National Board Certification
January 16, 2026

Celebrate our new National Board Certified Teachers!

Source:  NYSUT Research and Educational Services
NBCT 2025

NYSUT celebrates 60 educators who newly achieved National Board Certification, along with 57 New York State educators who successfully maintained their certification for another five years.

NYSUT strongly supports National Board candidates by offering awareness programs, supportive writing retreats, online discussion forums and professional learning through the union’s Education & Learning Trust and the state network of teacher centers. The union has also successfully advocated for local incentives, stipends and the state’s Albert Shanker Grant, which covers the costs for National Board Certification. The deadline to apply for a Shanker grant is Feb. 6, 2026. For more info, visit Albert Shanker Grant Program at NYSED.GOV.

For NYSUT resources on National Board Certification, visit nysut.org/nbpts.


2025 NEWLY CERTIFIED NBCTs in NEW YORK STATE


Albany Public School Teachers Association (APSTA)

  • Allen Landman, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Arlington Teachers Association

  • Brendan Hun, Health Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Brentwood Teachers Association

  • Naomi Fran, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Brewster Teachers Association

  • Helimerc Alejo, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Cobleskill-Richmondville Teachers Association

  • Peter Arruda ,Social Studies-History/Early Adolescence

Cornwall Central Teachers Association

  • Eric Holzapple, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  • Taylor Perugini, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Croton Teachers Association

  • Jodi Burger, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  • Kirby Mosenthal, School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

Great Neck Teachers Association

  • Carrie Doria, Health Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
  • Cynthia James-Manzi, Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
  • Alexander Redito, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Hastings Teachers Association

  • April Browne, Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Horseheads Teachers Association

  • Kyle Fuller, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Kenmore Teachers Association

  • Alexander Bianchi, Generalist/Early Childhood

Levittown United Teachers

  • Melanie Murphy, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  • Kerry Schaefer-Romeo, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  • Melissa Thompson, Social Studies-History/Early Adolescence

Lewiston-Porter United Teachers

  • Teri Fallesen, Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Manhasset Education Association

  • Marissa Biggio, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Newburgh Teachers Association

  • Jessica Colandrea, Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Lourdes Lopez-Romero, Generalist/Early Childhood

Niskayuna Teachers Association

  • Jennifer Christiano, Health Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
  • Stacey McClenon, Music/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
  • Christina Pizzino-Catalano, Music/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

North Babylon Teachers Organization

  • Elizabeth Luna, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Plainedge Federation of Teachers

  • Caitlin Sweeney, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence

Roosevelt Teachers Association

  • Irina Renner, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Saugerties Teachers Association

  • Catherine Corso, Mathematics/Early Adolescence

Sayville Teachers Association

  • Ashley Merchant, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Schenectady Federation of Teachers

  • Loreen Gilligan, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
  • Megan Sellepack, Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
  • Nicole Zelkowitz, Science/Early Adolescence

Shenendehowa Teachers Association

  • Rockne Travis, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
  • Stephanie Haney, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Teachers Association of Lindenhurst

  • Marisa Pandolfo-Hartnett, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES Teachers Association

  • Jennifer Hightower, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Uniondale Teachers Association

  • Maureen Bowie, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
  • Jessica Rothman, Generalist/Middle Childhood

United Federation of Teachers (UFT)

  • Carly Colvin, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
  • Robert Eugene, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
  • Sophia Kang, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  • Alexander Kerber, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  • Cassi Park, Generalist/Early Childhood
  • Kate Rozycki, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
  • Narissa Sarwar, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
  • Gilbert Schuerch, Physical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
  • Samantha Silverman, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
  • Jennifer Snyder, Science/Early Adolescence
  • Nile Yohay, Generalist/Middle Childhood

United Staff Association of Putnam and Northern Westchester Boces

  • Jesse Steiner, Art/Early and Middle Childhood

Wappingers Congress of Teachers

  • Amanda Giancotti, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

West Genesee District Teachers Association

  • Mary Beth Past, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
  • Jessica Fisher, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  • Kelly McIntyre, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
  • Karen Schweitzer, Generalist/Early Childhood
  • Kara Sweeney, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
  • Kathryn Williams, Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Laura Willkens, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Yonkers Federation of Teachers

  • Sunitha Howard, Science/Early Adolescence
  • John Paulose, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
  • Jessica Wilson, Generalist/Early Childhood  


2025 MAINTAINED NBCTs in NEW YORK STATE

Deeanna Abrams, David Amidon, Alyssa Anthony, Tanya Baker, M A Baker-Bozsik, Yvonne Banks, Geoffrey Bizan, Marcia Brant, Krystal Brown, Kristen Brunken, Christa Buccola Henriquez, Olga Chernyak, Jennifer Clift, Donya Clute, Ivelisse Cortes, Shari Costello, Maura Czachor, Tiffany Duquette, Jessica England, Sharon Farrell, Kiersten Franz, Melissa Gergen, Crystal Gill, Jennifer Gillette, Nancy Goldblatt, Christine Graham, Lencey Hagan, Christine Heidelberger, Christine Horton, Mary Howard, Michelle Ignaszewski, Laura Ineson, Kathryn Kaufman, Hal Kaufman, Kristen Lane, Meredith Lewis, Liana Mahoney, Valerie Manzo, Jennifer Matula, Jessica Melchior, Kimberly Milton, Nichole Nastke, Julie Neugebauer, Caroline Phillips, Virginia Powell, Emily Pranis, Stefanie Rice, Meghan Rilley, Tamara Rupertus, Kristen Ryan, Alan Schorn, Lauren Shkolnik, Manoj Thadhani, Melanie Thomas, Melissa Vega, Mona Voelkel, Elisabeth Wathen


For NYSUT resources on National Board Certification, visit nysut.org/nbpts.