Niskayuna High School

Niskayuna High School teachers Patty Ryan (math) and John Sharkey (social studies) received the 2008 Edwards B. and Sally Murray Awards for Excellence in Education from the Niskayuna Community Foundation. They were chosen for the award because they represent the overall excellence of the high school staff and educational program. –June 2008

Niskayuna Social studies teacher Peter Melito earned National Board Certification. –November 2007

The English department hosted Niskayuna native and award-winning author/poet Elizabeth Rosner for its annual Writer-in-Residence program. The program provides an opportunity for students to partner with published authors to improve writing skills. –Spring 2008

Niskayuna High School art teacher Paul Marcellino has been invited to teach an Artistic Anatomy and Figure Modeling Workshop at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. -August 2007

History teacher Jason Bach and art teacher Steve Honicki were  presented the 2007 Edwards B. and Sally Murray Awards for Excellence in Education from the Niskayuna Community Foundation. –May 2007

The English department hosted nationally-recognized poet Kwame Alexander for its annual Writer-in-Residence program. –March 2007

Ron Grastorf was selected for an Otis Sennet Award from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. -March 2007

Mary Eads, Peter Melito and Sean O’Connell (Global Studies teachers) selected to participate in the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia seminar at Union College. –Winter 2007

The Niskayuna Foreign Language Department was selected a recipient of the James E. Allen Award. This award is presented by the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers annually to an outstanding language program in each region of the state. Niskayuna's language department was selected from among schools in the Capital Region based on strength of curriculum, innovative programs, community involvement, and exchange activities as well as student performance on state and national assessments and teacher professional activity.
–June 2007

Megan Hughes (chemistry) writes and reviews questions for Regents exams for State Education Dept. She serves as a chemistry mentor for capital Region BOCES participating in state-wide conferences and presenting workshops for area teachers, and she presented at Union College Lab Day. –2007

The entire Niskayuna High School faculty read Thomas Friedman's “The World is Flat” and discussed the effects of globalization on education as part of a yearlong high school staff development initiative. –2006-07

Laura Favata recognized as a reviewer and contributor to the 2nd edition of Stats: Modeling the World by Bock, Velleman and De Veaux.
–2007

Lonnie Wilson received an Amazing People award from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. –November 2006

Christopher Monahan serves as vice-president of the Association of Mathematics Teachers for New York State and he chaired the 2006 New York State math conference. Several Niskayuna math teachers presented workshops at the state conference including Laura Favata, Stephanie Graseck, Carey Grigas, Dave Hurst, Shana Keith, Angela Netoskie, and Patricia Ryan. –October 2006

Kristin Houghton and Annemarie Ihnatolya (English teacher) presented on Authentic Assessment and Interdisciplinary classes at the NYS English Council conference. –October 2006

Stephanie Graseck and Michelle Santora served as co-presidents of the Hudson Mohawk Valley Area Mathematics Conference. –2006

Art teacher Steve Honicki was selected to exhibit work at The Figurative Show at the Upstate Artist Guild in Albany. -July 2006

Chris Jennings (science), Shana Keith (math) and Amber Amelio (English) selected to participate in Tech Valley Summer Externship program. -Summer 2006

David Bloom (social studies teacher) participated in month-long NEH symposium for an in-depth study of the New England Colonial experience. –Summer 2006

Melissa Bergin (library media specialist) along with social studies, art and English teachers received the 2006 Collaborative School Library Media Award (national recognition) from the American Library Association for interdisciplinary project on Greek culture and society. –June 2006

Niskayuna High School teachers Michelle Stopera (business) and Kathy Ylvisaker (special education) received the 2006 Edwards B. and Sally Murray Awards for Excellence in Education from the Niskayuna Community Foundation. They were chosen for the award because they represent the overall excellence of the high school staff and educational program. –May 2006

Anne Coleman, Family and Consumer Science teacher at Niskayuna High School (retired 2007) was named Outstanding Educator by the Capital District YMCA. Coleman is the fourth teacher from the Niskayuna school district to receive this award that recognizes nominees from several school districts for their exceptional contributions to community and for offering inspiration to their peers. -April 2006

The English department hosted local author William Patrick, “Saving Troy” for its annual Writer-in-Residence program. –March 2006

Niskayuna middle schools: Iroquois and Van Antwerp

Van Antwerp social studies teacher Tracy Newell will travel to Mongolia in April 2009 through the Civics Mosaic Teaching Fellows Exchange program. In October 2008, a trio of teachers from Mongolia visited Van Antwerp Middle School as part of the international exchange program. Civics Mosaic was established to promote a better understanding of democracy through teacher exchanges. Its purpose is to improve civics education in Russia, Eurasia and the United States by creating and sustaining relationships between the participating countries. –October 2008

English teacher Chris Pierson selected WNYT Educator of the Week.
–January 2008

The 2006 edition of the Middle Ground, a middle school anthology of literature and art, received a ranking of Excellent from the National Conference of Teachers of English (NCTE) in its annual Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines. –January 2007

Kelly Millett-Wilson (English teacher) presented at the New York State English Council conference in Albany. –October 2006

All sixth-grade classes participated in two field study programs: National Study of Writing Instruction in Science (Center on English Learning and Achievement field study program), and Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Standards Assessment Program.

Niskayuna elementary schools: Birchwood, Craig, Glencliff,
Hillside and Rosendale

Rosendale Elementary School named a national No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. –2007/08

Rosendale second grade teacher Dan Matthews named WNYT Educator of Week. –2007/08

Birchwood second-grade teacher Barbara Cooper was recognized as a News Channel 13 Educator of the Week. –2006/07

Birchwood fourth-grade teacher Jackie Albanese was recognized as a News Channel 13 Educator of the Week. –2005/06

Glencliff Elementary School received $2,000 literacy grant from Target to expand 1,000 books collection.

Glencliff received a School Library Systems grant ($1500) to enhance the school library’s country and holiday materials correlating with Grades 3, 5 social studies units.

Glencliff teacher Abby Weber presented at the National Association for Education of Young Children’s conference in Atlanta. –November 2006
 
Hillside Elementary School has three teachers on staff who are National Board Certified.

Children’s author Christina Voth visited Hillside Elementary School on to read and sign copies of her first book, The Little Seed. –March 2008

As part of its initiative to eliminating bullying, the Hillside faculty completed a book study on Barbara Coloroso’s “The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander” and the school community’s focus is on .

Rosendale School lunch program (run by Food Services Director Debbie Mahan) received an award from the New York State Nutrition Association and NY Farms for its ongoing creative efforts to use locally grown produce and educate students about healthy eating. –February 2006

Rosendale faculty completed two-year study in K-5 reading comprehension, and for a final project they produced a reading comprehension strategies booklet for all K-5 teachers.