More than 60 high school teachers from across Western New York received certificates for excellence in teaching from the Warner School at the annual Awards for Excellence in High School Teaching. The teachers from Rochester area counties were selected by their schools for exceptional work in 2002-03.

The awards are given to teachers whose practices reflect the attributes needed to improve the education system: they are student-centered, use innovative teaching techniques, believe that all children can learn and do learn in unique ways, and are themselves lifelong learners. Their schools, usually through processes that involve students, select awardees.

From among the winners, an awards committee chose four educators for special recognition. This year's distinguished teachers were: Theresa Funk, art teacher at Wilson Magnet High School in Rochester; Marleen M. Mark, English and language arts teacher at Wayland-Cohocton High School in Wayland; Marjory "Midge" Marshall, teacher of English and theater at Fairport High School in Fairport; and Ronald K. Miller, teacher and department chair of music at Dundee Junior-Senior High School in Dundee.

The celebration held at the Memorial Art Gallery, was made possible by a grant from Marion A. and Leonard S. Simon. Marion Simon graduated from the University of Rochester with a doctoral degree in education in 1980. Leonard Simon is the retired vice chairman of Charter One Financial, Inc.