| WGTA History from 2005 - 2010 | |||||
2005 - 2006 2005 -2006 Executive Officers Mike
Cost - WGTA President - Senior High High School art teacher Jennifer Schrader and her students were featured in a Post Standard article (October 13, 2005). According to the article, "they are creating a stained-glass window depicting symbols of the freedom that veterans fight for and the honor and respect they believe veterans should receive." The window they are constructing is 15 feet long by 7 feet high, and will be placed in the main lobby of the VA hospital. Dedication is set for November 9th. Pictures of the project are located in the High School Library and another story about the project will run in an upcoming issue of the New York Teacher magazine. A total of 173 teachers are contributing a total of $177.50 per pay period to VOTE / COPE via payroll deduction. Deductions will be taken over 20 pay periods. Onondaga road first grade teacher, Jennifer Scicchitano, was named educator of the Week by WSTM-TV Channel 3 on October 24. Split Rock Elementary School kindergarten teacher Elva Stebbins, CMS librarian Carolyn Trombly, and High School science teachers Sam Gervaise received the 2005 Joseph A. Witowski Teacher of the Year Awards. Kathy Annan received national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching standards. Kathy is a chemistry teacher at the High School. According to the Post-Standard, "she is one of only 107 teachers in New York State to receive the honor this year." Kathy joins two other West Genesee teachers, both at CMS, who have attained national certification. A retirement award tentative agreement was ratified by a vote of 260 to 11 during the January 5, 2006 balloting. The new agreement changes the January 2007 retirement incentive window to June 2006. The new agreement also changes the notification dates that teachers must give the district in order to be eligible for the award. To be eligible for the award, the new agreement also changes the notification date to February 1 in 2006 and March 1 in 2007. The District has agreed to allow June 2006 retirees to make health insurance adjustments during the annual enrollment period in September 2006. The WGTA dues from January 2005 to December 2005 were $529.52. A thank you note was received from Kate Flannery, the Executive Director of the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, for the WGTA donation of $897 raised during a recent Denim Day for Breast Cancer. The WGTA web site won the 2006 NYSUT - New York Teacher Journalism Competition. This is the third year in a row that the web site has won the award. According to Deb Ward, NYSUT Director of Publications, Web and Video, and Lance Howland, Editor of the New York Teacher, the judges panel noted a trend toward more entries, including an upsurge in retiree entries this year. This makes your award even more meritorious." Lynn Davis, CMS, is the Webmaster. See our web site awards - click here. Tom Clerkin, our retired NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist died unexpectedly in February. His impact on our association is immeasurable. For over twenty-five years he advised and represented the WGTA in its labor/management issues. On May 18, 2006, three WGTA members received an Onondaga County Teachers' Association / WGTA Service Award. These awards were presented for unselfish and dedicated service to the teachers of central New York. The 2006 WGTA recipients were: Marsha Tunison - for many years of service as the Building Leader at Camillus Middle School. Janice Pellegrino - for many years of service as a WGTA Building Preventative at Camillus Middle School and a member of the Superintendent's Liaison Committee. Chris Edinger - for 15 years of service as the Chairperson of the WGTA Scholarship Committee. The WGTA awarded a $2,000 scholarship to Miss Kim Petrick. Kim will be attending Houghton College and plans to major in History. On
June 13, 2006 the WGTA was notified that our web site won the 1st
Place Award in the American Federation of Teachers Communication
Network (AFTCN) annual journalism competition. This is the 7th year
that the web site has won the national title in the last 8 years
of competition. Lynn Davis, CMS, is the webmaster.
2006 - 2007 2006 -2007 Executive Officers Mike
Cost - WGTA President - Senior High Lisa Tamiso (CMS), Tammy Annicharico (CMS) and Sue Potrikus (CMS) were nominated to the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” Lynn Davis (CMS) was featured in the September 25th issue of the Advocate as the “Community Member of the Week.” Jim Vermeulen (CMS resource teacher, Coach and Post-Standard Contributing Writer) had his article, "In Pursuit of Average - Don't Underestimate the Value of Finishing 'In The Pack'" published in the October 29, 2006 issue of The Post Standard. Matt Bohla (WGMS Social Studies Teacher) was named the "Educator of the Week" by WSTM-TV Channel 3 for the week of September 25th. Marsha
Tunison (CMS - retired) was nominated to Who's Who In American
Education.
