Superintendent of Schools Stephen Tomlinson hosted a recognition program for Broadalbin-Perth faculty and staff Thursday, June 22, announcing employees who achieved tenure, recognizing staff members celebrating
milestone years of service, honoring 11 retirees, and revealing the district’s four Outstanding Patriot of the Year award winners for the 2022-23 school year.
Each year, the district recognizes outstanding employees in four categories with the title of Outstanding Patriot of the Year. This year’s recipients include:
- Teacher/Administrator – Jon Aery, art teacher at B-P Elementary School
- Instructional Support Staff – Tom McGivern, teaching assistant at B-P Jr./Sr. High School
- Non-Instructional Support Staff – Amanda Sarullo, computer support specialist
- Community Member – Paula Tucker, literacy volunteer at B-P Elementary School
Aery teaches art to students in grades 3-6 at Broadalbin-Perth Elementary School and is part of the district’s Project Lead the Way team. Outside the classroom, Aery has led the set design team for elementary drama productions, films and edits videos of special events at BPES, and has been a steadfast supporter of the district’s Odyssey of the Mind program. His nomination reads, in part, “Jon has a wonderful ability to mesh creativity, art, technology, hard work, and generosity… Mr. Aery is always putting his best self forward.”
In addition to working as a teaching assistant, McGivern — who is affectionately known as “Coach Giz” — has been a fixture on the B-P football and track and field coaching staffs for more than 25 years. His nomination highlighted how “he would do absolutely anything for anyone without expecting anything in return” and how he makes people “feel loved” and “like family.”
A long-time member of the district’s instructional technology team, Sarullo recently led the district’s one-to-one device initiative that allows all students access to technology in the classroom. Her nomination read, in part, “She is a dedicated, loyal, hard-working person who is always there when you need her… She goes out of her way to help.”
“Grandma Tucker,” as she is known, has been a literacy volunteer first at The Learning Community and now at BPES for many years, helping children learn how to read. Most Mondays through Thursdays, she can be found at the elementary school working with students individually and in small groups on letter sounds, sight words, and reading comprehension. Her nomination read, in part: “She always arrives with a smile on her face ready to ‘turn on the brains’ (her words) of the children that she works with… She has such a positive influence on the children.”
Retirees who were recognized during the program include:
- Teaching Staff: Christine Kotraba, Mary Rasefske, Marlana Scott, and Rita Swatt
- Support Staff: Georgia Baldwin, Mary Chizek, and Narda Giaconia
- Custodial Staff: Kathy Kilmartin
- Transportation Staff: Russell Brush, Doris Kissinger, and Earlene Laven
The district also recognized those who had achieved milestone years of service:
- 30 years: Debra Korona
- 25 years: Tracy Dybas, Rebecca Gregory, Andrea Hamill, David Newvine, Kim Nichols, James Paquin, and Lori Reed
- 20 years: Tucker Gifford, Erin Loatman, Katie Murphy, Pamala Passino, Jim Pelneau, Jeffrey Richards, Charla Simonson, and Ginger Smith
Last but not least, five teachers were granted tenure: Matthew Battisti, Jennifer Cetnar, Sarah Cordts, Candice Gugliemelli, and Maria Zabinski.
The post B-P marks employee milestones, recognizes Outstanding Patriots of the Year appeared first on Broadalbin-Perth Central School District, Broadalbin, NY.