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Member Biographies

Richard Ahola is an educational consultant and currently serves as a senior management consultant for the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute. Prior to 1995, he served for 25 years in a variety of positions in the State Education Department, including chief of the Bureau of Educational Management Services. Mr. Ahola began his career as a high school teacher of science and math.

Mr. Ahola is active in education organizations at the regional and state levels. He is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the New York State Association of Pupil Transportation and sits on the board of directors of Think First. Mr. Ahola is long-standing and active member of New York State PTA (since 1963) and in 1966 he received the PTA Teacher Fellowship Award. In the 1990s, he served on the PTA Board of Managers and continues to serve as a consultant to the president and board of managers on an ongoing basis.

Mr. Ahola has a B.S. in Chemistry from the State University of New York at Albany, an M.S. T. in Physics from Union College, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from the State University of New York at Albany. He also completed graduate study in Chemical Education Materials from the University of California at Berkeley.
 

Erik J. Bitterbaum has served as President of the State University of New York College at Cortland since 2003. Previously, Dr. Bitterbaum served as President of West Virginia University at Parkersburg and regional Vice President at West Virginia University at Morgantown. His career spans over 20 years in higher education administration, including positions at Missouri Southern State College; Methodist College, North Carolina; and Nebraska Wesleyan College. Dr. Bitterbaum began his career in education teaching biology and zoology at the University of Florida.

Dr. Bitterbaum is also a tenured professor at SUC Cortland where he teaches and serves as a guest lecturer in the Department of Biology and conducts lectures for schools and community groups. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Cortland Downtown Partnership and the Central New York Education Consortium and is active in numerous other community organizations, including the Central Upstate Regional Business Alliance and the National Presidents’ Leadership Group for Alcohol and Drug Prevention. Dr. Bitterbaum is a poet and was awarded first place in the Missouri Writers' Award for Poetry in 1997. He has secured many institutional grants during his career, including a 1996 project to establish an interactive television network with area school districts and two Fulbright-Scholar-In-Residence grants for visiting artists and journalists. He is active in a number of learned societies in his field.

Dr. Bitterbaum holds a B.A. and M.A. in Biology from Occidental College, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Florida.
 

Debra A. Colley Membership Category: Educator Dean, College of Education Niagara University Niagara University, New York

Debra A. Colley has served as dean of Niagara University’s College of Education since 1999. Previously, Dr. Colley was coordinator of Program Development and Support Services in the State Education Department’s Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) for nine years. Prior to that, she served in the Education Department’s Office of Higher and Continuing Education. She was an assistant professor in bilingual special education at the State University College at Buffalo from 1986 to 1988 and at D’Youville College from 1982 to 1986. Dr. Colley’s career in education began as a teacher of English as a Second Language for adult students in Buffalo and Arizona and as a teacher of bilingual special education in the Buffalo Public Schools.

Dr. Colley serves as co-chair of the Committee on Postsecondary Education of the Latino Task Force of the Buffalo Board of Education, as well as co-chair of the Executive Quality Council of the Niagara Falls City School District. She is past president of the New York Association for Bilingual Education, and past secretary of the National Association for Adults with Special Learning Needs. She is active in a number of professional organizations, including the Council for Exceptional Children and New York State Association for Bilingual Education.

Dr. Colley has a B.S. in Special Education/Elementary Education from the State University College at Buffalo, and an M.S. in Education and a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Allison Cugini has been a teacher in New York City public schools for twenty-three years. During her tenure with the NYC Department of Education, she has taught elementary school, mentored new teachers, and worked extensively in the areas of curriculum development and professional development, and as a teacher recruiter and certification specialist. This year, Ms. Cugini is serving as a mentor in a full release model patterned after the New teacher Center program at the University of Santa Cruz in California. She also is currently facilitating standards-based curriculum development with District 31 Elementary teachers and the College of Staten Island. Ms. Cugini has also served the students and teachers of NYC in the Teachers Network Policy Institute as a professional developer with the UFT Teacher Center and as a facilitator/teacher trainer with District 31’s Project Read After-School Program.

Ms. Cugini has received a number of distinctions for her work as an educator. They include: the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Professionally Recognized Special Educator; the 2003 Shaklee Teacher Award; certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as a Middle Childhood Generalist. She is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2004.

Ms. Cugini holds a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Wagner College, and an MS in Special Education and a 6th Year certificate in Supervision and Administration from the College of Staten Island.
 

