Meet the Syracuse City School District
PEER OBSERVERS (2015-2016)
The Syracuse City School District, the Syracuse Teachers Association (STA), and the Syracuse
Association of Administrators and Supervisors (SAAS) believe that providing teachers opportunities for
feedback from a content-focused observer supports their professional practice and enhances the
administrative evaluation process. In support of this, SCSD has hired a team of Peer Observers with
experience in art, business/technology/CTE, English Language Arts, elementary education, ESL, math,
music, physical education, science, social studies, and special education.
Peer Observers were selected via a rigorous process that considered teaching effectiveness, ability to
provide honest and objective written and oral feedback, content area expertise and experience, and
commitment to improving the overall effectiveness of the SCSD teaching force. Peer Observers were
trained in a number of specific areas:
• SCSD Teaching and Learning Framework
• Danielson’s Framework for Teaching
• Classroom observation – collecting objective evidence
• Cognitive Coaching – providing constructive feedback
• Teachscape Reflect and Learn
• Writing high-quality observation reports
• Ongoing observation and calibration
Under the SCSD APPR agreement, all SCSD teachers will receive observations conducted by Peer
Observers. Probationary teachers will be observed twice each year in announced visits, and tenured
teachers will be observed once in an announced visit. While probationary teachers’ peer observation
data will count as part of their “Other Practice” measures component of APPR, tenured teachers will
have the option to include the peer observation data. The opportunity to make that decision will be
provided this fall and will be recorded in each teacher's APPR evaluation file.
What follows are brief biographies of the SCSD’s Peer Observers.
Content Expertise: Fine Arts
Tonette (Toni) Orlando is excited to be returning to the Peer Observer
position as the Fine Arts Peer Observer. Toni has taught Choral Music K-12
and is currently an online teacher for BOCES, where she has taught AP Music
Theory, Music Appreciation, and Sound Engineering. She has led Choirs and
a Vocal Jazz Ensemble to First Place Awards at various Music Festivals. She
is a pianist and accompanist, and the Music Director and Organist for a local
church where she works with several choirs and instrumentalists.
Toni Orlando
Toni enjoys combining the visual and aural arts. She has collaborated with Art
Teachers, incorporating student artwork into GarageBand compositions. Her
students have also created music for student art displays. She has experience
in curriculum development, creating courses accredited by the AP College
Board and the NYS Dept. of Education. She was a Graduate Assistant at
Syracuse University, where she completed both her Bachelors and Masters
Degrees. She has taken post-graduate courses in both Music and Art and is
currently enrolled in the CAS Program at Syracuse University.
Content Expertise: English Language Arts
r
Como
Thérèse Como looks forward to serve as the 2015-16 ELA peer observer.
In this role, she has had the opportunity to conduct observations and
provide content-specific feedback to ELA teachers throughout the district.
Previously, Thérèse spent several years teaching English Language Arts at
Nottingham High School. While at Nottingham High School, she was
appointed the ELA content specialist, served on numerous committees and
has enthusiastically mentored new teachers. As the ELA content specialist,
she had the opportunity to observe her peers and engage in reflective
conversations about effective teaching and collaboratively plan lessons that
embrace the new common core standards. In addition, Thérèse has
received a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership and
completed an administrative internship at Nottingham High School. She
looks forward to continue working with the ELA teachers throughout the
district to achieve the District’s goal to graduate students prepared for
success in college, careers, and the global economy.
Content Expertise: Elementary Education
Kim Poslett-Huhtala is a passionate educator who is looking forward to
her third year as a peer observer. Prior to this role, she served as a 6th
grade teacher in a Title I school in East New York, Brooklyn. Her
strengths include modifying lessons for diverse learners, differentiating for
the English Language Learner, and analyzing data to effectively plan for
individual students.
Kim Poslett-Huhtala
Along with mentoring new teachers and serving on the school leadership
team, she has facilitated professional development sessions on teaching
strategies for ELLs in the general education classroom, aligning tasks to
the Common Core, and scaffolding instructional strategies to meet
objectives. She was selected by the New York City Department of
Education as a Lead Teacher, after receiving her certificate from the
Teacher Facilitative Leadership Institute at the UFT.
Kim received her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta in Childhood
Education (1-6). She earned a dual master’s degree in General and Special
Education (1-6) from Touro College in 2008.
Content Expertise: Elementary Education
Sandra Nucifora
Sandra Nucifora spent the last 24 years working in the field of
elementary education where she taught at every level from Pre-K to 6th
grade.
