Under these extraordinary circumstances, and in recognition of the outstanding dedication from every teacher and instructional staff member, the EGTA Teacher of the Year award is being given to All EGTA Members.
Since 1970, the East Greenbush Teachers Association has honored one of its members by awarding them with Teacher of the Year. The award is traditionally given to an individual member of the district’s instructional staff, however, this school year has been anything but traditional.
The school year was radically changed in mid-March when schools across the state were shuttered abruptly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overnight, teachers and staff adapted the normal classroom experience for students and began teaching through a distance learning model. Teachers worked from home to setup Google Classrooms, create lesson plans, record lessons, and research and utilize new apps for teaching.
In addition to the actual teaching of students, teachers and other instructional staff have continued to connect with students during this challenging time. They have made regular phone calls and wellness visits, hosted video chats with groups of students, and organized parades and other fun events with social distancing to show students and families that although we cannot be together in schools right now, we are together in spirit always.
Under these extraordinary circumstances, and in recognition of the outstanding dedication from every teacher and instructional staff member, the EGTA Teacher of the Year award is being given to All EGTA Members.
“Given the challenges faced and conquered that each of us has over these past few months in guiding students through this global pandemic, there is no better way to honor one than to honor all,” EGTA President Drew Romanowski said in an email to EGTA Members. “Through this journey that no one asked for, each of you has remained steadfast in your commitment to your students while doing so with grace, humor, courtesy, decency, and a tireless dedication to serving the whole child and all of their needs.”
A special thanks goes to the Teacher of the Year Committee Co-Chairs Christine Dushensky and Kristen Zilgme for their time and effort throughout this process as they graciously serve in this role.
Congratulations to the more than 350 EGTA Members including Teachers, Special Education Teachers, ENL Teachers, Library Media Specialists, School Counselors, Social Workers, School Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists!
EGTA Teacher of the Year Award
2020 All EGTA Members
2019 Maria Fontaine
2018 Scott Siver
2017 Wendy McAlonie
2016 Curtis Sankey
2015 Melissa Gilligan
2014 Nancy Boucher
2013 Monica Blanchfield
2012 Bob Halek
2011 Diana Prout
2010 Jean Decker
2009 Lisa Westman
2008 Linda Kaminski
2007 Peter Zilgme
2006 Christina Rogone
2005 Denise Nahal
2004 The Staff at CHS
2003 Sean Crall
2002 Larraine Gillette
2001 Nikki Carter-Piechnik
2000 Susan Owens
1999 Sally Sroka
1998 Virginia Congemi
1997 Kevin McCann
1996 Mary LaFleur
1995 Linda McCabe
1994 Lynda DeCelle
1993 Denise Poost
1992 Barbara Poole
1991 Kathy DeWeese
1990 Henry Kolakoski
1989 Robert Crosby
1988 Benedict Schaefer
1987 Elizabeth Lyman
1986 Shirley Howard
1985 Carlton Eno
1984 Louise Pearce
1983 Peter Citrolo
1982 Michael Angelo
1981 Marilyn Reeves
1980 Kileen Stone
1979 Edith Cosgrove
1978 Thelma Donahue
1977 Robert King
1976 Jean Burgess
1975 Raymond Gietz
1974 Elizabeth McMaster
1973 Alfred Viola
1972 Bernice Pechenik
1971 Paul Bourgeois
1970 Ruth Herr