Teachers in the News

By Wendy Buchberg, Teacher

This is the inaugural year for our new Animal Science program with our new teacher, Mattea Haessner. Haessner, a graduate of Madaille College in Buffalo and Cornell University, brings with her a host of experiences in biology, agricultural education, adolescent education, animal and plant science and veterinary technology. Enrollment projections for September are solid and we are looking forward to the launch of this new CTE program.

Mr. David Syracuse has recently joined the faculty of the Career and Tech Center. David spent the last five years teaching science in the Groton Central School district and brings with him a fresh, creative approach to teaching with the concepts of rigor and relevance at the forefront. David recently spent time meeting with members of the newly formed Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center, working on academic integration strategies. He, together with other academic and CTE teachers, will be working this year on a new integration delivery model.

We are proud to announce that two of our teachers recently received recognition as outstanding educators.

On August 22, 2011, Ms. Wendy Buchberg, our New Visions Health Science Teacher received the Tompkins Cortland Community College Distinguished Concurrent Enrollment Teacher Award. Ms. Buchberg was nominated by students in the 2010-11 graduating class for her expertise and genuine concern for all students. The award was presented to Ms. Buchberg by Karl Madeo, Director of CollegeNow, at a luncheon at TC3 on August 22.

Ms. Michele Sutton was recently named the Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher in New York State. Award winners are agricultural educators who are judged to conduct the highest quality agricultural education programs in the state. The award recognizes leadership in civic, community and professional activities. Sutton, our New Visions Life Science teacher, has received an all expense-paid trip invitation to attend the 2011 National Agricultural Education Convention in St. Louis, MO in the fall.

Earlier in the summer, Michele also received notice that she had been chosen as one of three recipients of the Second Annual Agriscience Educator Award, sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation and the American Farm Bureau Federation. The Foundation is a Federal government agency established by Congress to “encourage and support research, study and labor, designed to produce new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind." The intent of the Agriscience Award is to recognize scientists, high school educators and high school students who are judged to exemplify excellence in Agriscience. Sutton received the $10,000 cash award at a luncheon ceremony on July 12, 2011 in Washington, DC, for her dedication to the agriculture education curriculum that she teaches.