Desma DeGraw Member Category: Student School of Education Union College Schenectady, New York

Desma DeGraw is a student in the School of Education of the Graduate College of Union University. In addition to matriculation as a full-time student in the MAT program at Union, she works as a receptionist in a local business. She also has previous experience working with as a day care teacher both with infants and with toddler classes.

Ms. DeGraw is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and holds a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Ms. DeGraw holds a B.A. in English (magna cum laude), with a minor in Italian, and an M.A. in English from the State University of New York at Albany.
 

 

Richard G. Feller Membership Category: Public 1506 Cold Spring Road Forestburgh, New York

Richard Feller has eighteen years experience in public service as a member of the Monticello Central School District Board of Education. He has served in leadership roles while on the board, both including president and vice president, and participated in Monticello’s recent school restructuring project to improve student achievement throughout the district. He is a member of the Sullivan County School Boards Association and currently serves as the Area 9 director on the board of directors of the New York State School Boards Association Mr. Feller is an active lobbyist at both the State and federal levels through NYSSBA’s State Legislative Network and the Federal Relations Network. He also is a member of the Mid-Hudson School Study Council and sits on its executive committee.

In 1994, Mr. Feller received the Mid-Hudson School Study Council Award for Excellence in School Board Service. He is also the recipient of the Master of Boardsmanship Award from the New York State School Boards Association, in recognition of his commitment to continual training for school board members.

Mr. Feller has an A.A.S. from SUNY Rockland County Community College and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Rochester Institute of Technology, and has done graduate work in psychology at RIT and SUNY College at New Paltz.
 

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Catalina R. Fortino Membership Category: Educator Field Liaison UFT Teacher Center

Catalina Fortino has served on the staff of the UFT Teacher Center for the New York City School District for the past ten years. As field liaison, Ms. Fortino participates in the design and implementation of literacy development and instructional planning, and also serves as a Teacher Center mentor liaison. Previously, she was a site coordinator for Chapter 1 school-wide projects, and teacher consultant and developer working with general and special education teachers. She began her career as a teacher of early childhood special education in Brooklyn and Queens from 1973 to 1987. Ms. Fortino also served as an adjunct instructor in Brooklyn College’s Graduate School of Education from 1985 through 1993.

Ms. Fortino is an active member of the National Staff Development Council and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. She serves on both the New York State United Teachers English Language Learner (ELL) Committee and the AFT ELL Task Force.

Ms. Fortino has a B.A. in early childhood education and an M.S. in special education from Queens College of the City University of New York.
 

Cheryl Lee Freedman Membership Category: Public Central Hudson Region Parent Teachers Association

Cheryl Freedman serves as Region Director of the Central Hudson Region Parent Teachers Association. Previously, Ms. Freedman was legislative chair for the Central Hudson Region. She is also active in the Tuxedo Union Free School District, serving as past PTA president from 1999-2001, and as a member of the Comprehensive District Education Plan (CDEP), Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR), and Character Education Committees. Mrs. Freedman has a career in aviation, and is employed as an airline pilot by Continental Airlines. At Continental Airlines, she is a former Boeing 727 flight engineer instructor pilot, and is currently a peer pilot counselor assisting other pilots. Formerly, Mrs. Freedman taught school as a substitute teacher in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Mrs. Freedman serves on the Tuxedo Town Planning Board and acts as an aviation merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts of America.

Mrs. Freedman has a B.S. in Ed. in English from California University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Ed. in special education from William Paterson University.
 

Rosemary Harrigan has served as executive director of The Greater Capital Region Teacher Center for the past five years. The Center encompasses the 93 public school districts, four BOCES and 83 non-public schools in the Capital Region. Ms. Harrigan first joined the teacher center staff in 1993 as a program specialist. Prior to this, she taught social studies in the Duanesburg Central School District, where she retains her position on the faculty. Her 23 years of classroom experience includes teaching in the East Greenbush and Shenendehowa school districts. She has designed, delivered, and evaluated countless professional development activities over the past 35 years.

Ms. Harrigan has served on the board of the Schenectady County Historical Society and is a member of the New York State Archives Visitors Committee. In 2001, she received the State Archives Award for educational uses of local government records.

Ms. Harrigan has a B.A. in history from Marygrove College, Michigan, and an M.A. in social studies from the State University of New York at Albany. She did additional graduate work under a summer fellowship at Haifa University, Israel, in 1987.

Eric Gidseg has taught kindergarten and first grade in the Arlington Central School District for the past eighteen years. Previously, Dr. Gidseg was the founding teacher and taught kindergarten at the Mountain Laurel School in New Paltz, from 1983-1989. He began his career in 1978 teaching kindergarten at the Rudolf Steiner School in New York City.

Dr. Gidseg has received various grants, including the Richard Gazzola Teacher Fellowship Grant in 2003 for teachers pursuing advanced study in education, a Dissertation Research Fellowship from the University at Albany, and a dissertation grant from the American Educational Research Association. He has presented and continues to pursue research in the areas of early childhood education and the relational aspects of teaching and learning. He has co-authored a paper, to be published by Teachers College Record in February, reporting on research related to the relational context of teaching boys. Dr. Gidseg is active in professional organizations, including the International Reading Association, National Kindergarten Association, Alliance for Childhood, and American Educational Research Association.

Dr. Gidseg has a B.A. in Secondary Education/English and an M.S. in Early Childhood Education from State University of New York College at New Paltz, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University at Albany.

Lloyd Jaeger assumed the role of superintendent in the Millbrook Central School District in July 2006. Previously, he served as deputy superintendent for K-12 Curriculum and Instruction in the Wappingers Central School District. His other district leadership experience spans over twenty years as assistant superintendent for instruction and deputy superintendent of schools in the Beacon City School District, assistant to the district superintendent for Dutchess County BOCES, and assistant superintendent for instruction and superintendent of schools in the Hyde Park Central School District. He has also served as an adjunct professor in educational technology at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and in educational administration at SUC New Paltz. Dr. Jaeger was also director of an educational consulting firm. Dr. Jaeger began his educational career as a social studies teacher and department chair at Suffern High School in the Ramapo Central School District, and his school administrator career as an assistant principal at F. D. Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park.

Nicholas Michelli Membership Category: Educator Presidential Professor Ph.D. Program in Urban Education The Graduate School City University of New York New York, New York

Nicholas M. Michelli is Presidential professor in CUNY Graduate Center's Ph.D. program in urban education, with a focus on education policy. He served from 1990 until 1995 as CUNY's University Dean for Teacher Education. He is a member of The College Board's National Advisory Panel on Teacher Recruitment and Retention. Prior to his appointment to CUNY, Dr. Michelli served as dean of the College of Education and Human Services and professor of education at Montclair State College in New Jersey from 1980-2000. For the ten years prior to this, he chaired the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Montclair. Early in his career, Dr. Michelli was an instructional assistant at Teachers College and a high school social studies teacher and department chair in New Jersey.

Dr. Michelli was honored as the 1996 recipient of the Edward C. Pomeroy Award for Contributions to Teacher Education from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. That same year he received a Diploma D'onore from the Associazione Internationale Calabresi Nel Mondo in Soverato, Italy. He currently serves on the NCATE Board of Examiners and is a member of the Council of Great City Colleges of Education. Dr. Michelli is a member of the Executive Committee of the Governing Council of The National Network for Educational Renewal, a partnership of over 40 universities and 600 partner schools in 15 states, committed to renewing the education of educators and the schools. Among his publications is Teacher Education for Democracy and Social Justice, and he is editor of McGraw Hill's Teacher Education Series.

Dr. Michelli has a B.A. degree in social science from Montclair State College, an M.A. in African Studies and Politics from New York University, and an Ed.D. in Supervision and Curriculum Improvement from Teachers College, Columbia University.
 

Susan W. Mittler Membership Category: Educator President Ithaca Teachers Association Ithaca City School District

Susan Mittler has served as president of the Ithaca Teachers Association for the past 11 years. Since joining the Ithaca City School District in 1981, Ms. Mittler has taught nursery school through third grade, as well as worked in Project Opportunity, the district’s gifted and talented program serving K-5 students. Prior to joining the Ithaca City School District, she served as lead teacher in the Community Nursery School for three years.

Ms. Mittler serves on the NCATE Board of Examiners and the Ithaca Sciencenter Advisory Board. She is active in parent-teacher associations at the local, state, and national levels. She holds honorary life membership in the New York State Parent Teacher Association and National Parent Teacher Association and served as NYS PTA vice president for six years. Ms. Mittler was honored with the PTA Life Achievement Award in 2004 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2001. She served on a State Education Department School Review Team and is an active member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Women’s Education Association. She volunteers as an instructor in a collective bargaining simulation course at the College of Industrial and Labor Relations of Cornell University.

Ms. Mittler has a B.S. in human development and family relations from Cornell University and an M.S. in elementary education from the State University of New York College at Cortland. She has additional training in labor law from the College of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University.
 

