
Educators go above and beyond every day in the classroom, now it's time for us to go above and beyond for them! In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, WMHT asked for nominations for educators in our viewing area that deserve recognition. 10 selected teachers are spotlighted below and on our social media and will receive a small thank-you gift from our education team. Thank you to everyone who nominated a teacher, and to all of the incredible teachers serving our communities! To see the full list of nominations, click on the button below to see the 2026 Honor Roll!
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Past Teacher Appreciation Week Highlights
Featured Teachers
- Scott Tessier — Automotive Trades Technology, Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School – Albany Campus
- Brendalee Saunders — Business, Family & Consumer Science, Greenwich CSD
- Cami Samuelson — Math, Hudson Falls Middle School
- Theresa Longhi — English as a New Language, Ichabod Crane High School
- Colleen Labuski — Preschool, Little Ones Montessori School
- Wendy Johnston — STEAM, Stillwater Elementary School
- Dwayne Heroth — Technology, Canajoharie High School
- Cheryl Ferraro — Orchestra, Sacandaga Elementary, Scotia-Glenville Middle School & Scotia-Glenville HS
- Bridget Chapko — 2nd Grade, Hoosic Valley Elementary School
- Drew Califano — World Languages, Tamarac Middle School
Recognized Teachers
- Devin Ashburn — Henry Johnson Charter School
- Sanada Bailey — Tamarac Elementary School
- Greg Balcavage — Elsmere Elementary
- Keri Barber — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
- Ms. Barnes — Henry Johnson Charter School
- Dylan Bastian — CTE BOCES
- Claire Beaulac — Goff Middle School
- Jessalynn Blaufuss — Schenectady High School
- Stacia Bonanno — Granville Elementary School
- George Borum — Kipp Capital Region Public Schools
- Heather Brown — Indian Lake Central School
- Ashley Burns — Salem CSD
- Cassie Burrell — William H. Barton Intermediate School
- Mr. Capone — Henry Johnson Charter School
- Meghan Charron — Rensselaer Junior Senior High School
- Tricia Chizek — Hudson Falls Middle School
- Jason Cosco — Elsmere Elementary
- Danielle Cosey — Greenwich Elementary School
- Julie Cox — Saratoga Springs High School
- Nicole Cremo — Annur Islamic School
- Bridget Crossman — Lake George Elementary School
- Elizabeth Dollard — Guilderland Elementary School
- Mike Dutcher — Valleyview Elementary School
- Alicia Fazio — William H. Barton Intermediate School
- Tammy Fisher — Berne-Knox-Westerlo Elementary
- Jennifer Gall — J V Forrestal Elementary School
- Linda Garrigan — William C. Keane Elementary School
- Nick Henderson — Greenwich Central School
- Amy Hilliard — Taconic Hills Elementary School
- Sara Hunter — George Washington School – Questar III BOCES
- Jennifer Hurst — Herman L. Bradt Primary School
- Maria Izzo — Saratoga Central Catholic
- Patti Keil — Marilyn A Norman School at Durham
- Abigail Kennedy — Albany School of Humanities
- Michelle Kenney — Greenwich Central School
- Jayme Keppler — Menands School UFSD
- Jenna Kimber — Birchwood Elementary School
- Samantha King — Voorheesville Elementary School
- Susan Kirby-LeMon — Skano Elementary
- Deb LaBrake — Colonie Central High School
- Michael Lotano — Tesago Elementary School
- Rachel Mathis — Goff Middle School
- Mike McGillycuddy — Robert H. Gibson Technical School
- Doraine Miller — Hudson Falls Middle School
- Melissa Moran — Henry Johnson Charter School
- Jordan Moses — Green Island UFSD
- Rabiah Muhammad — Annur Islamic School
- Anna Muscatello — Van Schaick Grade School
- Mr. Norman — Henry Johnson Charter School
- Susan Pagones — Genet Elementary School, East Greenbush
- Dawn Parker — Salem Central School District
- Uriah Peppin — Kingsway Christian Academy
- Gabrielle Pike — Holy Spirit School
- Amy Porter — Hudson Falls Middle School
- Alanna Powers — Greenwich Elementary School
- Sara Quartiers — Harrison Avenue Elementary School
- Rebecca Quinn — Salem Central School
- Jennifer Reardon — Voorheesville Elementary School
- Connie Reichardt — Mary E. Dardess Elementary School
- Emily Ross — Waldorf School of Saratoga
- Jen Russo — Salem CSD
- Valerie Santillo — Red Mill Elementary School
- Michelle Schwendinger — Guilderland High School
- Kaylee Seymour — Lake George Jr/Sr High School
