Professional Standards & Practices Board for Teaching

The State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching was established in 1998 by the New York State Board of Regents to advise the Regents and the Commissioner of Education on matters related to teaching in New York State. The Board’s mission is to advance and support quality teaching and student learning in New York State through initiating, influencing, and evaluating policy and best practice in the teaching profession. The Board is composed of 30 members and includes K-12 teachers and administrators, higher education representatives, public representatives, and one teacher education student. Members are selected to represent diverse perspectives, and serve four-year staggered terms, with the exception of the teacher education student, who serves a single two-year term as a non-voting member.

The Board has two standing subcommittees: the Professional Practices Subcommittee, which examines issues related to teaching practice, and the Higher Education Subcommittee, which handles issues related to teacher preparation.

Board Responsibilities
The Regents initial charge to the Professional Standards and Practices Board was for recommendations on the following topics, as outlined in the Regents policy document, New York’s Commitment: Teaching to Higher Standards (1998):

• components of mentoring programs for new teachers
• criteria and training for annual teacher performance reviews
• certification requirements to ensure that teachers and principals are well-prepared to teach and to lead in New York
• models and criteria for professional development
• a Code of Ethics for teachers
• a plan to attract and retain certified teachers in high need schools.

The Board has made significant progress toward accomplishing this initial agenda. New priorities continue to emerge as determined by Regents Reform agenda, Department initiatives, and Board-identified issues of interest and concern.

Teacher Moral Character Cases
Regarding professional ethics and moral conduct, the responsibilities of the Standards Board are set in Section 3.14 and Subpart 4-2 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, Part 83 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, and Section 316 of Education Law.  The Professional Practices Subcommittee reviews and makes recommendations for action on individual cases brought to the Board under the provisions of Part 83 of Commissioner’s Regulations.

Program Policy and Regulations
The Board reviews and makes recommendations on proposed policy changes and amendments to Commissioner’s Regulations and the Rules of the Board of Regents involving all aspects of teaching education, certification, and practice.  In New York State, a teacher is defined as “any individual who is required to possess a certificate to work in a public school”. This includes classroom teachers, school and district administrators, and pupil personnel service providers.

 

2024-2025 PSPB Board Member

Elizabeth Baird, Teacher Blessed Sacrament School Syracuse, NY  Term Expires: June 30, 2026	Christopher Barrie, Administrator Little Britain Elementary School New Windsor, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2027
Patricia Bonfe, Teacher H.W.Smith K-8 Syracuse, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2026	David Brown, Higher Education LeMoyne College Syracuse, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2028
Brooke Burnett, Teacher Ithaca City School District Ithaca, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2025	Natasha Cooke-Nieves, Higher Education American Museum of Natural History New York, NY Term Expires: September 30, 2027
Ricardo Colon, Teacher UFT Teacher Center Instructional Coach PS/IS 30 Brooklyn, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2024	Juanita Dyer, Teacher Syracuse City School District Syracuse, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2025
Demise Farrelly, Higher Education Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2025	Kathleen Ferguson, Teacher, co-chair, P-12 Jessie T Zoller Elementary School Schenectady, NY Term Expires: March 31, 2027
Steven Gamache, Public Deputy Director of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources in NYS Albany, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2027	Daniella Gerbasi, Student Siena College Loudonville, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2026
Julie Gorlewski, Higher Education University of Buffalo Buffalo, NY Term Expires: September 30, 2027	Brenden Gotham, Teacher Lake Placid Middle School Lake Placid, NY  Term Expires: June 30, 2027
Amy Hysick, Public New York State PTA Albany, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2025	Glenn Jeffers, Public New York State United Teachers Albany, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2027
Katie Kurjakovic, Public UFT English Language Learner Specialist and Assistant to Vice President for Education for the United Federation of Teachers New York, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2024	John Kuryla, Teacher North Syracuse Central School District Syracuse, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2028
Edwin Lamboy, Higher Education The City College of New York New York, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2024	Katie Lobato, Teacher Plattekill Elementary School Plattekill, NY Term Expires: November 30, 2026
Angelina Maloney, Administrator Brunswick/Brittonkill CSD Troy, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2024	Edward Marin, Public Aerospace Entrepreneneur Beekmantown, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2028
Angela Pagano, Higher Education Senior Assistant Provost for Education Preparation and Partnerships  SUNY System Administration Albany, NY  Term Expires: June 30, 2028	Derek Pope, Teacher Commack High School Commack, NY Term Expires: November 30, 2026
James Skoog, Public Westorchard Elementary School Chappaqua, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2028	Cindy Walter, Administrator TST BOCES Ithaca, NY Term Expires: December 31, 2028
Amy Wells, Higher Education Dean Bank Street Graduate School of Education and Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Education at Teacher College, Columbia University New York, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2028	Keith Wiley, Teacher Houghton Academy, PS 69 Buffalo, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2025
Patrick Wong, Teacher International HS at LaGuardia Community College Long Island City, NY Term Expires December 31, 2027	Coretta Wright, Administrator Schools Without Walls Rochester, NY Term Expires: June 30, 2027

 

 

Elizabeth Baird

Membership Category: Teacher

Blessed Sacrament School

Syracuse, New York

Elizabeth Baird earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Buffalo State College and a Master of Science in Education from LeMoyne College. She began working for the Diocese of Syracuse in 1996.

Ms. Baird has been employed as a Kindergarten teacher at Blessed Sacrament School for the past 28 years. Although Kindergarten is, and always will be where her heart lies, she has also worked with students in grade levels ranging from PreK-3 through 6th grade.  Over the past 10 years, she served as program director for the School’s Summer and school break programs, where she developed a series of thematic experiences that included art, athletics, culinary arts, and field trips. For the past 25 years, Ms. Baird has supported the educational and social needs of all grade levels through active involvement with the school’s after school program.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Ms. Baird served on the School’s Advisory Council, Safety Committee, and the Social Emotional Learning Team (SEL), along with the Response to Intervention Team (RTI).

Outside of school and the classroom, Ms. Baird enjoys working on and creating stained glass projects, as well as baking and cake decorating. She loves traveling, movies, music, and spending time with her family.

 

Christopher Barrie

Membership Category: Administrator

Principal: Little Britain Elementary School

New Windsor, New York

Dr. Christopher Barrie became the proud principal of Little Britain Elementary School in August 2021. He has been an educator since 2001, serving students from Pre-K to 12th grade. Prior to this, he served as Assistant Principal, Assistant Coordinator of Special Education, and a teacher. During Dr. Barrie’s tenure at George Fischer Middle School, the school received a NYS MTSS grant. Due to his contributions as the building’s RTI coordinator, the Multi-Tier Systems and Supports was transformed to ensure that RTI worked effectively.

Part of Dr. Barrie’s career has been dedicated to organizing many professional development opportunities for building and district-wide staff, such as Professional Learning Communities, Response To Intervention, Special Education and Student Engagement, Optimizing WIN, Unlocking Student Voice, and data dives. He has served on several curriculum development and strategic planning committees. Furthermore, he represented the Carmel School District in the Dutchess County School Safety Committee and the Putnam County Preparedness/BT Taskforce. He understands that ensuring a quality education is vital to creating leaders in the global society.

Dr. Barrie earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, while pursuing education as a focus, from St. Bonaventure University. His Master’s Degree is in Educational Psychology from Marist College. SUNY New Paltz is where he received his C.A.S. in School and District Administration. Dr. Barrie most recently completed his Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on STEM education from Liberty University. In between receiving his Bachelor’s Degree and pursuing his Doctorate, in order to enhance his abilities to promote literacy in grades K-12, he amassed 12 credits of Literacy, received his special education certification, and became a trainer for PLTW launch.

When not working with his Washingtonville community, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, coaching soccer, and reading about past presidents.

 

Patricia Bonfe

Membership Category: Teacher
H.W.Smith K-8
Syracuse, New York

Ms. Bonfe earned a Bachelor of Science from Buffalo State College in Design, and a Master of Science in Art Education K-12 certification. She has been employed by the Syracuse City School district since 1994. For the first six years, she worked exclusively in Pre-K through fifth grade teaching the visual arts. In 2000, she began working at the middle school level teaching Studio Arts and Visual Literacy. During that time, she also taught for Syracuse City School District Adult Education at the Justice Center on a part-time basis. She is currently teaching at H.W. Smith K-8 in Syracuse and is driven by her passion to use the arts to have students acquire the communication life skill of Hard Arguments/Soft Words in the form of critique. 

Ms. Bonfe has trained and served for many years in the Teacher Mentor Induction Program. She has served numerous years on School Leadership Teams, is a member of the Coordinating Committee of Professional Development for the district, and has been very active in the Syracuse City School District Fine Arts program, including curriculum development and student learner outcomes. She has collaborated with Syracuse University Visual Arts professors and her students to create a permanent ceramic installation at the Dr. Martin Luther King library. She was an Adjunct Professor at LeMoyne College Visual Arts department.

Ms. Bonfe is active in the Syracuse Teachers Association, serving as a building representative. She belongs to Tully Central School District Parent Teacher Association and is a member of the Everson Museum of Art. Outside of school, she volunteers in her community, is politically active in women's rights issues, and is renovating a 175 year old farmhouse with her husband. She is a world traveler and is happiest when spending time with her family, including her daughter, son and grandsons, dog, cats and chickens too

 

David Brown

Membership Category: Higher Education

Director of Graduate Education: LeMoyne College

Syracuse, New York

Dr. David Brown received a Doctorate in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher University, an advanced certificate in public school Leadership from SUNY Brockport, and a Master of Music from Ithaca College.  He is presently the Director of Graduate Education at Le Moyne College.  In this role, he leads the graduate education department that leads to initial teacher certification or professional certification for anyone initially certified.  Prior to this, David was the Superintendent of Schools for the DeRuyter Central School District, where he served for five years.  He also held the position of Chief Administration Officer for Ithaca City Schools, leading the non-instructional staff.  David also incepted the Director of Fine and Performing Arts position for Ithaca City Schools and taught Vocal/Choral Music for over 24 years.

His past role as President of the New York State School Music Association involved leading the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. David is currently the President-Elect of the Eastern Division of the National Association for Music Education. He sits on several other boards, including the New York State Rural School’s Board, as the membership chair and the NYS STEAM Advisory Panel and Arts CAP (Content Advisory Panel).  David strongly believes in helping learners become whatever their hearts and souls lead them to become, and particularly prides himself on creating pathways for learners to develop systems where they can be productive members of society.

Most recently, he was honored to be a member of the Commissioner’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures. This commission embodied many of David’s beliefs, including creating a Portrait of a College, Career, and Civic Ready Graduate that reinforces his philosophy of teaching and learning.

David lives in Skaneateles, New York, with his beautiful wife, Dr. Melissa Brown, daughter Sophia (15), and son Nicholas (13). 

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Brooke Burnett
Membership Category: Teacher
Ithaca City School District
Ithaca, New York

Brooke Burnett is a 3rd grade teacher at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School. She has been with this school district for 17 wonderful years, starting out as a 5th grade teacher, then 3rd grade, then as a teacher on special assignment. Her niche is 3rd grade and she is happy to be back in her favorite place. 

Ms. Burnett received her Liberal Arts degree from Corning Community College. She was a dual major at Elmira College for Childhood Education and Social Studies. She then earned her master’s degree at Elmira College in General Education.

Ms. Burnett has served as the Chair and Co-chair of the Ithaca Teachers Association Social Justice Committee for several years. She worked with students at Ithaca College to develop the Student to Student mentoring program. This program matched college students of color with elementary students at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School. The elementary students and their siblings spent Saturdays learning and playing with college students. Many of the former elementary students still have relationships with their college student mentors, now as adults. She currently mentors future teachers of color at SUNY Cortland for the C.U.R.E. program. She also helps lead all the student teachers from SUNY Cortland placed at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School. She often works with Southside Community Center and GIAC (local community centers) to help with literacy. 

When she is not working with students, Ms. Burnett is spending time with her goddaughter, reading, enjoying nature and any excuse to go get coffee or tea!

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Natasha Cooke-Nieves

Membership Category: Higher Education

American Museum of Natural History

New York, New York

 Dr. Natasha Cooke-Nieves is the Senior Specialist at the American Museum of Natural History’s Master of Arts in Teaching Earth Science Residency Program. As the first residency-based graduate program offered by a museum, Dr. Cooke-Nieves is a professor and clinical supervisor who teaches the Applied Learning in Informal Science Settings and Methods & Assessments in Student Science Research courses to pre-service teachers as well as advises and supervisors the MAT residents in their partner school placements.

Dr. Cooke-Nieves is a graduate of Columbia University, Teachers College (Ed.D), the College of St. Rose (SBL, SDL), CUNY: Brooklyn College (MSEd), and Vassar College (BA).  At the start of her educational career, she was a Science Coach and Teacher at PS/MS 282, implementing hands-on learning and launching a science fair and family night. Afterwards, she was a Science and Math Instructional Specialist for the Children First Network in NYC, providing professional development for schools by empowering instructors and administrators with effective tools to accelerate student achievement.  During this time, she also was an adjunct lecturer at Brooklyn College where she taught elementary science education, biology, and chemistry courses to pre-service teachers. 

Dr. Cooke-Nieves currently serves on the Science Content Advisory Panel (SCAP) at NYSED and in the past was an item writer for the elementary state science exam. She is an active member of the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE), serving on the Election Committee. 

In 2004, she earned National Board Certification and in 2010 was given the prestigious Milken Educator Award. As an educational researcher and teacher educator, Dr. Cooke-Nieves is committed to connecting cultural institutions to teaching and learning. She has presented at conferences and published her qualitative research related to culturally responsive and sustaining teacher preparation, pre-service observation tools, mentoring, and informal science institutions. And when not working at AMNH, she loves visiting other museums!

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Ricardo Colon
Membership Category: Teacher
New York City Department of Education
New York, New York

Ricardo Colon is a United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Teacher Center Instructional Coach for PS/IS 30 in New York City.  He attended Hamilton College and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.  His formal journey into the profession of teaching started in 2007 when he was accepted into the NYC Teaching Fellows Program.  He received his master’s degree in childhood education that also led to a Bilingual Education extension from Brooklyn College.  

Mr. Colon’s first position was as a Dean of Students, but he found his niche teaching in a dual language 5th grade setting with students of varied instructional and linguistic needs. It was within this setting in which Mr. Colon and his students had the honor of being videotaped and highlighted on EngageNY, a New York State Education Department (NYSED) resource website used for professional development.   

In 2014, Mr. Colon served on the NYSED Commissioner’s Advisory Panel where he and other educators from New York State gathered to address concerns facing teachers in their respective cities and counties. This panel inspired him to pursue the avenue of teacher development and coaching.  In 2018, he joined the UFT Teacher Center, which is a comprehensive professional development program that promotes educator excellence and academic achievement for all students.  Through the UFT Teacher Center, he has had the honor of facilitating citywide professional development to teachers to hone their craft in Advanced Literacies and the four Hallmarks, while also having a school-based site to provide development to the teachers within the PS/IS 30 school building.  

Mr. Colon’s work today is driven by his passion to have students acquire the language necessary to be advocates of their own learning, communities, and self.  This desire creates his lens for professional development based on promoting language through culturally responsive teaching that is research based and focuses on both social-emotional needs and the biological science of brain development.

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Juanita Dyer
Membership Category: Teacher
Syracuse City School District
Syracuse, New York

Juanita Dyer has been teaching 25 years in the Syracuse City School District (SCSD).  She is an alumni of the District and graduated from Corcoran High School where she was involved with the Yearbook Committee and Student Government. After graduating from high school, she worked as a bank teller, telephone operator, and machinist at R.E. Dietz, before returning to school to become a teacher.

In 1990, Ms. Dyer attended Education Opportunity Center (EOC) and completed college preparatory courses. She received an Associates in Humanities from Onondaga Community College (OCC) in 1992. In 1994, she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Reading in 1996 from SUNY at Oswego.

Ms. Dyer has taught grades 2 through 5 at Bellevue Elementary from 1996 to 2005.  From 2005 until 2016, she taught ELA, math, social studies, AIS, AVID, and science. In 2016, she began teaching at Grant Middle School where she has taught 6th grade math and 7th grade science. In addition, she has been teaching summer school for the past 22 years. 

Currently, Ms. Dyer is teaching 6th grade science as a SyraFuse Fellow Cohort 3, Urban Educator Mentor. She is a STA building representative, 6th Grade Team Leader, AVID Site Team member, Science NYSSLS member, PAR Panel member, and a School Leadership Team member who hosts practicum and student teachers. She also is an after school coordinator and teacher.  She is a member of the SCSD Coordinating Committee of Professional Development (CCPD) that provides professional development to SCSD staff. Currently, she is enrolled in Engaged Classroom PD and Jim Knight’s Coaching Institute.

 

Denise Farrelly

Membership Category: Higher Education

Kingsborough Community College

Brooklyn, New York

Denise Farrelly, Ed.D., is the Education Program Director and an Assistant Professor of Education within the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Kingsborough Community College. She mentors preservice teachers in culturally and linguistically diverse public schools across Brooklyn, NY, focusing on reflective supervision as a professional development approach. Prior to her career in higher education, she was an elementary school teacher in New York City public schools. She holds a NYS permanent K-5 teacher certification with an extension in gifted education.

Her central research focus is the development, implementation, and measurement of classroom pedagogies that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion for community college students. Her most recent peer-reviewed journal publication presents a 6-week learning module aimed at deepening students' understanding of cultural humility. Her secondary research focus is digital computing practices that promote social pedagogy and professional preparation for preservice teachers. Her recent publication provided a mixed-methods analysis of students’ perceptions of ePortfolio usage to deepen reflective practices and advance professional development.

 

Kathleen Ferguson

Membership Category: Teacher, co-chair PSPB

Instructional Coach

Schenectady, New York

Katie Ferguson is a National Board-Certified Early Childhood Generalist and an English Language Arts Instructional Support Coach at Paige School in Schenectady City School District. She grew up in Schenectady and proudly graduated from Mont Pleasant High School in 1992. Her college of choice was SUNY Oneonta, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Upon returning to Schenectady, Katie attended Sage Graduate School to achieve her Masters of Science in Education, became certified in Special Education, and began her career in teaching.

