NYS TESOL Member of the Month

In celebration of all that you do, NYS TESOL launched the Member of the Month program at the 2014 Annual Conference to honor and recognize the volunteer service of our members. The many diverse and valuable contributions above and beyond ones daily job support our colleagues and our students and their families.

  • Do you know a super teacher who spends hours of after school time supporting his/ her students with classwork, extra-curricular activities or college and scholarship applications?
  • Is there someone in your network who is always available as the go-to person for anyone who has questions about ELLs or TESOL?

  • Do you have a colleague who volunteers regularly to serve on committees in support of our educator colleagues or our ELL students?

  • Eligibility: Nominee is a current NYS TESOL Member.

  • Selection Criteria: Nominee demonstrates a commitment to the field.

  • Rewards: In addition to 12 months of recognition on our website, each year the 12 Members of the Month will be entered into a Raffle for a complimentary registration to the NYS TESOL Annual Conference.

  • Process: Click the link above and tell us about your nominee's contributions to the field and/or our community of educators and students.  The NYS TESOL membership committee will review the entries and select the monthly winner!


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Meet Our NYS TESOL Member of the Month for February 2024!












Joy Scantlebury 



 

"English language learners arrive with a wealth of experience!"

I strive to integrate their language and prior knowledge into my lessons to create a positive educational environment through music, storytelling, and games.

I have always been interested in different cultures and second language acquisition, having gone to Sao Paulo, Brazil as a student ambassador while a junior in high school. As an undergraduate
student at Smith College with a minor in Spanish, I also traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica, where I
volunteered at a day care center. In Brazil, I acquired a working knowledge of Portuguese, and
in Costa Rica, Spanish.  

"I realized the importance of living the language, which has subsequently helped me to understand some of the challenges my students face in learning English."

After graduating from Smith College, I earned my MA in TESOL from Teachers College,
Columbia University and an MS in Education from SUNY New Paltz.

I have taught ENL at Pocantico Hills School in Sleepy Hollow, NY for sixteen years, where I have served on the diversity and global dimensions committees. I am also a board member of the Westchester Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute for Nonviolence, and a member of the Westchester Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.

Along with my colleague, Marina Lombardo, I wrote the article, Tapping Into English Language
Learners’ Superpowers Through Creative Storytelling. This chapter is featured in the NYS
TESOL e-book, Supporting Student Success Through Community Asset Mapping, edited by
Nicole Bell, Jasmin Cowin, and former NYS TESOL president, Ching-Ching Lin. I also
contributed the story, Bajan Memories: Always in My Heart, to the collection Growing Up in an
Immigrant Household and Community, edited by Vicky Giouroukakis of Molloy University.
In my free time, I enjoy playing the piano, reading, and writing.

NYS TESOL is a wonderful community of dedicated educators, and it has been an important part
of my life since I started my career as an ENL teacher. I am truly honored to be recognized as
NYS TESOL Member of the Month.

 


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Meet Our NYS TESOL Member of the Month for January 2024!

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"I am excited to build connections not only with my students, but their families as well so they feel empowered with a voice in their education." 

I am an ENL teacher at Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES in Upstate NY.  Prior to teaching, I ran a daycare and was a foster parent. After adopting my daughter, who requires specialized instruction, I discovered how difficult it was to advocate for a child's needs in the school system. I am inspired by those who stepped up to help when I was lost and hope to be that same light for others.  

My desire is to make a difference in the lives of those I encounter by meeting them where they are and honoring who they are.

Working collaboratively with families and fellow teachers, creating lifelong connections, and providing students and their families with the support they need is essential to the growth of our community. 

I am excited to build connections not only with my students, but their families as well so they feel empowered with a voice in their education. I enjoy attending a variety of professional development opportunities, working with classroom teachers to make learning accessible for my students, and investigating opportunities for them within their community.  

It is a blessing to have such wonderful individuals in my life. Their presence makes all the difference. I am humbled to be recognized as the NYS TESOL Member of the Month.  

Melissa Ridley


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Celebrating Our Past Members of the Month 

December 2023

Maria Nicolaus 

NYC Region

November 2023

Kelly Aldinger

Western Region

October 2023

Sabine Murphy

Western Region

September 2023

Lisa Morales

NYC Region

August 2023

Janie Thomas 

NYC Region

July 2023
Jaileen Vargas
Long Island Region


June 2023
Jennifer Raponi
MidWest RBERN


May 2023
Rosemary Rutigliano
New York City Region


April 2023
Tracie Fishman
Western New York Region

March 2023
Sucheta Baichwal
Hudson Valley Region

February 2023
Griselda D’Vicente
New York City Region

January 2023
Benita Afonso
Hudson Valley

December 2022
Sharon Anderson
New York City region

November 2022
Sarah Carey
Buffalo/Rochester region

October 2022
Lisa Friscia
New York City Region

September 2022
Hilary Loyd
Binghamton/Syracuse Region


August 2022

Amany Alkhayat
New York CityRegion

July 2022
Dori Brown
Hudson Valley Region

  June 2022

Collette Farone-Goodwin

Binghamton/
Syracuse Region


May 2022
Andrea Diaz
New York City Region

April 2022
Leslie Tomanovich
Buffalo/ Rochester Region

March 2022
Veronica Cedillo-Tenaglia
Hudson Valley Region

February 2022
Sarah Cioffi
Capital Region

January 2022
Mona Narcisse
Long Island Region

December 2021
Jian Liu
New York City Region

November 2021
Yuna Seong
New York City Region

October 2021
Amy Tormey
Binghamton/ Syracuse Region

September 2021
Sara LeBlanc
Hudson Valley Region

August 2021
Armando Rodriquez
Long Island Region

July 2021
Lubie Alatriste
New York City Region

June 2021
Yu Jung Han
Buff/ Roch Region

May 2021
Dr. Olga De Jesus
New York City Region

April 2021
 Katie Leite
Buff/Roch Region

March 2021
Marcia Soares
Capital Region

February 2021
Tamara Kirson
New York City Region

January 2021
Laura Dohner
Binghamton/ Syracuse Region

December 2020
Yana Shifrina-Piljovin
Long Island Region

November 2020
Jessica Weiss
Long Island Region

October 2020
Erica Flores
Long Island Region

September 2020
Nicole Bell
Buff/Roch Region

August 2020
Robyn Vaccara
New York City Region

July 2020
Frederic Lim
New York City Region

June 2020
Lizette Roman
Long Island Region

May 2020
Carrie Martin
Binghamton/ Syracuse Region

April 2020
Jamie Scripps
Buff/Roch Region

March 2020
Fatma Ghailan
New York City Region

February 2020
Ana Anglada
New York City Region

January 2020
Brigitte Pittarelli
Rochester/Syracuse Region

December 2019
Elke Stappert
New York City Region

November 2019
Dr. Ann Wintergerst
New York City Region

October 2019
Tanya Rosado-Barringer
Rochester/Syracuse  Region

September 2019
Charles Lauth
Rochester/Syracuse  Region

August 2019
Kimberly Wilder
Long Island Region

July 2019
Abby Porter Mack
NYC Region

June 2019
Dr. Joshua Pangborn
NYC Region

May 2019
Özge Yol 
Rochester/Syracuse Region

April 2019
Suzanne 
Kaplan-Fonseca NYC Region

March 2019
Maria Hartmann
Long Island Region

February 2019
Carmen Diaz
Capital Region

January 2019
Yvonne Pratt-Johnson
NYC Region

December 2018
Tilla Alexander
NYC Region

November 2018
George Morris
NYC Region

October 2018
Karoline Kaon
NYC Region

September 2018
Susanne Marcus
Long Island Region

August 2018
Faith Tripp
Long Island Region

July 2018
Kara Muldoon
Rochester/Syracuse Region

June 2018
Tristan Thorne
NYC Region

May 2018
Iraida A. Bodre
NYC Region

April 2018
Dr. Lucia Buttaro
NYC Region

March 2018
Meredith Van Schuyler
Long Island Region

February 2018
Dr. Seonhee Cho
NYC Region

January 2018
Ali Safivand
Rochester/Syracuse Region

December 2017
Derek Baylor
NYC Region

November 2017
Deborah O'Brien-Smith
Long Island Region

October 2017
Aiko Pletch
Hudson Valley Region

September 2017
O'Mayra C. Cruz, Ed.D
NYC Region

August 2017
(Cho Hang) Jessica Lei
NYC Region

July 2017
Timea Kernacova Braun
NYC Region

June 2017
Kimberly Kim
NYC Region

May 2017
Wen (Elyssa) Sun
NYC Region

April 2017
Shannon Spollen
Long Island Region

March 2017
Kathleen McCann Klaiber
Rochester/Syracuse Region

February 2017
Lisa Rost Lewis
Hudson Valley Region

January 2017
Anna Ciriana Dean
NYC Region

December 2016
Ebru Altay Damkaci
Rochester/Syracuse Region

November 2016
Denise Gonez Santos
Buffalo Region

October 2016
Camille Embus Perez
NYC Region

September 2016
Michelle Maturen
NYC Region

August 2016
Elena Dokshansky
Buffalo Region

July 2016
Pam Knittel
Hudson Valley Region

June 2016
Catherine Box
NYC Region

May 2016
John Balbi
NYC Region

April 2016
Linda Pelc
NYC Region

March 2016
Christina Dawson
Buffalo Region

February 2016
Courtney Turcer
Rochester/Syracuse Region

January 2016
Gretchen Oliver
Capital Region

December 2015
Jessica Marchi
Hudson Valley Region

November 2015
Michael Witt
NYC Region

November 2015
Joye Dawkins
NYC Region

October 2015
Matty Espino
NYC Region

September 2015
Daniel Heckmyer
Buffalo Region

Summer 2015
Lissa Varas
Long Island Region

May 2015
Marjorie Stanton
Rochester/Syracuse Region

April 2015
Scott Freiberger
NYC Region

March 2015
Alison Stritzi
Long Island Region

February 2015
Katya Kats
Capital Region

January 2015
Christine Pearsall
Long Island Region