Our Empire State Excellence Award Teachers and NYS Master Teachers

Ogdensburg City School District is proud to have several Empire State Excellence Award winners and NYS Master Teachers as part of our Ogdensburg Free Academy faculty. The Empire State Excellence Award for Teachers was a program established in 2016 by former Governor Andrew Cuomo to honor and financially support outstanding educators throughout New York State. The award recognizes teachers who excel at:

Inspiring Creativity: Fostering a love of learning and encouraging creative thinking in their students.

Promoting Achievement: Motivating students to set and reach ambitious academic goals.

Encouraging Inquiry: Cultivating critical thinking skills and student-led initiatives.

Commitment to Growth: Actively pursuing ongoing professional development.

Recipients of the award receive a stipend of $5,000 to be used for their continued learning and professional development. They are also given the opportunity to directly advise education policymakers, sharing their insights and expertise. The program is managed by a selection panel of leaders from various professional education associations in New York.

View OCSD’s Empire State Excellence Award winners.

The New York State Master Teacher Program recognizes exceptional K-12 STEM (and more recently CTE and counselor) educators who demonstrate strong content expertise, pedagogical skill, and a deep understanding of their students, families, and communities. Honorees join a statewide professional network in which they commit to four years of leadership and growth: they receive an annual stipend (e.g., $15,000 per year) and engage in intensive professional development, mentor early-career educators, attend regular cohort meetings, and lead sessions and share best practices with peers.

Being honored as a Master Teacher means being acknowledged by the state as a leader in STEM education, entrusted not only with excellence in one’s own classroom but also with contributing to the development of other educators and the broader STEM community. It reflects both a commitment to continuous learning and to elevating education for all students — serving as mentor, innovator, and collaborator.

View OCSD’s NYS Master Teachers.

“I am extremely proud of our district teachers. This is an amazing achievement and it demonstrates their drive and commitment to the profession, as well as to the OFA students and the entire Ogdensburg Community,”

– Ogdensburg City School Superintendent Kevin Kendall

Empire State Excellence Award Winners

Dianne Drayse-Alonso, 7-12 Art Teacher

Drayse-Alonso, the advisor for the high school Art and Gallery Club and the Art Department Chairperson, has a classroom designed to support a wide range of artistic activities. The space includes a large main area for general classes, a mini-Mac lab, dedicated zones for still-life painting and printmaking, and plenty of storage. Additionally, it features moving display walls and an adjacent small studio for students in the Independent Study program.

“I think this award honors the teaching profession as a whole by acknowledging our commitment to lifelong learning, a practice that we strive to model for our students. ‘Be curious!’ is essentially what I teach students on a daily basis through the visual arts. The grant money provided a professional growth opportunity that I would never have had otherwise – traveling to Japan to study woodblock printmaking. I am a better artist and teacher because of this amazing cultural experience,” Ms. Drayse-Alonso says.

Bridgette Havens, 7/8 English Teacher

“It is an honor to be receiving the Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award. After close to twenty years of teaching, this achievement exemplifies my commitment and passion for education,” says Ms. Havens. “As an educator, my day-to-day interactions with students and involvement in my community both serve as an example of what can be achieved when you dedicate yourself to your work. This award will allow me the opportunity to further pursue professional growth opportunities and bring that learning back to my students. It is exciting to consider where this opportunity can and will take me.”

Kylie Pinkerton, 7-12 Spanish Teacher

Pinkerton says it was an honor to receive the Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award and be recognized for her work and dedication. “However, more exciting is what the generous stipend that comes with the award will allow me to provide for my students! An assortment of flexible seating options in my deskless classroom, several World Language professional development opportunities in second language acquisition, and a variety of materials and resources to create engaging lessons and foster multicultural awareness are at the top of the list,” said Pinkerton.

Christina Frank

Christina Frank, formerly a Spanish teacher at Ogdensburg Free Academy and UPK-2 Principal at Kennedy Elementary School and now the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment is also a recipient of the Empire State Excellence Award.

New York State Master Teachers

Ruth Ann Barkley

Ruth Ann Barkley currently teaches Middle School General Science, Middle School Accelerated Science (Living Environment), and Grade 8 Technology at Ogdensburg Free Academy Middle School. She also serves as the middle school Integrated Mathematics and Physics for Entry To Undergraduate STEM (IMPETUS) coach through Clarkson University, the Positivity Project teacher leader for Ogdensburg Free Academy, the Ogdensburg Key Club faculty advisor, and a building representative for the Ogdensburg Education Association. In addition, she is an active member of the Morristown Central School PTO and serves on the Morristown Central School Board.