Katie has had a passion for teaching since she joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet School of Math, Science, Technology, and Invention as a first grade teacher in 1998. During this time Katie was recognized for her extensive work with videoconferencing through Project VIEW. In 2007, Katie became a part of the Jessie T. Zoller Elementary School community as a 2nd grade teacher where she was lucky enough to join the teachers in participating in a grant which enabled her to learn and grow as a literacy educator and to lead professional development in literacy. In May 2010, Katie was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Schenectady City School District, which led to her being selected as the 2012 New York State Teacher of the Year. In her role as New York State Teacher of the Year, Katie has had the opportunity to speak at colleges across the state as well as nationally, lead professional development at numerous conferences, and was fortunate to have several television appearances including Connect NY with Susan Arbetter and the WMHT American Graduate Project. She was also named an NEA Pearson Global Learning Fellow and received the California Casualty Award for Excellence. Recently, Katie was fortunate to participate in a talk with teachers from around the nation, hosted by Gerard Robinson called “The Culture of Educating Our Youngest Students”, and to post a blog titled “Live, Work, and Play with our Littlest to Build Community” on the CultureFeed website. She made the leap from second grade teacher to an ELA Instructional Support Coach in September, 2022.

As a teacher and instructional coach dedicated to advocating for other teachers and their students, Katie has also had the privilege of collaborating with teachers from around the state on both the New York State Teacher of the Year Council and (previously) on the Commissioner’s Advisory Council at the New York State Education Department. In her spare time, she likes to volunteer for Kitten Angels, read, paint, and spend time with her family.

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Steve Gamache

Membership Category: Public

Deputy Director of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources in the New York Senate

Albany, New York

Steve Gamache grew up in the Capital Region and is a product of New York schools. Attending Fordham University, he studied English and continued to the College of Saint Rose, where he earned a master’s degree in adolescent education. In 2010, he moved to New Orleans to begin his teaching career, where he taught high school and middle school ELA for eight years. He also taught for an additional two years in a Boston middle school.

In New Orleans, Gamache worked in two turnaround schools, both of which advanced from an F to a C on Louisiana’s state report card in just two academic years. At the second turnaround school, he was a member of the school’s leadership team where he helped make decisions about school culture and academic programming, conducted school walkthroughs and observations, led academic coaching and professional development sessions, and helped foster the use of data in the school’s teaching practices. As a result of his own students’ academic growth and his work in developing other teachers, the Louisiana Department of Education awarded him the Milken Educator Award in 2019.

In 2020, he moved back to the Albany area with his wife, Diana, teaching middle school ELA for two years in his hometown of Troy. In 2022, after twelve years in the classroom, Gamache switched careers to his current role as deputy director of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources in the New York Senate. In this position, he works with individuals and groups from New York’s rural communities across a host of issues that include housing, education, and environmental causes.

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Daniella Gerbasi

Membership Category: Student

Siena College

Loudonville, New York

Daniella Gerbasi grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York and attended school within the Lakeland Central School District. Her time at Lakeland included various involvements in leadership and education, including her role as a local Board of Education Student Representative in her senior year of High School. Additionally, she maintained leadership positions within the Class of 2021 Student Board, Student Government, and Drama Club.   

She currently attends Siena College as an English Education major with a minor in Writing and Communications. She has recently been accepted into the Teacher Preparation Program, where she will be working on her student teaching hours. Academics aside, Daniella is a substitute teacher at Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School, working with a wide range of students with different abilities and learning styles. She also works for the Siena College Education Department as a Social Media Manager and Alumni Coordinator. She curates strategic social media marketing plans for the department and works directly with admission events for prospective students. Additionally, she connects with a wide range of educators to promote different types of content as well as alumni connections. Also at Siena, she works as a Peer Mentor for freshman students, guiding them through the transition into college by holding weekly classes and curating lesson plans.  

Daniella has always had a drive for English and education, and how it can impact a broad spectrum of students. Throughout her experiences at Siena College, she has served in the role of a student striving to become a teacher. Through the Professional Standards and Practice Board for Teaching, she is granted the opportunity to witness the positive change taking place for school systems. She is very excited about her future as an educator

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Julie Gorlewski
Membership Category: Higher Education
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Teacher Education
University of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York

Julie Gorlewski is professor in the department of Learning and Instruction, and the senior associate dean for teacher education and academic affairs in the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. In this role, she oversees elementary and secondary teacher certification programs as well as a range of master’s and doctoral programs, coordinates accreditation initiatives, conducts research, and fosters collaborative partnerships with schools in order to enhance school experiences for P-12 learners.  Her graduate studies were completed at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, where she earned a Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education and an Ed.M. in Elementary Education. She completed her B.S. in Secondary English Education at Buffalo State College. Dr. Gorlewski is a scholar educator with New York State Permanent Certification in Secondary English Education and Elementary/Early Childhood Education.

Her teaching experiences span Pre-K through graduate school, and include interdisciplinary initiatives such as literacy, instructional technology, and STEM education. In higher education, she has served as an assistant professor and program director, as well as an edTPA liaison. In P-12 schools, she taught secondary English for more than a decade at a school where she established the English as a Second Language program, served as chair of P-12 English language arts, was Coordinator of Instructional Technology, and served as founding director of a high school learning center. Over the course of her career, Dr. Gorlewski has cultivated a wealth of knowledge about teacher education and development and has led numerous research initiatives related to teacher development, curriculum and assessment, and student learning.

As an educational researcher and teacher educator, Dr. Gorlewski is committed to connecting theory and practice to prepare teachers to engage in critical pedagogies that are culturally sustaining. She has published 11 books related to instructional practice, teacher education, and educational policy; two of these texts were selected for Critics Choice Awards by the American Educational Studies Association. She has authored over 20 peer reviewed manuscripts and 14 book chapters and delivered over 35 invited talks and made over 45 peer-reviewed presentations at national and international conferences. From 2013-2018, Dr. Gorlewski served as editor of English Journal, the flagship publication of the National Council of Teachers of English. She has also served as co-director of the Equity and Social Justice Conference Series (2007-2016) as well as the regional Conference on College Composition & Communication, held in Richmond, VA in 2017. 

Numerous groups and organizations have cited Dr. Gorlewski for her contributions to education. She was selected as a fellow for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Social Context in Education group, and from 2016-19 served as a section co-chair of AERA’s Curriculum Studies Division. She received the People Make a Difference award from the Cheektowaga Action Partnership, the Provost Award from the State University of New York at New Paltz, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the English Education Department at Buffalo State College.

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Brenden Gotham

Membership Category: Teacher

Lake Placid Middle School

Lake Placid, New York

Mr. Gotham earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Le Moyne College as a Presidential Scholar. He received his Master of Science in English Education from SUNY Potsdam. He is also certified in Social Studies 7-12. He has been employed by the Lake Placid Central School District since 2004. During his time there, he taught grades 10-12 and both AP English Language and AP English Literature. At Lake Placid, he has coached numerous varsity sports and is also the director of the Theatre Program. He has produced and directed over 20 productions.

Mr. Gotham has been Co-President of the Lake Placid Education Association for ten years. He worked as Co-President to acquire funds to start the school’s backpack program and advocated for and helped implement a community schools’ program at Lake Placid. He is the mentor coordinator at Lake Placid and has been a mentor multiple times.

Outside of school, Mr. Gotham is very active in theatre. He acts with the Adirondack Stage Rats and at Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake, NY. He is also a member of the Pendragon Board.

He is married to an extraordinary Special Education teacher, Amy, and is the proud father of a middle schooler, Liam. 

 

Amy Hysick
Membership Category: Public
New York State PTA
Albany, New York

A lifelong resident of the central NY area, Amy Hysick is certified in both biology and chemistry and proudly teaches science at her alma mater, Cicero-North Syracuse High School in the North Syracuse Central School District. She attended Binghamton University to earn both her Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Arts in Teaching. 

While searching for a teaching position, Ms. Hysick worked in an environmental chemistry and microbiology laboratory. She performed chemical analyses on water, soil, and air samples; analyzed municipal drinking water; performed mold investigations and created mold remediation plans; and implemented a protocol for Anthrax detection. Though she loved her role as the technical director of the microbiology laboratory, she still longed for the classroom.  

Ms. Hysick’s teaching adventures began in the fall of 2004, where she embraced the role of lead learner in her classroom. She reads books about pedagogy constantly, goes to professional development sessions often, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation through Walden University. In her classroom, growth mindset and mastery learning are the priority, and mistakes are opportunities to learn. 

Ms. Hysick has been honored as the 2015 North Syracuse District Teacher of the Year, the 2017 NY State Teacher of the Year, 2018 California Casualty Teacher of Excellence, and 2019 PAEMST NY State Finalist. She has served on the NYS PTA’s Board of Directors for three years as the Education Coordinator, now serves as the Wellness Coordinator, and will continue to be a strong advocate for all of NY’s children.

 

Glenn Jeffers

Membership Category: Public
New York State United Teachers
Albany, New York

Glenn Jeffers currently works for New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) as an Assistant in the Research & Educational Services (R&ES) department. He works on a wide range of federal and state educational policy issues with expertise in NYS certification requirements, teacher preparation, and professional learning for P-12 educators.  

In his position at NYSUT, Mr. Jeffers regularly provides input to New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Higher Education on certification policies and practices, as well as serving as a point of contact at NYSUT for both the statewide network of teacher centers and the NYS teacher of the year program. He is a parent representative on the policy board of the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center and a board member for State University of Albany at Albany’s Academy for the Advancement of Teaching, Leadership, and Schools. 

Prior to joining NYSUT, Mr. Jeffers worked at NYSED in the Office of College and University Evaluation as a member of the Teacher Education team. He gained extensive experience in NYSED’s approval processes for teacher and leader preparation programs, as well as serving on accreditation teams for numerous national accreditors: Regents Accreditation of Teacher Education (RATE), Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). 

Mr. Jeffers began his career at the College of Saint Rose working as an Assistant Registrar and subsequently in various administrative positions for the college’s Education Department. He was also an adjunct for the Educational Psychology and Political Science departments

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Katie Kurjakovic
Membership Category: Public
United Federation of Teachers
New York, New York

Katie Kurjakovic serves as the English Language Learner Specialist and Assistant to the Vice President for Education for the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). She works with New York City PreK-12 educators around topics of curriculum, instruction, and professional learning.  She  facilitates a UFT focus group of New York City teachers that meets monthly to address issues that concern English Language Learners (ELLs) and their educators.  

Ms. Kurjakovic also serves as chair of the Committee on English Language Learners for New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).  Katie has participated in several New York State Education Department (NYSED) initiatives, including the Next Generation Learning Standards (NGLS) Review Committee for Early Childhood and the New York State Board of Regents Early Childhood Workgroup’s Blue Ribbon Committee Focus Group on Strengthening Early Childhood Teachers and Leaders.  As a member of NYSED’s Professional Learning Team, she provided recommendations for the NGLS rollout and revisions to New York State’s professional learning regulations. 

Prior to joining the UFT in 2017, Ms. Kurjakovic taught English as a new language for 25 years at P.S. 11, a linguistically rich K-6 school in Woodside, Queens. She provided stand-alone as well integrated instruction for multilingual learners, including students with disabilities.  She has provided professional learning at the school level as well as presenting at city, state and national conferences. She received her B.A. from Barnard College and holds an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Hunter College.

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John Kuryla

Membership Category: Teacher

North Syracuse

Syracuse, New York

Mr. Kuryla earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Health Education K-12 from the State University College at Cortland.  He has been employed by the North Syracuse Central School District since 1998; first, as an Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Education Program (ADA-PEP) specialist at the K-4 level; then, as an 8th and 10th grade Health Education Teacher.  He has been a part of or led many initiatives, including a state and district APPR Design/Implementation Committee, which included a district Peer Assistance and Review system for new teachers.  He is a strong advocate for teacher development through rich and engaging professional development opportunities that support the daily, on-the-job needs of teachers and their students.

Mr. Kuryla was elected president of the North Syracuse Education Association in 2010 and, as such, has supported the development of a community schools model including a food pantry and clothing ‘closet,’ a Human Rights Committee and Wellness Committee.   He co-facilitates the monthly District Planning Team with the superintendent; is a member of the District Advisory Team; and is a member of the district Guiding Coalition, which supports the implementation of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) model. 

Mr. Kuryla is a member the Central New York American Cancer Society Advisory Board and a member of the Cicero-Plank Road Chamber of Commerce.  He is an elected member of the NYSUT Board of Directors representing members from Onondaga County and a portion of Cayuga County.  He enjoys golf, gardening, and time by the pool on warm summer days and evenings.  He’s an avid cook and finds great joy when spending time with his family, including his wife, two sons, a daughter, and three Lhasa Apso dogs

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Edwin Lamboy
Membership Category: Higher Education
Interim Dean: The City College of New York School of Education
New York, New York

Dr. Edwin M. Lamboy received his B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras, his M.S.Ed. from Lehman College (CUNY), and his Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University. He has been at The City College of New York (CCNY) since 2008, where he has served as Secondary Spanish Education Program Director, Secondary Education Department Chair, and School of Education Interim Associate Dean. Currently, he serves as School of Education Interim Dean. Previously, he taught at Montclair State University, where he directed the Spanish Basic Language Program for seven years, and at the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Lamboy’s publications include four books: Caribbean Spanish in the Metropolis: A Study of the Spanish Language among Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans in the New York City Area (2004); Temas (2006), a textbook used to teach elementary Spanish; Spanish in Bilingual and Multilingual Settings around the World (2012); and Spanish across Domains in the United States: Education, Public Space, and Social Media (2020). Additionally, he has published several articles on Spanish in the United States, the teaching of Spanish to heritage learners, and Puerto Rican identity. As Director of the CCNY Secondary Spanish Education Program, he advises undergraduate and graduate candidates pursuing grades 7-12 Spanish Initial certification. Also, he was responsible for developing and registering the graduate program, which attracts candidates of many different academic backgrounds. His teaching experience includes Methods of Teaching Spanish in Secondary Schools, Teaching Writing and Reading in Spanish, Spanish Grammar and Its Pedagogy, Curriculum Design in Secondary Spanish, Teaching Heritage Learners of Spanish, and several Spanish linguistics courses.

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Katie Lobato

Membership Category: Teacher

Plattekill Elementary School

Plattekill, New York

With a B.A. in Inclusion Elementary and Special Education from Niagara University in 2001, Katie Lobato began her career as a middle school teacher of Spanish as a foreign language in Hyde Park. In 2007 with her M.S. in Education from SUNY New Paltz, Ms. Lobato switched to the field of TESOL and currently teaches English as a New Language in the Wallkill Central School District.  Ms. Lobato has over 20 years of classroom experience with a focus on collaborative co-teaching in grades K-8.  As a Mentor Teacher, Ms. Lobato has led professional development opportunities, designed ENL curriculum, and continues to help coordinate district wide ENL parent and family events. She has also served as a cooperating teacher for future TESOL educators.

As a member of the Ulster BOCES Title III Consortium team, Ms. Lobato has been a presenter for designing successful Student Learning Academies. She has developed curriculum and project- based learning experiences to help meet the needs of English Language Learners at both the elementary and secondary levels.  Ms. Lobato serves on a variety of school and district committees and is an advocate for bringing the spotlight to culturally and linguistically relevant teaching practices district wide.  Ms. Lobato has been an active member of the NYSUT Subject Area Committee for English language Learners since 2014.

With a passion for volunteer service, Ms. Lobato serves as a liaison for Spanish speaking families in the community. She dedicates countless hours teaching families how to gain access to programs and resources. As a dedicated advocate for all students, her goal is to continue to improve resources and enhance understanding of our diverse learning community.

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Angelina Maloney
Membership Category: Administrator
Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District
Troy, New York

Dr. Angelina Maloney is a superintendent in the Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District in Rensselaer County, New York.  She has been in the field of education for over 20 years, starting as a chemistry and physics teacher as well as teaching middle school science and University in the High School classes.

Dr. Maloney received her Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She earned her Doctor of Education Leadership degree from Sage College, and Advanced Study of Educational Administration from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She received her M.S. in Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology from University at Albany and her B.A. in Chemistry Education from The College of St. Rose.

Dr. Maloney is on the Council of Delegates for The New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS) and an Executive Board Member for Member of Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA).  Additionally, she is on the President of The College of St. Rose Alumni Association. She is also active with the Sage College, serving students and supporting the Doctor of Education Leadership program as an executive coach and adjunct professor.

When she is not working with students, Dr. Maloney enjoys spending time with her family in their home in Speigletown, NY.  She is also an active New York State EMT who volunteers with her local fire department and serves on the Board of Commissioners.  

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Ed Marin

Membership Category: Public

Beekmantown, New York

Ed Marin is an Aerospace Entrepreneur living in Northern New York, with his wife, daughters, and son. He founded and consulted for several companies focused on the commercialization of advanced technologies. His leadership skills allowed him to nurture innovative concepts and troubled businesses by identifying opportunities, reducing risks, and creating executable visions. Being well traveled and having a diverse background provided the opportunity to hone skills throughout a broad range of markets and at an international level. His knowledge base extends to engineering, manufacturing, production, operations, commercialization, and financing. Ed led production and research & development programs for commercial and government entities such as GE Research, DARPA, NASA, the Navy, the Air Force, and Lockheed Martin. His programs range from carbon fiber and high temperature ceramic matrix composites for rocket nozzles to body armor and manufacturing of flight and space systems. Ed has been awarded patents in the areas of Renewable Energy, Aerodynamics, Nanotechnology, and Ceramic Matrix Composites.