Sandra started her teaching career in Catholic schools in Syracuse where
she taught 4th grade. She then transitioned into a site supervisor job for
the second-largest head start program in Syracuse. Sandra joined the
Syracuse City School District in 2003 as the coordinator of the Even
Start program. Under her guidance the Even Start program evolved from
a program in need of improvement to one of the top 10 performing
programs in the state. Sandra won an outstanding service award from the
Syracuse City School District for her efforts with the Even Start
program.
Sandra then migrated back to the classroom with the skills she acquired
as a site supervisor and program coordinator. She taught 3rd and 4th
grade students at Blodgett School, where she was a member of the SLT
committee and a 3rd grade team leader. While teaching 3rd grade at
Blodgett every student received a passing grade on the New York State
Math Assessment. Sandra spent the last two years teaching 4th grade at
Delaware Academy, where she has gained invaluable experience in
project-based learning.
Sandra is an honor graduate from Tusculum College with a Bachelor of
Arts in elementary education. She completed her post graduate course
work at Syracuse University. She is certified in Early Reading First,
Reading First, Think Math, Cognitive Coaching, and was trained in Teach
Like a Champion strategies through the New Teacher Project.
Content Expertise: Elementary Education
Karen Fruscello
Karen Fruscello first came to the SCSD in 1987 as part of Syracuse
University’s Urban Teacher Graduate Program. She has teaching
experience in grades K-6 and has worked in elementary schools within
each of the district’s quadrants. Karen is Reading Recovery trained and
has spent a significant amount of time in grades K-2 doing reading
intervention. She has conducted workshops for teachers in the district on
Formative Reading Skills and Guided Reading. In addition, she has been
involved with Academic Intervention and Afterschool Academic
Programing as a Lead Teacher for over ten years. Karen has had a variety
of leadership roles and participated in many district workshops such as
Courageous Conversations on Race, Cognitive Coaching and Formative
Assessment. She has also been a Peer Mentor and SLT Member. Karen
received her undergraduate degree from Utica College and her master’s
degree from Syracuse University. She is currently working on her
Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership at Syracuse
University.
Content Expertise: Math
Jim Hart is returning for his fourth year as the math peer observer. It
continues to be an incredible learning experience for him each year. Being
from outside the district, he has been pleased to see the wealth of good
teaching happening within the math classrooms. It is a goal of his to help
share that knowledge with each of you during your time together. At the
end of the first year, Jim compiled a list of “best”
practices/activities/strategies that he saw and emailed it to each building
for future planning/support.
Jim Hart
Mr. Hart has been an active math teacher for 18 years, teaching students
grade 7 through 1st year college students. He received his bachelor’s
degree from SUNY Plattsburgh and earned his master’s degree from Le
Moyne College. His teaching experiences include pre-calculus, statistics,
algebra 2, math 7, course II (geometry) as well as math lab reinforcement
for course I & III. Jim also assisted with restructuring the 7th-8th grade
curriculum to better suit the needs of the diverse academic background
entering Bishop Ludden. He spent 4 years working in Alternative
Education at OCM BOCES. Jim taught math 8 and Integrated Algebra.
After leaving BOCES, He was hired as an adjunct instructor at OCC
teaching remedial math courses to first year students. Mr. Hart also
participated in the summer bridging course to allow Say Yes students to
transition into college classes. This past summer he redesigned a summer
tutor program for the Guardian Angel Society, which supports refugee
students to acquire a Catholic education.
Content Expertise: English as a New Language, World
Languages, and Bilingual Education
Areli Schermerhorn
Areli Schermerhorn has supported the development of students and
teachers in the Syracuse City School District for over twenty years. During
the last three years, she has served the district as the ENL, World
Languages, and Bilingual Ed peer observer, conducting observations and
providing content- specific feedback to teachers in grades K-12.
Additionally, Ms. Schermerhorn is a national trainer for the American
Federation of Teachers, and an ELT New York State United Teachers
Instructor. She has provided professional development in an array of
settings including the district, state and national level. She earned a
Certificate of Advanced Study in Urban Teacher Leadership from
LeMoyne College in 2012.
Content Expertise:
Myriam Ibarra
Science
Myriam Ibarra has taught at Nottingham High School since the year 2000,
offering courses in Chemistry, Earth Science and SUNY-ESF Global
Environment. She previously has taught Fisheries Science courses at
SUNY Morrisville, and primary and secondary school in Quito, Ecuador.
