Dean's Awards for Excellence in Teaching

Dean's Awards for Excellence in Teaching

About the Award

The School of Education at SUNY New Paltz established the Dean's Award for Excellence in teaching in 1984 to recognize outstanding teachers in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Each awardee is nominated by a school district administrator, with written support from the teachers' colleagues, students, and parents of students.

Michael S. Rosenberg, Dean of the School of Education at the College at New Paltz, presented seven local teachers with the 2013 Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching at a ceremony on the college campus on September 30, 2013.

2013 Award Recipients:

The Early Career Award for teachers who have been fewer than 10 years in the profession went to Kimberly Dunkin, K-5 Music teacher at Furnace Woods Elementary in the Hendrick Hudson School District. A classically trained pianist who has taught for seven years, Ms. Dunkin uses music from many multilingual and multicultural sources for her lessons, teaching her children to sing in Spanish to Swahili.

Jaime Ferrari, also at Furnace Woods Elementary School in the Hendrick Hudson School District, received the award for her work as first-grade teacher. Her dedication extends to her presence on numerous committees, afterschool projects, summer camps, and as an Educational Leader.

David Brown has been teaching for 20 years, the last 18 at Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, where he has been a classroom teacher. David helped implement, and now guides, the International Baccalaureate program at the school. He recently earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration in the School of Education at SUNY New Paltz.

Kim Di Curcio teaches a Grade 4 & 5 12:1:12 self-contained class at Pine Tree Elementary School in the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District. In her 18 years in the school district, she designed and taught the district's first class for children with autism, piloted its first full-day co-taught class, and designed and is leading an academic life skills program.

Craig Fryer, concert and jazz band leader and instrumental music teacher for the Middle and High Schools in the Millbrook Central School District, took the Millbrook High School Band to Carnegie Hall last year under his leadership. Fryer is an accomplished composer and tenor.

Genevieve Privitera, Grade 2 teacher in Pakanasink Elementary School in the Pine Bush Central School District, has been working to integrate literacy, which she considers her strength, into all content areas and has set herself to excel in the teaching of mathematics.

Robin Scott, Grade 4 teacher at Berea Elementary School in the Valley Central School District, was recognized in part for her devotion to the school and learning. And her strong support of students and colleagues.

2012 Award Recipients: