Archive: Around Town

"This is certainly one of the high points of my school year," Lansing Superintendent Mark Lewis told the Board of Education (BOE) in their regular meeting in the High School library.  "Or any school year when I have the opportunity to share in the the joy and the accomplishment of the class of 2006."  He was referring to twelve Lansing teachers who were awarded tenure Monday  evening.

Lewis decided that the awards should be celebrated rather than just passing the appointments as a dry part of the BOE meeting.  "Because the award of tenure is such an important passage in a professional educator's lifetime," he said, "it stands to reason that the moment should not go by with just a motion and a second of the Board of Education and a nice letter from the Superintendent congratulating each of you.  You've worked too hard to get to this point."  A cookies and punch reception started the celebration, where teachers could informally meet BOE members.


In the course of the meeting Lewis presented each teacher individually, telling the BOE a bit about their education and accomplishments before recommending the 12 formally for tenure.   BOE President Bonita Lindberg said, "I would like to extend my congratulations to all of you.  Thank you for your time and your effort.  I look forward to working with all of you in the future."  The teachers were awarded tenure with a vote of six for and one abstention.

Superintendent Mark Lewis presented the twelve candidates to the Board of Education, plus a thirteenth who would receive tenure if she were not leaving the district.  Here is what he said about each: Dawn Blanchard earned the award of tenure in the area of special education.  Dawn has earned her undergraduate degree in special education at Connecticut State University and her Master of Literacy Education from SUNY Cortland. Jessica Stratton is being recommended for tenure in the area or art.  Jessica comes to us from Dryden Central School.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in art education from Buffalo State College and her Masters of Science and Education from Elmira College.  If you've been to the art show at the Elementary School, this is the master mind and the force behind it. Lori Zarate comes from out west.  Lori earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education from Brigham Young University and is working on additional course work at Cortland State towards permanent certification.  She taught in California.  Laurie's tenure area is elementary education. Amy Redmond is being recommended for the award of tenure in k-12 reading.  Amy earned her Bachelors of Science in reading at Cortland State University and her Masters in health science at Cortland State University. Lorene Adams is being recommended for tenure in K-12 music.  She received tenure previously in the Corning/Painted Post school district.  Lorene earned her Bachelor of Science in music education from Clarion State University in Pensylvannia and her Masters of Music in conducting at Ithaca College. Abigail Cleary is being recommended for tenure in the area of Spanish, 7-12.  Abigail earned her Bachelor of Arts in Latin American studies at Cornell University and her Masters of Arts of Urban Affairs and Public Policy Analysis from the New School for Social Research in New York City. Melanie George is being recommended to the Board of Education for the award of tenure in social studies grades 7-12.  Melanie earned her Associates in Nursing from Tompkins Cortland Community College and her Bachelor of Arts in history and secondary social studies education from SUNY at Cortland. I'm pleased to recommend Sherry Kadlec for the award of tenure in French, grades 7-12.  Sherry earned her Bachelor of Arts in romance studies and French literature from Cornell University and her Masters of Education in secondary education at Elmira College.  She also has a certificate of qualification New York State teacher's certification in Spanish from SUNY at Cortland. I'm pleased to present to you Jessica Keturi for the award of tenure in the area of special education.  Jessica earned her Bachelor of Science in elementary and special education from Keuka College. I'm pleased to recommend Lisa Kuhnel to the Board of Education for the award of tenure in the area of business and distributive education.  Lisa earned her Associates degree in business administration from Corning Community College, her Bachelor of Science in business and distributive education from Buffalo State College, and her Masters of Science in secondary education from Elmira College. I'm pleased to recommend Matt Loveless for the award of tenure in the area of business and distributive education.  Matt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business management from SUNY at Brockport and his Masters of Science degree in vocational and technical education from SUNY at Oswego. I'm pleased to recommend to the board Mary Kay Welgloss for the award of tenure in the area of English, grades 7-12.  Mary Kay earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from SUNY at Buffalo, also her Masters of Education in English education from the same school, and her certificate of qualification New York State teacher's certification from SUNY at Buffalo. I'm very pleased to present Tucker Winter to you.  But for a glitch in education law which requires you to work one day into your fourth year to earn the award of tenure I would be recommending Tucker to you for the award of tenure in the area of English grades 7-12.   Unfortunately it is Lansing's loss that you will not be here next year.  But we felt that given all that you have done for the students and the community of Lansing it was altogether fitting that we acknowledge you, thank you, and wish you the best of luck in your next endeavor.