SCSD Foundation Annual Recognition Breakfast Program 2022

ANNUAL RECOGNITION BREAKFAST 2022 26TH MARCH, 2022 AT 8:00AM RAMADA INN, LIVERPOOL HOSTED BY: SCSD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

Welcome to the 18th Annual Syracuse City School District Educational Foundation Recognition Breakfast.

We are pleased to be together in person again this year, celebrating the contributions that each of you, through the SCSD Educational Foundation, have made to the students and staff of the Syracuse City School District!

Despite the challenges and changes of the pandemic, one thing has remained constant: the support of the Educational Foundation. Last year, eight grant projects were funded by the Educational Foundation, bringing unique experiences and enrichment opportunities to our students in six SCSD schools. These grants funded a Community Support Closet at Dr. Weeks, celebrated the arts and fostered community engagement at ELMS, supported English as a New Language students and cultural diversity at Frazer, enhanced students’ art portfolios at Henninger, enabled a community garden at Roberts, and supported students’ social and emotional needs at Le Moyne Elementary. These projects provided critical support for our students and helped encourage them through an unprecedented time.

Another constant during this time of change has been the commitment of SCSD educators and staff. So many of our staff have gone above and beyond to ensure that the needs of our students and families have been met, and for that I am grateful. Today, we will recognize four of these outstanding individuals as this year’s Educator of the Year award recipients. Congratulations to: Mary Juman, Teacher, Ed Smith Elizabeth Cottrell, Special Education Teacher, McCarthy at Beard Julie Piato, School Psychologist, McKinley-Brighton Diane Vitello, Principal, Dr. Weeks It is also important that we recognize the invaluable support of our community partners, who have remained steadfast in their support of the Syracuse City School District this past year. As recipients of this year’s Recognition Award, please join me in thanking Wegmans and Terakeet. Wegmans has been an exceptional partner this year, especially when it comes to COVID vaccinations – they have partnered with the District to offer countless vaccination clinics in our schools and in the community. Terakeet has supported our students and families through regular supply drives, donations and classroom partnerships.

Thank you again for choosing to be here today in support of the Syracuse City School District Educational Foundation and, ultimately, our SCSD students. We appreciate you!

Sincerely,

Jaime Alicea Superintendent of Schools

AWARD NOMINEES KENYON BLACK NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1990

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, MCCARTHY AT BEARD SCHOOL

TEACHER, ED SMITH K-8 SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL, DR. WEEKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, MCKINLEY-BRIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

K E N YON B L A CK

E L I Z ABETH C O T TRELL

MARY J U M AN

DIANE V I T E LLO

E D U CATORS OF T H E Y E A R

J U L IE PIATO

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EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION Recognition Breakfast

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DISTRICT EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STAFF ARE PUBLICLY RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL WORK.

ELEMENTARY TEACHER

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SECONDARY TEACHER

SUPPORT STAFF

ALUMNI AWARD

NOMINEES ARE JUDGED BY A COMMITTEE WHOSE MEMBERS ARE SELECTED EACH YEAR BY THE FOUNDATION’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS PANEL OF JUDGES, REPRESENTING BUSINESS, EDUCATION, NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY, REVIEWS EACH NOMINATION CAREFULLY AND SELECTS EACH EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR BASED ON THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS YOU PROVIDE.

Thank You, Jaime!!!

Dear Colleagues, Community Members, and Friends, After nearly 40 years of working in the Syracuse City School District I am happy to announce that I am retiring effective June 30th. I have so many great memories of my time here in the District, but it is the right time for me to step away and spend some time with my family.

This is bittersweet for me as I have spent my entire professional career here serving the students, families, staff and community. I am extremely fortunate, but it is time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life. When you start meeting your former students’ grandchildren, you know the time is right!

I want to thank all of you for your support all these years and most recently during my tenure as Superintendent. I could not have imagined when I started as a TA at Seymour that I would wind up being the Superintendent. So many people have helped me along the way and believed in me and I am grateful to all of you.

One of the things that I will cherish the most is the relationships that I have made. Working alongside so many great students, families, staff members and members of the Syracuse Community has been an honor. I am so proud of all the great things and people that make up the Syracuse City School District.

Thank you, Jaime

IRIS ST. MERAN GUEST EMCEE IRIS ST. MERAN HAS CREATED A SPECIAL CONNECTION WITH CENTRAL NEW YORK AND SYRACUSE AS A TELEVISION NEWS REPORTER AT NEWSCHANNEL 9 AND, PREVIOUSLY, AS ANCHOR AT SPECTRUM NEWS. IRIS PURSUED HER DEGREE IN JOURNALISM AT EMERSON COLLEGE IN HER HOMETOWN OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. SHE STARTED HER CAREER AS A DESK ASSISTANT AND WEB PRODUCER AT NEW ENGLAND CABLE NEWS. SHE QUICKLY IMMERSED HERSELF IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AFTER MOVING TO UPSTATE NEW YORK IN 2008.

IN 2016, SHE EARNED A FIRST-PLACE AWARD FROM THE NEW YORK ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR HER SERIES ADDICTED: HEROIN’S HOLD. THAT SERIES IS AN EXAMPLE OF HER PASSION FOR TELLING STORIES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF HER VIEWERS. IN ANOTHER MULTIPART SERIES, TROUBLED WATER: CRISIS IN FLINT, IRIS FOUND INSPIRATION IN THAT MICHIGAN COMMUNITY’S ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER DURING THE WATER CRISIS. IRIS IS NO STRANGER TO THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. SHE HAS PREVIOUSLY VOLUNTEERED AS A CAREER COACH TO MEDIA STUDENTS AT ITC. SHE VISITS OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT ON A REGULAR BASIS AS A GUEST SPEAKER OR TO COVER NEWS STORIES. IRIS SERVES ON THE BOARDS OF THE GIFFORD FOUNDATION AND THE YMCA OF CENTRAL NEW YORK. SHE ALSO CO-HOSTS A PODCAST CALLED “THE LADIES’ ROOM,” WHICH FEATURES WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SHE LOVES ANIMALS AND HAS TWO RESCUE DOGS.

MARCH 26TH, 2022 Syracuse City School District Foundation

HIGH SCHOOL SPONSORS!

THANK YOU!

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPONSORS!

THANK YOU! ELECTRICIANS, LOCAL 43 IBEW HILLSIDE WORK SCHOLARSHIP CONNECTION HAYLOR, FREYER & COON INC. KING & KING ARCHITECTS LLP MERCY WORKS ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE PEACEFUL SCHOOLS POSTLER & JAECKLE CORP. SUNY OSWEGO LABORERS’ LOCAL 633 PRUDENT ENGINEERING RAM-TECH EQUITABLE SHERI DOZIER OWENS, OFFICE OF THE NYS COMPTROLLER O2 CONSULTING LLC PEGGY CHASE FERRARA FIORENZA PC SUSAN & MATTHEW RICHARD SAAS/SAANYS JAIME ALICEA LEONARD BUS KENYON BLACK

THANK YOU SPONSORS FOR YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS!

CORCORAN HIGH SCHOOL CHAITANYA ACHARYA ATORRIA COLLINS DAVID FLAGG JAILAH LODNMAN

NAYELIS SANTOS

CYNTHIA WILLIAMS JEIDALYS ORTIZ-RIVERA

JAZMEN ROBINSON

VOCAL ENSEMBLE

ACCOMPANIED BY THERESA PAUL