Who We Are
The National Board Council of New York (NBCNY) is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization and an affiliate network of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The work of the NBCNY is aligned with NBPTS and is guided by two strategic goals: Goal 1: Build Educator Effectiveness Across the Career Continuum. Goal 2: Promote a Vision of Accomplished Teaching that Elevates the Profession. The NBCNY collaborates with organizations to provide various professional learning offerings using NBPTS resources to strengthen instructional practice. Our trained facilitators also provided guidance in developing and strengthening NBC support programs. NBCNY strives to connect and support NBCTs as teacher leaders who provide a positive voice for P-20 education and improve student learning. Feel free to contact a Regional Lead near you for more information.
Our NBCNY Team
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Annette Romano, NBCT
Chair of NBCNY
Co-Regional Coordinator
Eastern Upstate
aromano@nbcny.org
Annette has been the Director of the NBCNY Network and Co-Regional Coordinator of the Eastern Upstate region. She collaborates to increase awareness about National Board Certification, provide candidate support, and promote NBC as part of the teacher-leader continuum. She recently retired from the Niskayuna CSD, where she has taught for over 30 years. Annette consultants as a professional learning and curriculum specialist. She became a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in 2001 and established NBCNY in 2007. She has expertise in National Board Certification, student learning standards, curriculum, teacher leadership, and teacher evaluation. In 2010, she received the Bertha Brimmer Medal from the University at Albany Alumni Association and in 2013, she receive an Excellence in Education Award from NYSUT. Annette has served as a member of the NYSED Professional Standards and Practices Broad, Provost Steering Committee on TeachNY Policy, NYSED Principal Preparation Project. She currently serves on the UAlbany Leadership Council and actively supports families affected by pediatric cancer.
Amanda Zullo, NBCT
Vice chair of NBCNY
zulloamanda@gmail.com
Amanda has been the Communications Coordinator of the NBCNY Network for the past several years. As she transitioned from a science teacher, to NYSED Associate to a Principal she continues to work to increase awareness about National Board Certification, provide candidate support, and promote NBC as part of the teacher-leader continuum. Amanda became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2012.
In the classroom for eleven years, Mrs. Zullo taught science and was Coordinator of the Adirondack Farm to School initiative at Saranac Lake High School. A strong advocate for practical, hands-on, student-centered learning, Amanda remains involved in the Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) activity development/professional learning workshops and also has a strong focus on (scope/sequence, pedagogical shifts and curriculum development) related to the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards. Amanda is the Vice-President of New York State ASCD working across the state and National Level with curriculum, instruction and school improvement.
Amanda has been honored with numerous grants along with the 2020 Clarkson Woodstock Award, the 2018 Mayfield Wall of Dedication, the 2016 Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award, the 2016 ASCD Emerging Leader, and the 2015 Presidential Award of Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.
Jessica Kruse-Cerutti
Regional Coordinator
New York City
jeskruse10@gmail.com
Jes Kruse-Cerutti is a Nationally Board Certificated teacher in English as a New Language for adolescents. She currently is a teacher in New York City. Having spent ten of those years in a high needs high school. Jes worked with high school ELLs to produce and publish two short story books that sell on Amazon.com. Also, an adjunct professor at the College of Mount St Vincent and teaches courses in the graduate TESOL department. Jes is currently facilitating the virtual Refugee Educators course for NY state through the Carey Center for Global Good. In past years, she has facilitated several professional development classes and lectures around the country working with Expeditionary Learning Schools network. The sessions were given in order to assist content teachers with strategies to support ELLs in their classrooms and to make the learning accessible and meaningful to all English Language Learners. Jes currently is an elementary school ENL coordinator in Brooklyn. She was the recipient of The R. Gaynor McCown Excellence in Teaching Award in New York City in 2013.