She was a volunteer scientist at the Field Museum of Natural History in
Chicago, IL, did postdoctoral research at SUNY-ESF, worked as a
Forester in the USDA Forest Service in Syracuse, and also worked as an
Environmental Consultant for private industry. At Nottingham High
School, Myriam was a member of the Positive Behavior Interventions and
Supports (PBIS) committee and the School Leadership Team (SLT), a coleader of the Math Science and Technology Academy, and leader in the
Learning Team for Physical Science.
Myriam believes that it is an essential but challenging task to provide
equal access for all children to an education that ensures their full and
positive participation in society. Because she is optimistic about the
synergistic power of groups of educators to meet that challenge, she is
eager to do collaborative work with her fellow science teachers.
Myriam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science Education and a Doctoral
degree in Biology from The Central University in Ecuador. She also has a
Master’s of Science in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin, and
presently, she is finishing her Certificate of Advanced Studies in
Educational Leadership at Syracuse University.
Content Expertise:
Social Studies
Stephanie Walters-Rowe earned a B.A. in History and Education and a
MSEd. from SUNY Cortland. During her nearly 15 years as a social studies
educator in the Syracuse City School District she has worked at both the
middle and high school level, most recently at Nottingham High School.
Stephanie has taught U.S. History, as well as Global Studies, AVID,
Economics, Participation in Government, and a Career Guidance elective.
She has also served as a master teacher for student teachers from SUNY
Oswego and Syracuse University.
Stephanie has served on numerous committees such as School Leadership
Team, textbook adoption team, middle level curriculum mapping, U.S.
History 11 curriculum writing, city-wide assessment writing and the Teach
American History grant writing team.
Stephanie WaltersRowe
She has also participated in extensive professional development at both the
district and national level. Stephanie has attended several National
Endowment for the Humanities and Gilder Lehrman summer workshops in
U.S. History, working with historians such as Ira Berlin, Jim Horton, Lois
Horton and David Blight.
Stephanie will complete her C.A.S. in Educational Leadership at Syracuse
University in the Spring of 2016.
Content Expertise:
Special Education
Patrick Ruddy has worked in the Syracuse City School District for
12 years as a special education teacher, administrative intern and coach.
In these roles he has had the opportunity to develop a diverse set of
teaching and leadership skills that he is excited to bring to the Peer
Observation team.
Patrick Ruddy
Patrick has worked as an AVID, resource and inclusion consultant and as
a self-contained teacher at the middle and high school levels all within the
Syracuse City School District. He has spent considerable time in core
curriculum classes at the secondary level as an inclusion and consultant
teacher and is knowledgeable in a variety of curricula. He has also served
on numerous committees and task forces to help provide SCSD students a
better learning environment including the Middle to Secondary School
Transition task force, On Track task force and Seeds of Peace committee.
Patrick earned his C.A.S. in 2009 and has worked as an administrative
intern and acting vice principal for two years at the secondary school
level. In this role he had the opportunity to complete teacher evaluations,
coordinate the ninth grade academies and act as testing coordinator for the
SCSD.
Patrick received his master’s degree in special education from Syracuse
University.
Content Expertise: Special Education
Shaena Brasz is an experienced educator looking forward to another year as
a peer observer for special education teachers. Her strengths include
working with teachers to modify instruction to meet the needs of students
with disabilities within the classroom and small group setting as well as
helping teachers find engaging ways to help students be successful in all
settings. She uses her experience as a classroom teacher and special
education teacher to understand the demands placed on the educator and
how to implement best practices.
Shaena Brasz
While working at Southside Academy Charter School, she has worked with
students as a classroom teacher and special education teacher. During that
time, she has mentored new teachers and worked closely with classroom
teachers to modify instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities
both within the classroom and small group setting. She has worked closely
with the Syracuse City School District’s Special Education process. She
has also worked as a special education consultant for the OCM BOCES
program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing working with teachers at all
grade levels from kindergarten through high school. Having observed
lessons in five schools within the district has given her a unique perspective
regarding how teachers can improve their practice and enjoys recommending
hands on and interactive approaches to learning that will move lessons from
teacher centered to student centered. Her hope is that she can understand the
uniqueness of your classroom setting and the students that you work with to
find ways in which the rubric applies to your setting.
Shaena Brasz
Content Expertise: Elementary Education
Lisa Malley Dillman has been in education for 27 years. She began her
career with the Syracuse City School District. During the last 13 years,
she served The Shelby County School District in Memphis, Tennessee,
as a 5-8 grade teacher, Title 1 TCAP Coach, APEX manager, and Data
Analyst. She obtained a Master’s Degree in Education and a Master’s
Degree as an Educational Specialist in Administration from
Germantown, Tennessee.