Eva M. Mroczka Membership Category: Educator Teacher Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services West Seneca, New York

Eva M. Mroczka is a special education teacher at Erie 1 BOCES, a position she has held for thirty four years. She is responsible for the implementation and management of special education programs for students with disabilities. Ms. Mroczka has also been a principal of the BOCES Summer Skills Reinforcement Program for the past sixteen years.

Ms. Mroczka is currently an executive board member of the teachers association. She has chaired the BOCES Staff Development Committee, served on the Mentor-Intern Committee, and serves as policy board member for the teacher center. She also previously served as coordinator of Erie 1 BOCES Science and Technology Entry Program/Partnership Projects.

Ms. Mroczka has a B.S. in Education and an M.S. in Education from the State University College at Buffalo. She also completed programs in school district administration and cooperative work-study program coordination at the State University College at Buffalo.
 

Joseph Perez Membership Category: Educator Teacher Sprain Brook Academy Westchester, New York

Joseph Perez is a teacher of high school English at the Sprain Brook Academy, Westchester County Correctional Facility. He currently serves as a team leader and the coordinator of Academic Intervention Services at the Academy. He has been an adjunct professor in the Department of Special Education at Hunter College since 1999. Previously, Mr. Perez taught high school English at Rikers Island Educational Facility, an alternative high school of the New York City Department of Education, from 1993 to 1998. In 1994, he also taught adult education classes at the Maritime Facility School.

Mr. Perez was honored as the 2002 New York State Teacher of the Year Runner-Up and was named the New York State Council for Exceptional Children’s Teacher of the Year in 1997. He is also a recipient of the Baruch College Alumni Association Achievement Award. Mr. Perez is active in a number of professional organizations, including the Council for Exceptional Children, National Council of Teachers of English, International Education Honors Society, National Correctional Education Association, and New York State Association of Incarcerated Education Programs.

Mr. Perez has a B.A. in English from Baruch College and an M.S. in Special Education from Hunter College of the City University of New York. He has two additional years of graduate study in English at Southern Illinois University.
 

Susan D. Phillips Membership Category: Educator Dean, School of Education State University of New York at Albany Albany, New York

Susan D. Phillips has served as Dean of the School of Education at the State University of New York at Albany since 2002, with oversight responsibility for the School's four departments and seven research centers and programs. Dr. Phillips began her professional career at the University in 1979 and has held a variety of positions prior to her appointment as dean, including Director of Doctoral Training in the Department of Counseling Psychology and chair of the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology. She also served as chair of accreditation of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., during 2000 and 2001.

Dr. Phillips is active in various local and regional educational organizations, including membership on the policy board of the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, the executive committee of the Regional School Support Center, and the executive committee of the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA). Dr. Phillips has conducted numerous training sessions on accreditation processes for government agencies and professional organizations throughout the United States. She has received a number of professional honors, including the National School Development Council Cooperative Leadership Award in 2004, the Psychological Association of Northeastern New York Distinguished Psychologist Award in 1998, the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1994-95 and the University at Albany Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1995.

Dr. Phillips has a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University, an M.A. in Psychology from Teacher's College of Columbia University, and an M. Phil. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University.
 

Tira J. Randall Principal Bushwick Community High School Brooklyn, New York

Tira Randall serves as principal of the Bushwick Community High School, a New Visions/New Centuries High School. In 2004, she led the team in that was responsible for development and start up of the school, which serves “over age-under credit” youth who wish to earn their high school diplomas. Bushwick Community High School is an outgrowth of the Bushwick Outreach Center, an alternative high school where Ms. Randall had served as assistant principal. Her experience in education spans 30 years and included experience as assistant principal of the Eight Plus Learning Academy, a middle/high school transitional program in collaboration with Community School Districts 14, 16, 19, and 23; and director of programs for the Institute for Student Achievement in Lake Success, Long Island, a program for at risk youth. In addition, Ms. Randall has worked with adults, as a career educator, an elementary school teacher in New York City Schools, and a project planner for the National service Corporation. She began her career in education as a rehabilitation teacher at the Brooklyn Developmental Center.

Ms. Randall is active in professional organizations, including the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), New York Alliance of Black School Educators (NYABSE), the College Access Consortium of New York (CACNY), and the American Counseling Association. Ms. Randall serves on the National Minority Careers in Education’s advisory board.

Ms. Randall has a B.S. in Liberal Arts/Education from State University of New York College at Oneonta, an M.S. in Education in Secondary Guidance and Counseling from Long Island University, and an M.S. in Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from Pace University.

