Valley Central High School Mathematics Teacher Named 2010 New York State Teacher Of The Year

The State Board of Regents today announced the selection of Debra Calvino as the 2010 New York State Teacher of the Year.  Mrs. Calvino, a high school math teacher at Valley Central High School in Montgomery, New York, also serves as the Chairperson/Supervisor of the school’s Mathematics Department. Interim Education Commissioner Carole Huxley made the announcement at the September meeting of the Board of Regents.

Calvino, the 40th New York State Teacher of the Year, is a veteran teacher of twenty-seven years.  She has attained a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration, in addition to her credentials in mathematics and special education.  Calvino’s efforts have helped instill a love of mathematics in generations of students, leading many of them to success in math- related studies and career paths, including teaching. Mrs. Calvino is known for her outstanding ability to help all students succeed and for her advocacy for students, families, fellow teachers and community organizations.

Calvino has helped lead her district towards outstanding mathematics scores on the State’s mathematics exams. She has served as a master trainer in data strategies. Her efforts helped foster district-wide support for and use of data-driven instruction.  She has also enhanced district resources through her extensive grant writing and advocacy efforts.   Her service includes leadership roles in helping to develop the district’s comprehensive accountability plan and serving on other key district committees. As Teacher of the Year, Calvino considers herself an ambassador for teaching, giving her the opportunity to highlight the importance of the profession.

Finalists for 2010 New York State Teacher of the Year were: Mrs. Rockette Brunetti, a high school English teacher at C.W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville; Mr. Glen Cummings, a high school social studies teacher at Eastridge High School in Rochester; Mrs. Ashli Dreher, a special education teacher of grades 9-12 at the Lewiston Porter Central School District in Youngstown; and Ms. Sandra Jabaut, a high school art teacher at Queensbury High School in Queensbury.

The State Teacher of the Year Program is sponsored by the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers (NYSPTA); the New York State Association for School Curriculum Development (NYSASCD); ING Financial Services, Inc.; the SMARTer Kids Foundation; SMART Technologies; and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The program is run in conjunction with the National Teacher of the Year Program, sponsored by CCSSO.

All applicant portfolios are read and scored by two outside readers, the scores are averaged and the teachers with the top ten scores become semi-finalists. The semi-finalists’ portfolios are sent to a different committee to be read and scored. The scores are averaged, and the top five become finalists. State Education Department staff interview representatives from each of the finalists’ schools and speak with colleagues, administrators, students, parents and community members. The finalists come to Albany for an interview with the Selection Committee, whose members are representatives from NYSUT, NYSPTA, NYSASCD, the School Administrators Association of New York, the New York State School Boards Association, the New York State Association of Teacher Educators, the New York Association of Colleges of Teacher Education and the United Federation of Teachers. The sitting Teacher of the Year also serves on the committee whose chairperson is the previous year’s Teacher of the Year. After the interview, the committee considers all application components and votes to choose the State Teacher of the Year.

Applications for the Teacher of the Year Program are available in the fall of each year from the Teacher Development Programs Unit of the New York State Education Department at (518) 486-6042 or online at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/kiap/ted/toty/.  Individuals identified to Education Department as outstanding teachers are also mailed applications.