73 Teachers Honored in Rochester Region

Seventy-three educators who teach in Rochester-area schools received 2000-01 Awards for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching from the Warner School at a ceremony at the Memorial Art Gallery on April 3, 2000.

Award recipients must demonstrate a thorough knowledge and enthusiasm for his or her subject, give well-organized and imaginative lessons, offer clear and interesting explanations of important concepts, and create a classroom atmosphere conducive to learning. In most cases, student groups at the schools are involved in the selection of the teacher.

The teacher excellence program is sponsored by Chapter One Financial Group. Dr. Leonard Simon, who serves as vice chairman of Charter One Financial, Inc., presented the special Chapter One Distinguished Teacher Awards to three educators singled out as representative of the extraordinary accomplishments by local teaching professionals.

Charter One distinguished teachers awards

Gary Herbert of East High School
Susan Jacobitti of Penfield High School
Sandra Szymanski of Livonia Jr./Sr. High School

2000 recipients of the awards for excellence in secondary school teaching
Deborah Ostrowski - Albion High School (Mathematics)
Todd Chamberlain - Alexander Jr.-Sr. High School (Science)
Heather Hutton - Allendale Columbia School (English)
Vonda L. McLenon - Aquinas Institute of Rochester (Biology)
Charles Maggio - Avon Jr.-Sr. High School (Science/Biology)
Suzanne Halas - Batavia High School (Mathematics)
Sharon Kowalski - Bishop Kearney High School (Mathematics)
Edward Darling - Bloomfield Junior/Senior High School (Science)
Stewart McBean - Brighton High School (Science)
Roberta Hesek - Brockport High School (Social Studies)
Amy Knell - Byron-Bergen High School (English)
Amber Corbin - Caledonia-Mumford High School (Biology & Chemistry)
Robin Hulme - Canandaigua Academy (Social Studies)
Mimi Rague - Churchville-Chili Senior High (Mathematics)
Deborah Kelly - Clyde-Savannah Senior High (Librarian)
Robert T. Burns - DeSales High School (Social Studies)
Gary Herbert - East High School (Mathematics)
Lisa M. Cook - East Rochester High School (English)
Laurie Ditzel - Edison Technical High School (Science)
Lenora Sands - Elba Jr./Sr. High School (Mathematics)
James VanHaneghan - Fairport High School (Mathematics)
Susan Alexander - Gananda High School (Guidance Department)
Thomas Sullivan - Gates-Chili Central High School (Science)
George Reuter - Geneseo High School (Mathematics)
Kathleen Henderson - Geneva Senior High School (English)
Katie Croce - Greece Arcadia High School (Business)
Judith Darweesh - Greece Athena Senior High (Science-Chemistry)
Brian Barnard - Greece Olympia High School (Science)
Dawn George - Hilton Senior High School (Science-Biology)
John McGraw - Holley High School (Business)
Nick Pavio - Honeoye High School (History)
Jeffrey T. Guercio - Irondequoit High School (English)
Mary Taylor - John Marshall High School (Music)
Gary Kent - Kendall Jr./Sr. High School (Social Studies)
Richard Baehr - Keshequa High School (Music)
Ronald Paganin - LeRoy Jr./Sr. High School (Mathematics)
Jane Eliasz - Letchworth Center High School (Home Economics)
Sandra Szymanski - Livonia Jr./Sr. High School (Vocal Music)
John Dann - Lyons Jr./Sr. High School (English)
Richard Newcomb - Marcus Whitman High School (Biology)
Paul DeRue - Marion Senior High School (Mathematics)
Brad Bovenzi - McQuaid Jesuit High School (Chemistry/Math)
Kenneth Campbell - Midlakes High School (Social Studies)
James Lynch - Mt. Morris Central High School (Science - Earth Science)
Matt Green - Naples Senior High School (Social Studies)
Richard Hendrick - Nazareth Academy (Science/Physics)
Thomas D. Miller - Newark Senior High School (Mathematics)
Rhonda DiCasolo - Notre Dame High School (Art/Drama)
Thomas J. Hall - Notre Dame High School (Secondary English)
Chris Therrien - Oakfield-Alabama Senior High (Art)
James P. Ditzel - Our Lady of Mercy High School (Science/Physics)
Frank Nau - Palmyra-Macedon High School (Science/Chemistry & Physics)
David Dickson - Pavilion Central School (Social Studies)
Susan Jacobitti - Penfield High School (Social Studies)
Richard Steiner - Perry Central High School (Science/Physics/Chemistry)
Allan D. DeCarlo - Pittsford Mendon High School (Social Studies)
Laura Humphrey - Pittsford Sutherland High School (Foreign Language)
David J. Bradley - Red Creek Jr./Sr. High School (Social Studies)
Karen Tretiak - Red Jacket High School (Secondary Art)
Chris Puylara - Romulus Central School (US History/Gov. & Economics)
Marilyn Barr - Rush Henrietta Senior High School (Social Studies)
Susan J. Salzman - School of the Arts (English)
James Carlett - Sodus Senior High School (Science/Biology)
Edward DeMott - Spencerport High School (Social Studies)
Frank Gacioch - Victor Senior High School (Mathematics)
Celestine Stores - Warsaw Central School (Mathematics)
Terry Youmans - Waterloo High School (Earth Science)
Linda Donovan - Wayne Central High School (Mathematics)
Richard Powers - Webster High School (Social Studies)
Gary Ward - Wheatland Chili Jr./Sr. High School (Social Studies)
Cathy Blakey - Williamson Senior High School (Science-Chemistry)
Leonard Ortenzi - Wilson Magnet High School (Science/Physics)
Michael Freeman - York Central High School (Social Studies)