Evelyn J. Rich Membership Category: Public President Rich Solutions New York, New York

Evelyn J. Rich is founder and president of Rich Solutions, an educational consulting firm working with K-12 schools, as well as executive director of the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation. Dr. Rich’s career in education includes serving as associate dean for seven years in the Division of Programs in Education at Hunter College, five years as a high school principal, and ten years’ classroom teaching experience. Also, she is the former publisher of "Careers and Colleges,” a national magazine for high school students.

Dr. Rich's professional activities include service on several boards, including the New York Coalition of 100 Black Women and the National Association on Drug Abuse Problems. She serves as secretary of Americans for Democratic Action; chairs Lincoln House Outreach; and is active in the African Studies Association, Educational Priorities Panel, and the National Alliance of Black School Educators. Dr. Rich previously served on the State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching, from its inception in 1999 to 2001.

Dr. Rich has an A.B. in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College, an M.A in Social Studies from Hunter College of the City University of New York, a Careers in Business certificate from New York University Graduate School of Business, and a Ph.D. in African History and Education from Columbia University.
 

Patricia E. Roberts Membership Category: Educator Special Education Teacher Garden City School District

Patricia Roberts has been a special education teacher in the Garden City School District since 1999. Ms. Roberts serves as an elementary resource room teacher, and has taught special education at all levels during the past 18 years, in both public and non-public schools. She is an instructional leader and serves on the district’s Positive Strategies, Crisis and Instructional Support teams.

Ms. Roberts was honored with the Richard Gazzola Teacher Fellowship Grant in 2003 for teachers pursuing advanced study in education. She served on a Middles States Association Evaluation Committee in 2002 and participated in the New York State Alternate Assessment Pilot program in 2000. Ms. Roberts is an adjunct professor both at Molloy College and in Mercy College’s preparation program for New York City Teaching Fellows. She has served on a local school board for nine years and is a member of the Special Education Parent Teacher Association in Garden City.

Ms. Roberts has a B.A. in elementary and special education from Marymount College, an M.S. in Ed. from Queens College of the City University of New York, and an Advanced Certificate in administration from the College of New Rochelle.
 

Pamela Sandoval Membership Category: Educator State University of New York Albany, New York

Pamela Sandoval is assistant provost for P-16 education, State University of New York System Administration. In this capacity, she serves as liaison to all teacher preparation programs within SUNY and is responsible for P-16 alignment issues, including assessment, accreditation, and teacher supply. She has over twenty years of experience in postsecondary education teaching, research, evaluation, and assessment in Wisconsin, Indiana, and now New York. Her experience includes college teaching, as well as work in teacher professional development, school improvement activities, and with high needs urban schools. She also has served as a mentor to new faculty. In her previous position, Dr. Sandoval participated in the Indiana Association of Colleges of Teacher Education’s task force to develop guidelines for performance-based assessment for new teacher licensing. Recently, she collaborated with the Education Department, CUNY, and independent colleges on efforts to enhance data collection and tracking of teacher education graduates in New York State.

Dr. Sandoval is active in several professional organizations, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and American Evaluation Association Dr. Sandoval served on the Board of Examiners for the Indiana Board of Professional Standards (partner state with NCATE), and has served on numerous NCATE accreditation teams reviewing teacher preparation programs. She currently serves on the “Just for Kids New York” project. Dr. Sandoval received Indiana University’s Teacher Excellence Recognition Award” in 1997 and 1998.

Dr. Sandoval has a B.A. in Art from Mount Mary College, and an M.S. in Educational Psychology and a Ph.D. in Urban Social Institutions from the University of Wisconsin.
 

Frank S. Scelsa Membership Category: Educator Lewiston-Porter High School Youngstown, New York

Frank S. Scelsa has served as an English teacher at Lewiston-Porter High School for the past 36 years. For almost his entire tenure at the school, Mr. Scelsa has also held the position of Director of Dramatics, directing over 30 student productions since 1969. He was formerly an adjunct professor at Niagara University and Niagara County Community College, and is currently an adjunct at Villa Maria College. Mr. Scelsa is past president of Lewiston-Porter United Teachers. He is a member of Lewiston-Porter’s School/Community Climate Focus Group and the Committee to Promote Interpersonal Respect, a student performance group that writes and performs brief dramas on school and societal tolerance issues.

