments of 85 teachers statewide who earned National Board Certification, a highly regarded symbol of teaching excellence that directly benefits children in the classroom.
The 85 teachers include six from Schenectady, a district with one of the highest numbers of nationally certified teachers in all of New York state. The new board-certified teachers join 694 others from New York, who, since 1994, have attained what is called the "gold standard" of the teaching profession.
Teachers who successfully achieve national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards must demonstrate mastery of teaching; the effect of their teaching on student performance; knowledge of their subject area; be able to manage and measure student learning; and successfully reach out to parents and the community.
"In a state that is widely known for the professionalism, dedication and skill of its teaching force, these teachers are standard-bearers," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "They have voluntarily participated in a rigorous credentialing process and are being rightly recognized for their accomplishments. We congratulate them."
NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira said National Board Certification - a voluntary process which takes most candidates 200-400 hours and more than a year to complete - is an effective strategy for helping to close the achievement gap.
"Quality teaching, the use of 'best practice' in the classroom, and collaboration between teachers and the administration are essential ingredients to ending the achievement gap," Neira said. "Schenectady is leading the way with its support for increasing the numbers of National Board Certified teachers and its efforts are an important step toward helping to end the achievement gap."
Neira visited Schenectady's Mont Pleasant Middle School on Tuesday to congratulate the district's six new National Board Certified teachers: David Bub, Andrea Polikoski, Patricia Embree, Jaime Simmons, Wendy Taylor and Maurice Watson III. The six bring to 22 the total number of nationally certified teachers in Schenectady.
"Today, these six wonderful teachers are representing all their colleagues, past and present, who have achieved our profession's highest standard," Neira said.
Neira noted the Schenectady Federation of Teachers, led by President Juliet Benaquisto, and the school district negotiated a $4,000 stipend to be paid to all nationally certified teachers. In addition, the district provides release time for candidates to work toward national certification and encourages professional development for all teachers.
"School districts that recognize the value of having nationally certified teachers are beginning to reap the benefits," Neira said. "We are starting to see concentrations of nationally certified teachers in Schenectady and other places that offer local incentives. The end result is that these districts are seeing increased success in their efforts to raise student achievement."
In addition, NYSUT assists national board candidates by offering awareness programs, support and advice through online discussion forums, conferences and professional development through its Education & Learning Trust. The union works with teacher centers to support candidates through the challenging board-certification process.
NYSUT represents 585,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.
2007-2008 National Board Certified Teachers
Donna Bolner
Arlington CSD
Science/Early Adolescence
Vivian Lacolla
Arlington CSD
Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood - Young Adulthood
Shannon Hansen
Ballston Spa CSD
Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Eileen Shepard
Ballston Spa CSD
Generalist/Middle Childhood
Lee Lee Wong
Briarcliff Manor UFSD
English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood
Cheryl Brott
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake CSD
Generalist/Early Childhood
Jennifer Waligory
Clinton Central School District
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Joanne Tunison
Corning CSD
World LOTE/Early Adolescence - Young Adulthood
Nancy Maguire
Cornwall CSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Susan Verbeck
East Syracuse-Minoa CSD
Science/Early Adolescence
Heather Wolfe
Elmira CSD
Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Kimberly Kearney
Fairport CSD
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Eugene Gordon
Fairport CSD
Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Dennis Lavoie
Fairport CSD
World LOTE/Early Adolescence - Young Adulthood
David Witmer
Fayetteville-Manlius CSD
Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence - Young Adulthood
Edward Kupiec
Fayetteville-Manlius CSD
Physical Education/Early and Middle Childhood
Jason Brechko
Glens Falls CSD
Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Deborah Baulsir
Hudson Falls CSD
Generalist/Middle Childhood
Mary Ricotta
Kenmore-Tonawanda UFSD
Generalist/Middle Childhood
Jacqueline Vigotty - Lydy
Kingston CSD
English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Cynthia Beaty
Liverpool CSD
Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood - Young Adulthood
Patricia Clements
Middleburgh CSD
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Eileen Laspaluto
Middleburgh CSD
English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Dawn Jordan
Monroe-Woodbury CSD
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Christine Olson
New York City CSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Eric Lincoln
New York City District # 7
Social Studies - History/Early Adolescence
Mandi Meilands
New York City PS
English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Alyssa Longo
New York City PS
Generalist/Early Childhood
Vanessa Holder
New York City PS
Generalist/Early Childhood
Luke Janka
New York City PS
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Eva Didia
New York City PS
Generalist/Middle Childhood
Jessica Lynch
New York City PS
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Susannah Tamarkin
New York City PS
Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Jennifer Bocchino
New York City PS
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Diana Behan
New York City PS
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Nancy Mulligan
New York City PS
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Vanessa Freundlich
New York City PS
Art/Early and Middle Childhood
Tara Degrado
New York City PS
Generalist/Early Childhood
Lynn Manuell
New York City PS
Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood -Young Adulthood
Lesia Wilder
New York City PS
Generalist/Early Childhood
Ellen Hart
Newburgh CSD
Generalist/Early Childhood
Peter Melito
Niskayuna CSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Erin Gilrein
Oceanside UFSD
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Jason Manning
Oceanside UFSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Julianne Savarese
Oceanside UFSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Audrey Miller
Oceanside UFSD
Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Janet Bevilacqua
Oceanside UFSD
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Jennifer Frasca
Oceanside UFSD
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Matthew Clayton
Ossining UFSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Marcie Variano
Ossining UFSD
Generalist/Early Childhood
T Panossian-Lesser
Ossining UFSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Stephanie Esposito
Ossining UFSD
Generalist/Early Childhood
Catherine Armisto
Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Katherine Younger
Rhinebeck CSD
Generalist/Middle Childhood
J Hammond-King
Rhinebeck CSD
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Stefan Cohen
Rochester CSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Jennifer Manley
Rochester CSD
Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Douglas Brown
Rochester CSD
Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Joan Crosby
Rochester CSD
Generalist/Middle Childhood
Alyson Ricci
Rochester CSD
Generalist/Middle Childhood
Nilza Matos
Rochester CSD
Generalist/Early Childhood
Janet Bird
Rochester CSD
Generalist/Early Childhood
Nancy Ticali
Roosevelt UFSD
Generalist/Early Childhood
Charles Meyer
Rush-Henrietta CSD
Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence - Young Adulthood
Lorinda Gandrow
Schalmont CSD
Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Jaime Simmons
Schenectady CSD
Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood - Young Adulthood
Wendy Taylor
Schenectady CSD
Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Patricia Embree
Schenectady CSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
David Bub
Schenectady CSD
Social Studies - History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Andrea Polikoski
Schenectady CSD
Generalist/Early Childhood
Maurice Watson III
Schenectady CSD
Physical Education/Early and Middle Childhood
Catherine Cassady
Scotia-Glenville CSD
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Stefanie Pacheco
Somers CSD
Generalist/Middle Childhood
Jacqueline Schneider-Revette
Syracuse CSD
English as a New Language/Early Adolescence - Young Adulthood
Jennifer Mcmanus
Union-Endicott CSD
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Ana Restrepo
Valley Stream 24 UFSD
Generalist/Early Childhood
Joanne Lowe
Victor CSD
Music/Early and Middle Childhood
Alison Sheridan
Victor CSD
Generalist/Middle Childhood
Anchala Sobrin
Wappingers CSD
Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Amy Krajeck
Webster CSD
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Michael Ditullio
Webster CSD
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Tammy Annicharico
West Genesee CSD
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Nicoline Flaiz
West Islip UFSD
Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Maria Constantinides
Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD
Generalist/Middle Childhood