Schenectady, N.Y. (Dec. 18, 1998) – Patrick Allen, director of educational studies and associate professor of English at Union College, has been appointed to the New York State Education Department's State Professional Standards and Practices Board. New York State Education Commissioner Richard Mills announced the appointments to the 28-member board earlier this month.
The Standards Board, the successor to the former Teacher Education, Certification and Practices Board, will provide consultation and advisory services to the Regents and Commissioner on issues related to teacher education, certification and practice, as well as other duties as yet to be defined.
Mr. Allen has served as professor and director of the College's Educational Studies program and Teaching and Learning Center since 1992. He created and supervises the College's Cultural/Teaching Exchange program with Barbados, which enrolls teachers from Barbados in Union's Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program and enables Union undergraduates to teach in Barbados.
Additionally, Mr. Allen works with Schenectady County K-12 schools to design professional development programs for veteran teachers. He is active in the County's School-to-Work Development Committee, has served as a consultant for the State Department of Labor, and has been a reader for Educational Testing Services (ETS). Twice honored as Teacher of the Year at Shenedehowa High School, Mr. Allen also received the English Educator of Excellence Award from the National Council of Teachers of English. He is a member of the New York Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (NYACTE) and numerous other state and national professional educational organizations.
Other Board members appointed include:
Selina Ahoklul, math teacher, High School for Science and Technology, Brooklyn, New York; Janet Ahola, vice president, New York Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc., Albany, Stephen Bero, teacher, Liverpool High School, Liverpool, New York; Linda Blemer, dean of the School of Education and Human Development, SUNY Binghamton, Binghamton, New York; Mary Bryski, student, Russell Sage College, Troy, New York; Mary Cannie, superintendent, Uniondale Union Free School District, Uniondale, New York; David Caputo, president, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York; Ernest Clayton, president, United Parents Associations of New York City, New York; Gary DeBoltb, director, School of Education, SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, New York.
Vivian Demers-Jagoda, teacher, Orchard Park Middle School, Orchard Park, New York; Theresa DiPasquale, teacher, Riverside Academy, Buffalo, New York; Anne Mitchell, president, Early Childhood Policy Research, Climax, New York; Eva Mroczka, teacher, Board of Cooperative Educational Services, West Seneca, New York; Maria Neira, assistant to the president, United Federation of Teachers, New York, New York; Lucretia Pannozzo, teacher, John Jay Middle School, Katonah, New York; Marilyn O'Connor Pirkie, superintendent, Westmorland Central Schools, Westmorland, New York; Luis Ramirez, staff developer, Community Elementary School 64, Bronx, New York; Evelyn Rich, president, Rich Solutions, New York, New York; Jean Rose, teacher, Scotia-Glenville Central Schools, Scotia, New York; Carolyn Shipley, area 2 director, New York State School Boards Association, Albany; Patricia Squicciarini, teacher, West Babylon Union Free School District, West Babylon, New York; Yvonne Nona-Weekes, regional director, Bank Street College of Education.