WGTA members doubled their Vote/Cope contributions from last year. Nancy Menges (East Hill), Sue Pray (WGMS) and Peggy Timmons (High School) were elected as the 2006 Joseph A Witowski Teacher of Year honorees by the Camillus Optimists. The 2006 yearly WGTA dues were $584.83. Donna Mahar (WGMS) achieved National Board Certification. The WGTA web site won a NYSUT First Award for Best Web site in Class III.This is the fourth year in a row that the web site has won a NYSUT First Award. Lynn Davis (CMS) is the webmaster. The WGTA donated $250 to the West Genesee Senior All Night After The Ball Party. The WGTA donated $250 to the St. Baldricks Foundation in support of President Cost's "give five to help kids survive cancer" challenge. President Cost and Vice President Fuller together raised about $4,800 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to raise awareness and funds to cure kid’s cancer by supporting cancer research and fellowships. 25 Year Club Inductees 30
Years 35
Years 40
Years The WGTA Spring Fling was held on Friday, June 1, 2007 at Gilfllian’s. The WGTA Cabinet voted to donate $50.00 to the Camillus Memorial Day Boosters to help support the Camillus Memorial Day festivities. The WGTA Denim Day for the American Heart Association raised $881.75. The WGTA Cabinet voted to increase the individual WGTA scholarships from $500 per year to $750 per year. Ellen
Miller (Stonehedge) was appointed as the Assistant Newsletter Editor.
Anne Sierotnik (High School) is one of five finalists for the NYS 2008 Teacher of the Year award. Anne is an English teacher and taught in the district for 16 years. The WGTA sponsored the Fall and the Spring Flings, paid for half of the district retirement party, and purchased umbrellas for all its members. The Sick Bank was activated on four separate occasions with teachers volunteering hundreds of days for their colleagues. The WGTA sponsored and organized a retirement informational meeting, a Denim Day for the Susan B. Komen Foundation (raising approximately $1,000), a Denim Day for the American Heart Association (raising approximately $900), and President Cost and Vice President Fuller shaved their heads for St. Baldrick’s and raised approximately $5,000. WGTA members contributed more than $15,000 for Vote/Cope, the WGTA Scholarship Fund and the United Way. The WGTA web site won a First Place Award for its class in a national competition sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers Communications Network. This is the 8th win in 9 years for the web site! Melissa Lynn DiBattista was selected as the 2007 WGTA Scholarship winner. Melissa will be attending St. Bonaventure University majoring in Early and Elementary Education. The WGTA scholarship is now $750 per year for four years. The new WGTA Teacher's Contract was ratified by a vote of 327 to 6. 2007 - 2008 2007 -2008 Executive Officers John
Christian - WGTA President - Senior High
Anne Sierotnik, a high school English teacher in West Genesee, was one of 5 finalists named by the New York State Education Department for NYS Teacher of the Year. Jim Hunter was recently named the Channel 3 Teacher of the Week. Jim is a technology teacher at Camillus Middle School. The WGTA held a Fall Fling at McNamara's. Tammy Annicharico (CMS) achieved
her National Board Certification. The WGTA sponsored a Christmas Holiday Happy Hour at McNamara's. East Hill Elementary School first grade teacher Susan Deegan, CMS guidance counselor Melissa Ahern, and High School foreign language teacher Jennifer Roethel received the 2007 Joseph A. Witowski Optimist Teacher of the Year Award. Mary Humphrey( librarian at Split Rock) just had her second book published. It’s called: Kids Yoga Book of Feelings. Jan Chemotti, librarian, and Susan Gibbons, 7W English teacher at WGMS, recently presented a workshop at the New York Middle School Conference in Saratoga Springs. The Conference theme was “Powerful Partnerships for Success.” The total amount of teacher union dues paid for the 2007 calendar year for a full time teacher was $618.58. The WGTA held a Spring Fling on May 8th at McNamara’s that combined a toy drive with the festivities. The 2007 Vote Cope drive raised an average of $11.33 per member. Marcia Ranieri (high school) raised more than $3,300 dollars through the St. Baldrick’s event. Marcia also received the YWCA’s Academy of Diversity Achievers Award. The WGTA website placed 2nd in the national AFT Journalism Contest. School science teacher Richard Chapman will receive an Outstanding Teacher Award from the Technology Alliance of Central New York. WGTA members donated $100 to the Camillus PBA; $100 to the West Genesee Sports Boosters in memory of high school teacher Kevin Kerswell; approximately $5,000 to VOTE/COPE, $3,000 to the WGTA scholarship fund ,$900 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and $805 for the American Heart Association Wendy Cross, West Genesee High School art teacher, won the inaugural JGB Jazz Fest Poster Contest. The following teachers were honored