Stefanie Rice
Regional Coordinator
Mid-Hudson Region
srice@acsdny.org
Stefanie Rice is a National Board Certified Teacher in Career and Technical Education. She has been a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher since 1994 and currently teaches Early Childhood Education classes and a class in Sports and Nutrition. Stefanie has been the coordinator for the Family and Consumer Sciences department since 2004 at Arlington High School in New York State. Stefanie is active in the New York State Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Educators - Hudson Valley Northeast chapter. She was voted Teacher of the Year by the Association in 2004. Since earning her National Board certification in 2006, Stefanie has become active in helping others reflect on their teaching practices to become National Board Certified. Since 2009, Stefanie (with Colleen) has been a candidate support provider and has attended multiple National Board and Teaching and Learning conferences. Stefanie, with Colleen, presented at the Teaching and Learning conference in 2015.
Sarah Duke
Co-Regional Coordinator
Long Island Region
sarahcarlyduke@gmail.com
Sarah Duke has been teaching in New York since 1997, was certified in Orff-Schulwerk Levels 1-3 in 2004, and achieved National Board Certification in Music Early/Middle Childhood in 2011. She currently teaches elementary general and choral music to students in kindergarten through sixth grade at Shelter Rock Elementary School in Manhasset. She facilitates cohorts for teachers seeking National Board Certification in Great Neck and Manhasset. Sarah has presented at National Board Writing Institutes on Long Island, delivered professional development based on the National Board Body of Knowledge in both the Hudson Valley Region and on Long Island, and participated in teams that trained NBCTs to become Professional Learning Facilitators in Buffalo and on Long Island. She also serves on the Policy Board of Manhasset’s Teacher Resource Center, working with colleagues throughout the community to provide engaging, meaningful, and authentic professional development to district staff.
Laura Havill, NBCT
Co-Regional Coordinator
Southern Tier Region
lhavill@tstboces.org
Laura was born and raised in upstate NY near Keuka Lake. As she finished her BA in Deaf Studies from the University of Rochester, she realized she wanted to teach and pursued alternative certification in Texas' Rio Grande Valley. In 1998, she came home to NY and was hired by the Turning Point Program of Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES as a special education teacher for middle school students whose emotional and behavioral difficulties made being in a less restrictive placement challenging. She transitioned to an elementary position in the same program and then to TST's first Instructional Coach position. Across her career, Laura strives to foster a culture of collaboration and support as a teacher leader and as Teachers Association President. She has facilitated the early district approach to APPR mandates through a “Don’t Panic” handbook and recently through the creation of a pilot program to guide APPR revisions. In 2011, she joined the NBC ranks as an Exceptional Needs Specialist. Laura is passionate about ensuring that teacher voices are heard in district, regional and state-wide discussions.
John O'Gorman, NBCT
Treasurer
Greater Rochester Region
jogorman55@gmail.com
John O’Gorman achieved National Board Certification in Early Adolescence Mathematics in 2006 and renewed his certification in 2016. He recently retired after 35 years of teaching high school/middle school mathematics and mentoring new teachers in the Fairport Central School District. John is a former Fulbright Teaching Scholar, participating in a full year Fulbright Teacher Exchange teaching mathematics at Collegiate High School in Blackpool, England. In 2005, John received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Nazareth College. Since achieving his National Board Certification, John has actively supported teachers in their pursuit of the profession’s gold standard for accomplished teaching. John has attended the NEA Jump Start Academy, the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Candidate Support Provider Training, the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Conference and the Summer Academy. He currently co-facilitates the Nazareth College National Board Certification cohort. John is currently an adjunct professor and a College Based Teacher Educator in the School of Education at Nazareth College and is a founding Advisory Council and Board Member of NBCNY.
Kristine Eberhart, NBCT
Co-Regional Coordinator
Long Island Region
kristineeberhart@gmail.com
Kristine Eberhart achieved National Board Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist in 2013. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from SUNY Potsdam in 2000. In addition, she has a master's degree in Special Education and Educational Technology and a certification in Teaching Inclusion Classrooms. Kristine has been a teacher in her hometown of East Hampton for 23 years, teaching at the kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd-grade levels. She currently teaches 2nd grade at John M. Marshall Elementary School in East Hampton. Kristine actively participates in her community and supports teaching children about the rich history within it. Kristine is passionate about National Board and the high professional development it provides teachers. She supports teachers through facilitating cohort groups and Jump Start academies in collaboration with Peconic Teacher Center as well as planning and presenting Long Island writing institutes with Sarah Duke and NYSUT. Kristine has also aided in planning the NBCNY Summit.
