PK-5 Half Day - Thursday, March 23

There will be a half day for students in grades PK-5 on Thursday, March 23 due to parent conferences. Dismissal times: Pre-K (DPS/Genet/Red Mill) at 10:45 a.m., Genet at 11:15 a.m., Bell Top at 11:30 a.m., DPS at 11:30 a.m., Green Meadow at 11:30 a.m. and Red Mill at 11:30 a.m. Pre-K students at the Early Childhood Education Center will have a full day of school on March 23.

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Chelsea Dyer Named NYS Teacher of the Year Finalist

Sep 14, 2020 | Columbia, District

Chelsea Dyer

Columbia High School English teacher Chelsea Dyer was named a 2021 NYS Teacher of the Year Finalist.

Columbia High School English teacher Chelsea Dyer was named a 2021 New York State Teacher of the Year Finalist during a Board of Regents meeting on Monday morning. Mrs. Dyer is one of four teachers from across the state to be named a state finalist for this prestigious award.

Since 2008, Mrs. Dyer has taught English at Columbia, working tirelessly to build relationships with students and create an inclusive and respectful classroom community. Her enthusiasm for reading, writing and creative expression helps develop skills in her students and allows them to reach their full potential.

“I am certainly honored,” said Mrs. Dyer, “but I feel like there are so many people deserving of this award, especially in our district. I feel like it’s an honor for the school as a whole, not just for me personally.”

Mrs. Dyer teaches English 10, English 11, Modern Literature, and Creative Writing and Poetry. She also serves as co-advisor of Student Council and an assistant coach with the Unified Sports basketball team.

“Chelsea Dyer is representative of the high quality educators that we have throughout our district,” said James McHugh, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “I am thrilled for Chelsea that her continued efforts for students both inside and outside of the classroom has led to the distinguished honor as a runner-up for the New York State Teacher of the Year.”

Finalists for the 2021 New York State Teacher of the Year include:

  • James Brown, a science teacher from the Sand Creek Middle School, South Colonie Central School District
  • Chelsea Dyer, an English teacher at Columbia High School, East Greenbush Central School District
  • Victoria Gentile, a Special Education teacher at Fort Salonga Elementary School, Kings Park Central School District
  • Sara Bambino, an English teacher at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, North Syracuse Central School District

The New York State Teacher of the Year Program is administered by the New York State Education Department and sponsored by New York State United Teachers (NYSUT); United Federation of Teachers (UFT); New York State Parents and Teachers Association (NYSPTA); New York State Association for School Curriculum Development (NYSASCD) New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA); School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS); New York State Association of Teacher Educators (NYSATE); and New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE). The program is run in conjunction with the National Teacher of the Year Program, sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).