for their many years of service to the district at a dinner at Gilfillan’s
West Hill Catering Club:
THERE IS A YOU IN WGTA
• Some of our colleagues showed talent and persistence through their accomplishments:
• Many of our colleagues gave their time and energy to worthy causes with amazing results, including:
• YOU will continue to work into
the summer, planning a record number of independent workshops through
the S.U. Teaching Center, as well as technology training, AIM training,
Rigby reading series training, curriculum mapping, and diversity
training. For all these and many other things that you do as a teacher for West Genesee, your union – the WGTA – is here for you. So yes, there IS a U in Union, and there is a YOU in WGTA. Without YOU, they’re just four letters; it’s the YOU in WGTA that makes us who we are – an Association of quality, dedicated professionals committed to creating lifelong learners who are well prepared for the challenges ahead. Thank YOU for all that you do. 2008 - 2009 Academic Year
2008-09: Where did it go? 2009 - 2010 Another Banner Year for the WGTA West Genesee teachers won the Scholastic Challenge Award for the Large School Division in this year's Corporate Challenge Run/Walk. In addition to a plaque, this also means a $1000 scholarship for one of our students! WGTA members attending the Fall Fling donated over 1,000 food items to the Holy Family Food Pantry. On December 10th active and retired West Genesee Teachers celebrated a Christmas Fling at McNamara's. Staff members donated money and over 1,000 canned goods for the food pantry at St. Cecillia's. Enhancements to the dental and health care plans
were negotiated. A new WGTA contract was ratified with a 98.1% approval rating. On September 1st WGTA volunteers staffed the NYSUT booth at the New York State Fair. The WGTA volunteers were Thersa Mosey, Kristen Czaplicki, Bonnie Young, Marcia and Pat Ranieri, Pat Andino, Margie Thiele, Lisa Tamiso and Julie Lodge. The West Genesee "Language Other Than English
(L.O.T.E.) Department" for receiving the James E. Allen Statewide
Award from the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers
on Nov. 14 at the LECNY-NYSAFLT Regional Conference. West Genesee High School science teacher Craig Dowler and West Genesee Middle School science teacher Rick Chapman for earning the Greater CNY Education Consortium's Philip Martin Award as an Educator of Excellence at the 17th Annual Professional Partnerships Conference at the OnCenter in Syracuse. Kudos West Genesee Middle School Physical Education Teacher Janine Corning for garnering the 2009 NYS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYSAHPERD) Central North Zone Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award. Andy Perry, band director at WGHS and instrumental
music teacher at CMS and WGHS, has been co-conducting The Central
Winds; a Music Educators’ Wind Ensemble for the last nine years.
The band, made up of music educators from Central New York, prepares
three to four concerts a year. The band was chosen to perform at
this year’s Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic held
in Chicago. Kudos to Sue Bingham, 6th grade math teacher at WGMS, who was just accepted to the basic Honeywell educators at space program. Congratulations to Andrew Perry, instrumental music
teacher at CMS and WGHS and director of the high school Wind Ensemble
since 1987, for being selected winner of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra
Outstanding Music Educator of the Year in Instrumental Music- Band. Kudos to WGTA webmaster and retired teacher Lynn Davis for garnering a First Place Award in a national competition sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers Communications Network. This is the 11th national win in 12 years for the website! And another well-deserved KUDOS to Davis for winning an Award of Merit in the NYSUT Journalism Competition sponsored by the New York State United Teachers. This is the sixth such award in seven years for the website! |
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