Author: Janelle Davis
1. What is your education background and current role? I went to UNC Charlotte to obtain my Bachelor of Arts in Education with a Minor in English and Communications. I then attended Le Moyne College to get my Masters in Special Education in 2002 and Certificate of Advanced Study in 2009. I spent 12 years working in the Syracuse City School District where I taught every level in K-8, reading, and was also an instructional coach. I came to Baldwinsville in 2011 as an Assistant Principal and took over Reynolds Elementary School as Principal since 2015. This is my sixth…
1. What is your education background and where are you teaching now? I earned my undergrad at The College at Brockport in 2010. My certification is in Inclusive Childhood Education (elementary and special education). I currently teach sixth grade English Language Arts, AIS and AVID Elective at Lincoln Middle School. 2. Can you tell us a little about AVID? AVID is an acronym for Advancement Via Individual Determination. This is one of the district initiatives in the Syracuse City School District in our Henninger quadrant (the north side schools). The AVID Elective is an elective class that introduces information about…
1. What is your education background and where are you currently? I’ve been a member of the Liverpool community my entire life. I graduated from Liverpool High School in 1998 and taught in the district for 10 years before becoming the principal at Morgan Road Elementary School in 2012. Since taking this position, my focus has been on developing a climate and culture our community will be proud of while also being the best father I can be to my three daughters. 2. How is the school year different now from September 2020? When we started the school year in…
1. What is your teaching background and what do you currently teach? I have been a special education teacher since 2007. I currently teach in a fourth-grade inclusive co-taught classroom in the Baldwinsville Central School District. I currently have students that are in person each day, students that are attending school through a hybrid model and students that are fully remote. I feel very fortunate to teach in the same elementary school where my three children attend because I get sneak peeks at them thriving in their classrooms. In addition to teaching, I maintain a website, NicolesLearningLab.com, for special education teachers, run a…
1. What is your background and what do you teach? I went to Auburn Community College in Cayuga. I work at Cicero-North Syracuse High School as a teaching assistant to students with special needs. I also coach the varsity football team and field hockey. Other sports I have coached are track, lacrosse and basketball. I have worked with some of the top athletes in the country. I have worked with Special Olympics, done some motivational speaking and have written an autobiography. 2. You were recently been selected as the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by the National Society of High…
1. What is your background and what do you teach? I received my bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo and continued on to Syracuse University to obtain my master’s. I am certified in special education. I taught mostly younger kids in the Syracuse City School District for 14 years. When I had my daughter, I took some time off from teaching. I decided to go back when she entered kindergarten. I saw that the West Genesee School District was hiring. I was hired and immediately felt like a part of the family. I teach ELA and math in a fifteen to…
1. What is your background and how did you come to teach technology at C.W. Baker High School? I was actually a civil engineer for O’Brien & Gere for 10 years. While I was working there, my wife and I had three kids, twin boys and a daughter. We later had another son. I was traveling a lot with my job and wanted to be home more, so we investigated other career options. I asked around and spoke to some people who suggested being a math or science teacher. I decided to go to Le Moyne College to gain my…
1. Tell me about your background and how you came to be a physical education teacher? I knew I wanted to be a teacher at a young age, and PE was the best fit for my personality. I like to be outside, be active and have fun with my students. Like most PE teachers, I was involved in sports for most of my life, but it was more about the friendships I made and the lessons I learned about hard work, perseverance, successes and failures that led me in the direction towards teaching and coaching. I graduated from Gettysburg College…