Maria Fenton, NBCT
Co-Regional Coordinator
Southern Tier
mariafenton55@gmail.com
Maria achieved National Board Certification in World Languages, and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Spanish. She brings over 20 years of teaching and mentoring experience to the NBCNY team. Born and raised in Europe, Maria is a graduate of Paris-Sorbonne University and speaks five languages fluently. In the States, she received education degrees from Wells College and SUNY Cortland. She is the Co-Regional Coordinator of Eastern Upstate. Maria facilitates National Board Certification Candidate Cohorts and works diligently with Candidate Support Providers in the Region. She is passionate about National Board Certification, knowing that it is the highest mark of professional accomplishment for educators; and that its process is such a continuous journey of leadership, learning and collaboration which brings amazing impact on student achievement! As she works with hundreds of colleagues, Maria is deeply inspired by their dedication to their students, and their commitment to excellence!
Caron LindstromNBCT
Regional Coordinator
Greater Rochester Region
caron.lindstrom@gmail.com
Caron Lindstrom is a Professional Learning Facilitator for National Board Certification and co-facilitates a National Board Certification cohort. Caron achieved National Board Certification in Adolescent/Young Adult Social Studies in 2007 and renewed her certification in 2016. She received her bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations from LeMoyne College in 1998 and a Master’s degree in Teaching Secondary Social Studies from Trinity University in 2003. Caron taught in Prince George’s County, Maryland for the first five years of her career. She has been teaching at Rush-Henrietta Senior High School since 2007. She currently serves on NYSED Commissioner Rosa’s Teacher Advisory Council.
Lori Mancuso
Regional Coordinator
Far West Region
lmancuso@wscschools.org
Lori has been a social studies teacher at West Seneca West Middle School for 18 years in the West Seneca Central School District. She is currently teaching 7th grade American History. Lori achieved Board Certification in 2013 in Early Adolescence Social Studies. She earned her BA at SUNY Fredonia in Political Science and Social Studies Education, with a minor in history. While at SUNY Fredonia she was employed for 4 years by the TRIO Program (Upward Bound) as an instructor and mentorship coordinator. As a TRIO employee, she co-presented at National Conferences and Lobbied Congress on issues in education. Lori earned her MS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Buffalo State College, where she explored methods of teaching social studies in an interdisciplinary and differentiated way. While at West Seneca, she studied Differentiated Instruction under Carol Ann Tomlinson and Carolyn Chapman. She was hired by the district to share this knowledge with newly hired teachers at the district New Teacher Academy. Lori has also served as a past chair of her building’s SDMT Committee, a representative to the district’s Character Council, the District Curriculum Cabinet, and the District Staff Development Panel.
Regina Anderson achieved National Board Certification in Literacy:Reading-Language Arts in 2013. She brings over 27 years of teaching and instructional coaching experience to the NBCNY team. She currently teaches reading for grades 3-5 and provides district professional development and coaching K-12 at Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School in Cobleskill, NY. Born and raised in Upstate New York. She received her Elementary, Special Education and Literacy degrees from The College of Saint Rose and Sage Colleges. Regina facilitates cohort groups, writing institutes, Jump Start academies and teachers seeking National Board certification. Regina is passionate about ensuring that teachers are supported through coaching, reflection and collaboration.
Regional Coordinators:
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Serve on a voluntary basis.
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Share resources about NBC with various stakeholders.
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Provide expertise about the NBC process to interested organizations.
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Connect candidates with cohorts led by trained facilitators.
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Collaborate to strengthen NBC programs.
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Share NBPTS resources P-20 and across the career continuum.
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Capitalize on the expertise of NBCTs.
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Organize regional events-awareness, writing institutes, NBCT Summits, and celebrations/recognition events.