Her past roles in the Ogdensburg school district include technology teacher leader and instructional teacher leader. Mrs. Barkley looks forward to collaborating with other NYS Master Teachers and enjoys sharing ideas and resources with fellow educators.

Lisa Beldock

For the past 20 years, Lisa Beldock has taught Life Science and Living Environment at Ogdensburg Free Academy, where she shares her enthusiasm for learning with her students. She is a member of the Science Teachers Association of New York State and the National Science Teaching Association, and she has served as an advisor for a Clarkson University “Integrated Math and Physics for Entry to Undergraduate STEM” (IMPETUS) team for 10 years.

Ms. Beldock is passionate about incorporating virtual reality technology into her classroom and is developing a new zoology course designed to make science engaging and fun through citizen science activities, real-world problem solving, and STEM career exploration. Dedicated to building strong relationships, she is a certified Check and Connect Mentor Teacher, has completed mindfulness training, and participates in the Positivity Project.

As a NYS Master Teacher, Ms. Beldock looks forward to learning from and sharing ideas with fellow professionals in her field.

Amber Henry

Master Teacher Emeritus

Amber Henry has been teaching at Ogdensburg Free Academy for 20 years, during which she has taught Regents Earth Science, Applied Earth Science, and Environmental Studies.

Ms. Henry serves as the Earth Club Advisor, coaches both the Science Olympiad and Myth Olympics teams, and regularly chaperones sporting events and dances. She is also the Head of the Science Department, a mentor teacher and a member of the National Honor Society and Academic Banquet Committees. Her professional experiences include collaborating with a local scientist through the National Science Foundation, presenting at the Science Teachers Association of New York State, and securing grants to fund educational field trips.

Juliette Ross

Master Teacher Emeritus

Juliette Ross has been teaching a variety of mathematics courses for the past 26 years. Currently, Mrs. Ross teaches Algebra 2, Math Lab for Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, and Advanced Placement Calculus AB at Ogdensburg Free Academy.

Her professional interests include exploring innovative and effective ways to integrate technology into the classroom. Mrs. Ross teaches two distance learning courses and serves as an adjunct instructor for Paul Smith’s College, enabling her students to earn dual-enrollment college credit in her upper-level mathematics courses.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is the Mathematics Department Head, serves on the scholarship committee, supervises athletic events, and has worked as a facilitator and planner for various math conferences through BOCES. As a NYS Master Teacher, Mrs. Ross looks forward to collaborating with colleagues who share her passion for enriching mathematics education and expanding her knowledge across all STEM disciplines.

Matthew Shaver

Master Teacher Emeritus

Matt Shaver has been teaching at Ogdensburg Free Academy for 17 years, during which he has taught Regents Chemistry, Regents Biology, Applied Chemistry, Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry, AP Biology, Robotics, and Underwater Robotics.

Actively involved in the school community, Mr. Shaver coaches JV Football, Girls Lacrosse, and the Robotics team, and previously coached the Odyssey of the Mind team. His FIRST Robotics team, in partnership with Clarkson University, qualified for the FIRST World Robotics Championship. Recently, he participated in a National Science Foundation project in Monterey, California, focused on Underwater Robotics.

As a NYS Master Teacher, Mr. Shaver looks forward to expanding his knowledge of STEM activities and bringing new ideas into his classroom, as well as sharing his professional experiences with fellow Master Teachers.

Christy Smith

Master Teacher Emeritus

Christy Smith has been at Ogdensburg Free Academy (OFA) for several years, where she teaches Physics and Earth Science. At OFA, serves on the Scholarship Committee, and operates the planetarium for her Astronomy class.

As part of a National Science Foundation project, Mrs. Smith collaborated with a local company to collect data using a digital hand prototype designed to help doctors detect nervous system disorders at an early stage. While working toward her Earth Science certification, she developed a strong interest in geology and now studies rocks and strata to deepen her understanding of Earth’s history.

As a NYS Master Teacher, Mrs. Smith looks forward to collaborating with fellow Master Teachers to continue growing as both a scientist and an educator. As John Cotton Dana once said, “Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.”