January 21, 2010 Issue
January 15, 2010

NYSUT salutes National Board Certified Teachers

Source: New York Teacher
Caption: From left, Melissa Hirt tells NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira about seeking National Board Certification with support from APSTA President Cathy Corbo and mentor Rita Floess. Photo by El-Wise Noisette.

With its largest class of teachers earning National Board Certification in 2009, New York is now just one short of the 1,000 mark for total number of pre-K-12 educators who have attained the profession's highest standard.

NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira congratulated the 117 teachers who were named last month by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The top five districts, all of which offer incentives, are Rochester, Schenectady, New York City, Arlington and Schalmont.

National Board Certification is awarded to educators who usually take between 200 and 400 hours to complete the rigorous process. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised the Class of 2009's 8,900 teachers as "an extraordinary group that has demonstrated a commitment to taking their teaching practice and the teaching profession to a different level."

Congratulations to:

Albany Public School TA
Deborah Cronin, Art
Melissa Hirt, Career and Technical Education

Arlington TA
Kathleen Peifer, Exceptional Needs Specialist

Ballston Spa TA
Jean Hoins, Generalist

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake TA
David Besozzi, Social Studies/History

Canandaigua TA
Bonnie Cazer, Generalist
Michael Sisson, English Language Arts
Julie Marie Smith, Generalist

Canton Central TA
Carol Wright, Career and Technical Education

Chittenango TA
Sandra Athans, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts

Clinton TA
Brian McIntosh, Social Studies/History

Colton Pierrepont TA
Megan Foster, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts

Corning TA
Susanna Seip, Science

Cornwall Central TA
Cynthia Klein, Math
Linda Parrella, Science

Cortland UT
Lynn Brown, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts

East Hampton TA
Lisa Benincasa, Science

East Ramapo TA
Rochel Ash, Science
Joy Pierre-Louis, Math

Elmira TA
Jill Edwards, Exceptional Needs Specialist
Amanda Mace, Generalist

Fairport EA
Joseph Kirsch, Social Studies/History
Michael Mallaber, Social Studies/History
Stacie Miller, Math
Sarah Williams, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts

Fayetteville-Manlius TA
Lisa Geraci, Generalist
Julie Gratien, Art
Kory McMahon, Physical Education

Fredonia TA
Marie Fagan, Math
Amy Lauer, Science

Frontier Central TA
Amber Chandler, English Language Arts

Glens Falls TA
Robert Amberger, Career and Technical Education
Patty Savin, Generalist

Greece TA
Karen Schindler, Social Studies/History

Hilton CSTA
Brian McDowell, Science

Holland TA
Susan Kellner, Generalist

Holland Patent TA
Cheryl Harris, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts
Heidi Knopp, Generalist

Katonah-Lewisboro TA
Patricia Castellone
, Generalist

Kenmore TA
Laura Widman, Social Studies/History

Lewiston-Porter UT
Darcy Allender, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts

Lisbon TA
Rebecca Buckingham
, Science

United Liverpool FA
Kim O'Neil, Generalist
Chris Walsh, Science

Marcellus FA
Kathleen Rein, English Language Arts

Marcus Whitman TA
Darcy Meyer, Exceptional Needs Specialist

Massena FT
Elaine Whitcomb, English Language Arts

Mohonasen TA
Adam Barr, Science

Monroe-Woodbury TA
Darrell McElroy, Social Studies/History

New York City - UFT
Michelle Alexiou, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts
Andrea Ambris, Generalist
Allyson Ambrose, English Language Arts
Aimee Barbera, Exceptional Needs Specialist
Michelle Giuliano, Exceptional Needs Specialist
Susan Harter, Generalist
Elizabeth Healy, English Language Arts
Stephen Lazar, Social Studies/History
Kelli McDaniel, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts
Molly Myers, Exceptional Needs Specialist
Patricia Perri, Math
David Pretto, English Language Arts
Meredith Rodriguez, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts
Migdalia Sanabria-Nieves, Science
Therese Torchon, Science
Jason Wagner, English Language Arts
Stephanie Wallgren, English Language Arts
Kimberly Wolfert, Exceptional Needs Specialist

Newark Valley UT
Anne Gardner, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts

Newburgh TA
Shirley Riefenhauser
, Social Studies/History

North Syracuse EA
Holly Lee, Generalist

Oceanside FT
Dana Ferrara
, Exceptional Needs Specialist

Owego-Apalachin TA
Tonya Alexander, English Language Arts

Phelps-Clifton Springs FA
Virginia Burgess
, English Language Arts

Plainedge FT
Lawrence Maggio, Math
Elena Titmas, Generalist

Putnam Valley FT
Robert Baker, Math
William Scampoli, Social Studies/History

Rhinebeck TA
Thomas Blass, Exceptional Needs Specialist
Chantal Defile, Generalist
Barbara Rizzolo, Generalist

Ripley Central TA
Loretta Miller, Exceptional Needs Specialist

Roosevelt TA
Vivian Isom, Career and Technical Education

Rush-Henrietta EA
Kelsey Turner, Generalist

Rye TA
Catherine Telfer, Art

Schalmont TA
Sarah Mattice, English Language Arts
Tracy Peers Pontin, English Language Arts

Schenectady FT
Diane Allegro, Career and Technical Education
Patrice Barrette, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts
Emily Dearstyne, Library Media
Leigh Feguer, Science
Jean Inzinna, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts
Sara Kramer, English Language Arts
Meghan Libertucci, English Language Arts
Jeanne Myers, School Counseling
Thomas Patterson, Career and Technical Education

Seneca Falls TA
Robin Anglim, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts

Smithtown TA
Elizbeth Stein, Literacy: Reading/Language Arts

Spencerport TA
Christine Purtell, Math
Stacey Shortino, Career and Technical Education

SUNY Potsdam
Joanne Stiles, English Language Arts

Syosset TA
Kathleen Kelly, Generalist
Christine Wilde, Library Media

Syracuse TA
Kevin Mixon, Music
Michael Singer, Science

Troy TA
Laura Tedesco, Science

Union Springs TA
Janet Murphy, Generalist

Unaffiliated
Rebecca Damas, Math
Carolyn Michael, Math

Wappingers CT
Maryellen Bova, English Language Arts
Ann Liebergot, Exceptional Needs Specialist
Shahna Newton, English Language Arts

Watkins Glen FA
Kathleen Estelow, Career and Technical Education

Wayne TA
Elizabeth Hennessy, Generalist

Webster TA
Jennifer Heaphy, Generalist

West Irondequoit TA
David Patt, Exceptional Needs Specialist

Windsor CSTA
Sheri Abdullah, Generalist

Yonkers FT
Dijon Lindsey, English Language Arts