Mr. Scelsa was a finalist for the 1991 New York State Teacher of the Year Award and, in 1988, received both the New York State English Council’s Teacher of Excellence Award and the New York State United Teachers Western New York Outstanding Leadership Award. He is active in various professional organizations.

Mr. Scelsa has a B.S. in English and an M.A.T. in English/Education from Niagara University.

Gale Sookdeo Teacher Susan B. Anthony IS 238 Queens, New York

Gale Sookdeo has been a social studies teacher at the Susan B. Anthony Academy IS 238 in Queens since 2001. She is an active provider of professional development in her school and Ms. Sookdeo previously taught social studies at MS 52 in the Bronx and began her teaching career as an elementary school teacher in the Bronx.

Ms. Sookdeo earned National Board certification in Social Studies (Early Adolescence) in 2005 and is active in professional activities promoting National Board certification and excellence in teaching. She serves as an independent consultant for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and is a mentor in the UFT National Board Mentoring Program. Ms. Sookdeo was included in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2004-2005 2nd 2005-2006, and was named a Title I Distinguished Educator by the New York State Education Department in 2006. She received an award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement upon award of the Professional Diploma from St. John’s University in 2004.

Ms. Sookdeo has a B.A. in History and Social Sciences from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad, an M.S. in Environmental Education from the City University of New York, and a Professional Diploma in Instructional Leadership from St. John’s University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Instructional Leadership at St. John’s University.
 

Kathleen M. Taylor Membership Category: Educator Teacher Ulster County BOCES Career & Technical Center Port Ewen, New York

Kathleen Taylor has taught cosmetology at the Ulster County Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) Career & Technical Center for the past twelve years. She is an active member of the High Schools that Work Program at the BOCES. Her previous experience includes teaching cosmetology services at the Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES for three years. Ms. Taylor has been a licensed cosmetologist for over thirty years.

Ms. Taylor served on Ulster BOCES shared decision-making team for five years, three as chair. She is vice president of the local NYSUT chapter. She is a member of the Association for Career & Technical Education, National Cosmetology Association, the American Cancer Society’s Look Better, Feel Better Program, the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council’s Political Labor Committee, and the Skills USA program. She is also active in the community, participating in voter registration drives, AIDS awareness, and a breast cancer awareness program at Kingston Hospital.

Ms. Taylor has a B.S. in Vocational Technical Education from State University of New York College at Oswego, and an M.P.S. and graduate study in special education from SUNY College at New Paltz.
 

Sally Thompson is an Assistant Superintendent in the Hempstead Public School District. Prior to this, Ms. Thompson served as a building principal for 25 years. She also served the district as the director of research, planning and evaluation. She has previous administrative experience in schools in Amityville and in New Britain, Connecticut, and served as a school principal for the Connecticut Department of Children and Youth Services in Hartford, Connecticut. She has administrative and teaching experience in the New York City Schools and began her thirty-eight year career in education as a teacher of English, drama and music in Brooklyn.

Ms. Thompson is active in the National Association of Elementary School Principals, New York University Roundtable, the National Alliance of Black School Educators, and other professional organizations. She serves as a member of the Panel of Experts with Harcourt Educational Measurement as an advisor in the creation of the projected National Education Assessment. Ms. Thompson received the Educator of the Year award from the National Council of Negro Women in 1999 and was named Educator of the Year by the NAACP.

Ms Thompson holds a B.S. in Speech Education from Emerson College, an M.A. in Guidance and Counseling from Long Island University, and a Professional Diploma in Organizational Studies from New York University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Administration from Nova Southeastern University.

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Stephen J. Uebbing is an associate professor in the Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the University of Rochester. Prior to his appointment in 2006, Dr. Uebbing had served as superintendent of the Canandaigua City School District for eighteen years. During his tenure there, Canandaigua Academy was named a national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. His past administrative experience also includes serving as principal and superintendent of the Fort Plain Central School District. Dr. Uebbing has a total of 34 years of teaching experience, having begun his career as a social studies teacher in the Letchworth Central School District.

 Dr. Uebbing was a long-time member of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, serving on its executive committee; the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development; and the American Association of School Administrators. In 1999, he was named New York State Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Uebbing is a frequent presenter on the New York State Code of Ethics for Educators and is participating in the development of the examination for school building leaders, as part of the New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE) Program. He is also active in civic organizations, including serving as trustee of the Rochester Museum and Science Center and as a member of the Canandaigua Rotary Club.

 Dr. Uebbing has a B.A. in political science and an M.S. in Education from the State University of New York College at Geneseo, and an Ed.D. from the University of Buffalo

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