- Mr. Shaw — Henry Johnson Charter School
- Megan Sheehy — Fort Ann
- Tammy Slack — Bainbridge-Guilford Central School
- Arianna Spiezio — Greenwich Jr. Sr. High School
- Bri Steele — Hudson Falls Middle School
- Sidrah Stephens — William S. Hackett Middle School
- Meredith Sweeney — Putnam Central School
- Brian Talmadge — Salem Central School
- Oliver Thompson — Lynnwood Elementary
- Lynn Tyner — Kensington Road School
- Kelly Walker — Indian Lake Central School
- John Walsh — Greenwich Jr. Sr. High School
- Katrina Williams — Greenwich Central School – Elementary
- Dee Winter Barclay — Glens Falls High School
- Rebecca Wolff — Voorheesville Central School District
- Melissa Yeager — Maple Hill Jr/Sr High School
- Brooke Zayle — Clayton A. Bouton High School
- F. Donald Myers Center Career and Technical Education Team — WSWHE BOCES F. Donald Myers Education Center
Featured Teachers
- LaQuetta Alexander-Ellis — Practice 2 Perfect Training Center, Albany (MediCal Certification Program)
- Erin Botta — South Colonie High School, Colonie (Grade 9–12 Math)
- Scott Charlebois — Castleton Elementary School, Castleton-on-Hudson (K–6 STEM Lab)
- Wayne Cornell — Berlin Middle/High School, Cherry Plain (Grade 9–12 Math)
- Kristi Drinkwater — Shenendehowa Adult Transition Program, Clifton Park
- Julia Healy — Lynnwood Elementary School, Schenectady (Elementary Librarian)
- Christopher Miron — George Washington School, Troy (5th Grade)
- Linda Serapilio — TOAST, Albany (1st Grade)
- Peri Stevens — LifeWorks Head Start, Ballston Spa (UPK)
- Sodelys Hilario — Heatly School, Green Island (4th Grade)
Recognized Teachers
- Alexis Harmon — Paul Puccio School, Castleton (Special Ed)
- April Mlambi — Sand Creek Middle School, Colonie (Grades 7–8)
- Ashley Rozycki — Gibson Technical School, Troy (12th Grade)
- Beth O'Brien — Gibson Technical School, Troy (Sp/Ed Consultant)
- Bridget Trinkle — Hoosic Valley Jr./Sr. High, Schaghticoke (10th Grade)
- Colleen Mahar — Desrochers Center, Rensselaer (Middle School)
- Daphne Barber — Henry Johnson Charter School, Albany (4th Grade)
- David Previtali (Mr. P) — Arbor Hill Elementary, Albany (K & 2)
- Elizabeth Corey — East Greenbush CSD (Special Ed)
- Erica Daley — Mater Christi School, Albany (Pre-K–3)
- Heather Silvernail — Sackett Educational Center, Castleton-on-Hudson (HS)
- Jason Irwin — Tech Valley High School, Albany (9–12)
- Jill Flood — TOAST, Albany (K–1)
- Kalyn Fleck — Ichabod Crane Middle School, Valatie (7th SPED)
- Keanna King — Latham Ridge Elementary, Latham (4th Grade)
- Kelly Rendine Deskewicz — Mont Pleasant MS, Schenectady (6–8)
- Madeline Mead — Coxsackie Athens CSD (2nd Grade)
- Mr. Pafundi — Abram Lansing School, Cohoes (5th Grade)
- Jen Sala — Pashley Elementary, Schenectady (Kindergarten)
- Ms. Helinski — Kline Technical School, Hudson (11–12)
- Nichole Mills — Maple Hill Jr./Sr. High, Castleton-on-Hudson (7th Grade)
- Rebecca Lanier Martinez — Kline Technical School, Hudson (11–12)
- Theresa Eckler — Rensselaer Park Elementary, Troy (4th Grade)
- Stephanie Wilson — Paul Puccio School, Castleton (Grades 4–6)
- Danielle Leder-Druzynsky — Hillside Elementary, Niskayuna (3rd Grade)
- Susan Googins — Montessori Magnet School, Albany (4th Grade)
Featured Teachers
- Carrie Guyer — Grade 3, West Sand Lake Elementary School
- Nicole Kozilsky — Social Work + Special Ed, Sand Creek Middle School
- Erik Nicholsen — Heavy Equipment, Grades 11–12, Questar III
- Capril O’Hara — Heavy Equipment, Grades 11–12, Questar III
- Omar Williams — Band, Grades 6–8, North Colonie MS
- Jane Grant — Art, Grades K–5, Hillsdale and Rosendale Schools
- Tabitha Scruton — STEM, Grade 9, Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES
- Reilly Schug — Grade 3, Sacred Heart School
- Robert Aronstein — Music, Oneida Middle School
- Kathrin Marincuk — English, Ballston Spa HS
- Karen Sweet — Math, Grades 8, 10, 11, Maple Hill Jr./Sr. HS
- Zachary Knapp — French, Grades 6–8, Golding MS
- Shannon Pinkowski — Math, 4th Grade, Giffen Elementary
- Kristina Murray — Math, Grades K–5, McNulty Elementary
- Ashley Romand — Kindergarten, Mater Christi School
- Terasita Reddix — SpEd, Grades 3 & 4, Questar III George Washington School
- Regina Hanson — FACS, Grades 7–12, Schalmont CSD
- Paula DiBase & Kim Montalvo — 3rd Grade, Eagle Elementary
- Janet Guido — SpEd, Grades 2 & 4, Donald P. Sutherland Elementary