Ed began his career as an Advanced Propulsion and Thermal Analysis Engineer at Northrop. There, he excelled in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and programming. As an aerospace engineer, he performed design, analysis, and testing for systems such as the F-18 Super Hornet, B2 Stealth Bomber, Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV), and several space vehicles. He led the specification of methods required for hypersonic technology development - technology later used to perform the hypersonic inlet design and analysis for the Air Force PWI (Propulsion Weapons Integration) program. While at Northrop Grumman Corp., Ed held Top Secret and Special Access Required security clearances and was a pilot in the Air National Guard.

Mr. Marin’s outstanding achievements include having been named California Engineers’ Council Distinguished Engineer Project Achievement Award-Team Member for Temrok Ceramics Composite Products in 1999. He has co-authored several papers, such as “Low Cost Polymer Derived Carbon Fiber Reinforced CMC for Rocket Nozzle Applications,” “Electron Microscopy Used to Aid CMC Process and Material Development,” and “CFD Investigation of the HySet Inlet.” Ed’s Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering is from California Polytechnic State University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from The Ohio State University. Ed was also a Soccer and Rowing athlete, during his undergraduate years. Ed has been a volunteer engineer for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Wright Flyer Project in Los Angeles, since 1991. His professional memberships include AIAA, EAA, ACMA, and SAMPE.

Mr. Marín is one of three siblings born to Colombian immigrants. He attributes his successes to the leadership, determination, ethics, and example provided by his parents, wife, and family. His diverse background, curiosity of cultures, and facility for languages, has enabled him to travel extensively worldwide for work and for pleasure. As a youth, Ed became an Eagle Scout, and continues to participate in the community as an elected board member of the Beekmantown Central School District, Champlain Valley Educational Services BOCES board, and as a youth soccer coach. He is also an advisory board member for the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and has chaired the NYSSBA Resolutions Committee for New York State. Ed has had the fortune of summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro and continues to enjoy the outdoors in Northern New York through travel, sailing, cycling, camping, and hiking.

 

Angela Pagano

Membership Category: Higher Education

Senior Assistant Provost for Educator Preparation and Partnerships

SUNY System Administration

Albany, New York

Dr. Angela Pagano serves as Senior Assistant Provost for Educator Preparation and Partnerships for the State University of New York (SUNY). In this role, she participates in the review and development of System policy; works with campus leadership, faculty, and staff as related to the development and implementation of educator preparation programs; leads special projects; and serves as liaison between SUNY and a wide range of statewide and national educator preparation policy bodies and professional organizations.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Pagano was a faculty member in biological sciences and adolescence science education at SUNY Cortland, serving as Co-Coordinator for the Adolescence Science Education Program, and having acted as Assistant Dean for Accreditation.  She also taught biology and special topics science courses at Chenango Forks High School in upstate New York and holds permanent New York State certification in Biology 7-12.  Dr. Pagano has a history of successfully gaining external funding to support pre-service and in-service teacher professional learning, including grants from the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the New York State Education Department, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Dr. Pagano holds a B.S. in Biology from the College of New Rochelle and a Ph.D. in Biology from Binghamton University.  She is a current board member of the New York State Association of Teacher Educators and NYKids at the University at Albany

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Derek Pope

Membership Category: Teacher

Commack High School

Commack, New York

Derek Pope is a teacher at Commack High school, where he has taught multiple levels of mathematics, including International Baccalaureate courses, for the past twelve years. For the past three years he has also worked as an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University, where he teaches courses in methods for teaching mathematics to undergraduate and graduate students. Besides working with pre-service teachers in this capacity, he has hosted student teachers and observers, and worked as a mentor.

Mr. Pope is a National Board Certified Teacher as well as a NYS Master Teacher. In the beginning of his career he was a Teaching Fellow for the Knowles Teaching Initiative and continues to work with them as a Senior Fellow. As a classroom teacher, Mr. Pope is passionate about using various tools to teach his students to understand mathematics conceptually. He recently published an article in NCTM’s Mathematics Teacher journal highlighting one example of how technology can be used to help students understand mathematics more deeply. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Pope has led professional development experiences in his district, notably using the method of “lesson study” as a tool for professional growth. Mr. Pope holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Seton Hall University and an M.A.T. in Mathematics from Stony Brook University.

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James Skoog

Membership Category: Public

Retired Chappaqua Central Schools

Chappaqua, New York

Jim earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master of Science in Education, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Administration from SUNY at New Paltz.  To begin his career, he taught at the elementary level in Newburgh City Schools for nine years, where he taught second grade, third grade, and instructional technology.  During that time, Jim also worked as a math consultant for a publisher that created elementary math curricula and materials.  

 Mr. Skoog then transitioned to school administration, taking a job as a middle school assistant principal at Highland Middle School in Highland, N.Y.  In that role, he served on the county-wide school improvement council and on the instructional council for the district.  After one year, he left Highland Schools to take a job as an elementary school assistant principal in the Chappaqua Central School district in Westchester County.  Five years later, Jim became the principal of Westorchard Elementary School in the district, where he retired from after 17 years.

 Years ago, he served as the facilitator for the Elementary Principal’s Group in central Westchester.  He is currently the president of the Chappaqua Administrators Association.  He also served as a fellow for the Educational Policy Fellowship Program in Washington, DC.

 Outside of school, Jim enjoys hiking, traveling, and fishing.

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Cindy Walter

Membership Category: Administrator
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional and Career Education TST BOCES
Ithaca, New York

As the Assistant Superintendent for Instructional and Career Education at TST BOCES in Ithaca, New York, Ms. Walter oversees the career and technical education of 8 school districts across the region, the PTECH high school, and Adult Education, the regional professional development team, and other shared services. She is passionate about helping all individuals use their intelligence to find their purpose and contribution to society and the workplace. She believes we all have a genius within us and sometimes we need a little help finding it!

Ms. Walter believes in the importance of teachers understanding the science behind teaching and being monitored on how to be impactful for students as a whole.  She is a mother of 4 children with all different intelligences and a wife to a husband who is in the trades. Through her experience as a mother, wife, teacher, special education coach (bringing best practices to all students), literacy coach, regional staff developer, elementary principal, director of trades programs, executive director of all career programs (including PTECH and adult education) and now a leader of leaders and program developer, she has developed a deep understanding of the impact of teaching and learning.

It is vital to reach all students and staff to tap into their given intelligence. Intelligence should not be defined one way! If she could have an impact on one thing over the course of her career, it would be to impact teaching and learning for ALL students (and growth for all staff) to help them find the career and skills sets they were meant to utilize. This impact starts with engaging students in the essential elements of instruction to spark their interest in learning. Ms. Walter is a continuous learner, a coach and a mentor to help others become the best they can be.

 

Amy Wells

Membership Category: Higher Education

Dean Bank Street Graduate School of Education and Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University

New York, New York

Amy Stuart Wells earned her Ph.D. in Sociology and Education from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Teachers College. For more than 30 years, she has worked as a journalist, researcher, faculty member, and higher education leader to make stronger connections between education policy and practices that foster integration and culturally responsive schools and classrooms. After working as a tenure-track and then tenured faculty member at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education & Information Studies from 1991 to 2001, she returned to Teachers College, Columbia University for 22 years before joining Bank Street Graduate School of Education as the Dean. From 2016–2023, she was the executive director of Reimagining Education: Teaching, Learning and Leading for a Racially Just Society Summer Institute (RESI) at TC. She also served as the executive director of TC’s Reimagining Education Advanced Certificate Program, the Sociology and Education Program, and a non- profit called The Public Good: A Public School Support Organization (PSSO).

From 2018–19, she was President of the 25,000-member American Educational Research Association (AERA). Wells is a corresponding fellow of the British National Academy, a member of the National Academy of Education, an AERA fellow, and a senior fellow of the Learning Policy Institute. As the author and editor of five books and more than 50 articles and book chapters, as well as dozens of research reports and articles for the popular press, her research examines the intersection of racial inequality and educational policies, including school desegregation, school choice policy, and efforts to implement antiracist, culturally responsive reforms in schools.

She became the Dean of Bank Street’s Graduate School in August 2023, where she is responsible for leading, growing, and strengthening a prominent graduate school of teacher education, educational leadership, child life specialists and museum leadership. She oversees the enrollment, academics, research, fundraising, and outreach of the Graduate School of Education across two departments - more than 50 degree and certificate programs.

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Keith Wiley

Membership Category: Teacher Buffalo Public Schools
Mathematics Teacher

Houghton Academy
Buffalo, New York

Keith Wiley has taught 7th and 8th grade Mathematics at Houghton Academy for 16 years. Prior to that he was in venture capital and investment banking. In response to growing concern with helping Buffalo’s inner-city students pass the New York State Math A Regents exam, Mr. Wiley began tutoring high school students in preparation for the exam. His 100% success rate was noticed by parents, students and members of the Buffalo Board of Education. Mr. Wiley has experience teaching all levels of Mathematics from 7th grade to college Calculus. He has taught in co-teaching environments, 8th grade advanced algebra classes, single gender classes and semester block schedules.

In 2013, Mr. Wiley led Houghton Academy students, with an 85% poverty rate, in the Buffalo City School Middle School Math League competition and toppled one of the top ranked schools in the nation, City Honors. This tremendous accomplishment was recognized and featured on the front page of the Buffalo News Sunday September 22, 2013 edition entitled. “An Underdog Story of Academic Glory.” Four years later, on May 19, 2017, Houghton Academy won the League Championship again. Over the past seven years, Mr. Wiley has served as an Adjunct Professor at Medaille College, teaching Math Methods for undergraduate and graduate teaching candidates. He has won numerous awards including the Buffalo News 2014 Outstanding Citizen Award.

Mr. Wiley has a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Canisius College, a M.B.A. in Finance from Canisius College; and a Secondary Math certificate from Canisius College.

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Patrick Wong
Membership Category: Teacher
International High School at LaGuardia Community College
New York, New York

Mr. Wong received his B.S. and M.A.T. in Mathematics from Stony Brook University and is dually certified in Mathematics and Special Education. He has been a mathematics teacher at the International High School at LaGuardia Community College for the past thirteen years. He was the Course Coordinator Assistant who supervised teaching assistants and helped improve the quality of the remedial program in the Math Department. 

Prior to becoming a high school teacher, Mr. Wong had taught introductory level math courses at Stony Brook University, including Elements of Problem Solving and Calculus courses to high school students and incoming freshman. He also worked closely with the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program.

Mr. Wong is passionate about helping students who come from diverse backgrounds. At his current school, where all students are English language learners, he has held different leadership positions such as Coordinator of Student Activities, Junior Portfolio Coordinator, and Personnel Committee Chair. As a veteran math teacher in the school, he also shares his expertise and best practices with his colleagues and new teachers.  He also has provided professional development workshops to faculty members. Mr. Wong is currently a Master Teacher in the Math for America fellowship. 

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Coretta Wright
Membership Category: Administrator
Schools Without Walls
Rochester, New York

Coretta Wright is the Principal of School Without Walls (SWW) High School in Rochester, NY. In its 50-year existence, Coretta is only the fourth Principal the school has ever had. In her 25 years of service as a teacher and administrator at both the middle and high school levels, she has served on numerous boards and committees including the Careers in Administration and Supervision Panel, which oversees mentors and professional development for new administrators. For the past three years, she has also served on the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) Governmental Relations Committee helping to influence politicians on educational matters.

Ms. Wright holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Hampton University. After working in the business field for a short period, she realized that her heart was not in it, so she made the decision to return to school and become a teacher. She received her Masters in Education from SUNY Brockport in 1999 and a Masters in Educational Administration in 2002.

In the company of very few, Ms. Wright has had the unique experience of working in both traditional and non-traditional schools where beliefs about best instructional practices and student assessment vary greatly. SWW has a philosophy that de-emphasizes the use of high stakes standardized testing. Having spent many years in traditional schools where Regents exams and other high stakes exams are used as measurements of student learning and graduation readiness, Ms. Wright has the knowledge and perspective to be able to discuss best practices and teacher training from multiple lenses. She regularly facilitates professional development for her staff assisting them in improving their practice

Agenda May 2024

• NYS Mentoring Standards and Program Guidance 5/22/2023
• Teacher Leadership Final Adopted 11/17/2017
• Professional Learning Plan - Guidance Document