Lisa Malley Dillman
Content Expertise: Elementary Education
Jacqueline Goettel-Strecansky has been supporting students and staff in the
Syracuse City School District for 33 years. Jacqueline is dually certified
in Elementary and Special Education. She has taught Self- Contained and
Special Education at the primary level and has taught Pre-K through
Third Grade during her tenure in the district.
Jacqueline GoettelStrecanskky
Diane Goodwin
She has been on the staff at Franklin, Dr. Weeks, Bellevue, Dr. King,
Blodgett, Pre-K and Webster. Jacquie has, also, been a Reading
Specialist, a Literacy Coach for Early Reading First, a Staff Development
Facilitator at the building level, and the Staff Development Facilitator for
the entire primary division of the SCSD. Throughout her career, Jacquie
has mentored new teachers and student teachers and provided
professional development at the local, state and national level with a
focus on literacy. She was the Summer Coordinator for the Say Yes
Summer School at Ed Smith and The Lead Teacher at HW Smith Say
Yes Summer School. Jacquie began her tenure as an Elementary Peer
Observer in January 2015. Jacquie trained this summer, with the New
Teacher Project, mastering Teach Like A Champion Strategies, to
become a Master Teacher with a SCSD. She holds a Bachelors and
Masters Degree from Syracuse University.
Content Expertise: Business/CTE
Diane Goodwin started her career as a business teacher in the Syracuse
City School District over 30 years ago. She earned her MS in Vocational
Technical Education (VTE) from SUNY College of Technology and her
BS in Business and Distributive Education from Syracuse University.
Diane has spent many years supporting teachers and students in SCSD
serving in many leadership positions. She enjoyed her position as the
Business Department Chair at Nottingham High School, working with new
teachers in the MTIP, developing and teaching in-service courses for
teachers, developing a business course for ESL students, serving on the
Nottingham Leadership Team, serving as NYS trustee for DECA, serving
as the Central NY DECA Region 9 Coordinator for all high schools,
developing and promoting DECA throughout the district.
Content Expertise: Physical Education and Health
Frederick S. Wheeler
Frederick S. Wheeler has worked for the Syracuse City School District for
22 years as a physical education teacher and coach. He was born and
raised in Syracuse, New York. He attended SCSD schools such as Ed
Smith, Levy and graduated from Nottingham H.S. Fred holds degrees
from St. Lawrence University, B.S. and Oswego MS Ed in Educational
Administration. Fred is a dedicated physical education teacher with
certifications in American Red Cross Life Guarding, Project Adventure
Level 2, Cross Fit and Scuba/Nitrox deep water scuba certifications. Last
year, Fred created a swimming program at Dr. King for 120 students in 4th
and 5th grade. He also is head of the project adventure ropes course
program at Meachem Field, which is now available to all SCSD students.
Fred has facilitated Saturday Academy & Spring/Summer of 100 hrs. of
professional development for physical education teachers. Fred is very
excited about the opportunity to work with fellow teachers to foster a
greater physical education program for all students in SCSD. Push
yourself to do more!
Content Expertise: Special Education
Mary AndersonBurns
Mary started her career in education in the Baldwinsville School District as
a teacher assistant at McNamara Elementary School. At that time she
decided to go back to school to pursue her degree in special education. She
received her bachelors from Syracuse University in 1987 and her masters
in 1995.
She worked for two years at Jowonio, an integrated pre-school program,
before joining the SCSD in 1990. Her first assignment in the SCSD was at
Dr. King Elementary School, where she taught in a self-contained
classroom for students that were labeled emotionally disturbed. From there
she went to Elmwood then to Frazer School, where she taught special
education students in various capacities in push in and pull out programs.
Throughout her years in the SCSD she has been involved in a variety of
programs. She is a Level 1 certified Wilson Reading instructor, a 15 year
member of S-BIT where she planned and implemented interventions for
students as well as an active member of the school service learning
initiatives.
For the last four years Mary has been a PAR consultant for the district
where she supervised, mentored, coached and evaluated new teachers. She
is certified in Danielson Assessment as well as the T&L rubric and trained
in Advanced Cognitive Coaching. She most recently was at the Johnson
EPIC program where she worked with special education students in an
alternative high school setting and hopes to continue to support these
students in service learning experiences that will positively impact students
in the Syracuse City School District.