Distinguished Educator Awards

Information

The WNYNET Distinguished Educator Awards recognize English teachers and administrators in the Buffalo-Niagara region who have shown a commitment to the young people of our region through the meaningful teaching of English Language Arts in grades 7-12.

- The New and Early Career English Teacher Award is given to an educator that has taught 7-12 English for 1-5 years. Recipients of this award are developing as leaders in their departments and schools. They engage in meaningful, reflective practice within their classroom and work to connect teaching to their students’ lived experiences. They incorporate new technology and current research in the field to significantly enhance student engagement.

- The Experienced Teacher Award is given to an educator that has taught 7-12 English for 6-20 years. Recipients of this award demonstrate the same commitments as above while also assuming leadership roles in their districts and Western New York through the mentoring of new and pre-service teachers, their engagement in local, regional, and national professional networks (such as WNYNET, NYSEC, NCTE) and in other capacities that support and encourage meaningful teaching in our region.

- The Lifetime Achievement in English Teaching Sponsored by Just Buffalo Literary Center is given to an educator that has taught 7-12 English for over 20 years. Recipients of this award have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the meaningful teaching of English Language Arts throughout their careers. In addition to the above, these teachers have served as leaders in their communities, worked for many years as mentor teachers, and have continued to develop their understanding and advocacy for meaningful English teaching in our region, state, and country.

- The Administrative Leadership in Support of English Language Arts Award is given to building and district administrators who have supported the meaningful teaching of English Language Arts in their schools and/or districts.

Who can nominate an educator?

Anyone can nominate an educator. This includes colleagues, parents, administrators, pre-service teachers, educational professionals, or any member of the community.

Nominations will be reviewed by the Western New York English Teachers officers according to the standards set forth by the organization.

How does WNYNET define meaningful teaching in the English Language Arts classroom?

To define what constitutes meaningful English teaching, The Western New York Network of English teachers draws from standards set forth by the National Council of Teachers of English as well as leading researchers and teachers in the field of secondary English education.

While meaningful teaching can be described in many ways, the following characteristics may be helpful in determining potential award recipients. Teachers that may qualify for these awards are teachers who:

Honor the distinctive power of texts of all kinds, from the written word to compositions in multiple modes by recognizing their transformative power in the lives and learning of students.
Draw from authentic, research-based teaching practices
Create classroom spaces where students engage in powerful, agentive literacy work.
Honor the lived experiences of students through their selection of curricular materials, and composing opportunities.
Create classroom communities where students develop identities as readers, writers, and critical thinkers.
Respect students’ gender, sexual identity, home languages, and cultures through curricular choices, teaching methods, and learning activities.
Engage in multiple forms of literacy learning with their students, including work with the written word, visual arts, multimedia and digital compositions.
Engage in meaningful conversations around texts of all kinds.
Develop students’ critical literacy.
Create rich textual environments.
Commit to students literacy learning outside of the classroom through engagement in extracurricular work including, but not limited, school newspapers, literary magazines, yearbook production, theatrical productions and other activities.
Care deeply about students.
Are in constant pursuit of ways to improve their teaching and therefore, their students’ learning.
Serve as advocates for students and for their profession, recognizing the knowledge and power of members of the school community.
Meet additional criteria for meaningful 7-12 English teaching as set forth by local schools and districts in the Buffalo-Niagara region.

2025 Award Winners

Cheryl began teaching in the Buffalo Public Schools twenty-four years ago, and she has also taught College Writing at Buffalo State. For three years, Cheryl worked as a professional tutor at Buffalo State’s Writing Center. She has taught grades 9-12, AP Language, and AP Literature. Currently, she is a 9th and 11th grade teacher at City Honors School, advising the school’s Book Club and the Our Story Project. As a member of the school’s wellness team, Cheryl promotes activities designed to foster wellness among the faculty and staff; she offers free restorative yoga classes two days a week before the school day begins.

She earned her Masters in English Education and her Ph.D. in English at the University at Buffalo, and she is on the Emily Dickinson International Society board where she co-coordinates the EDIS Pedagogy Community. She served on the MLA committee on K-16 education from 2022-2025.

One of Cheryl’s focuses in education has been bridging the divide between high school and college education for both educators and students. Her experience and committee work prioritizes the need to have meaningful professional conversations to ensure student success as they transition to college or career.

Heather Mundy launched her career teaching freshmen, sophomores, and TV Productions in a room at Chautauqua Lake High School. Heather later found a new home with the creative faculty at West Seneca East HS, where she found a fresh perspective and renewed excitement, much like her early days in the classroom. There, she was introduced to the blessing of English as a New Language courses and reacquainted herself with evolving versions of English 9, 10, and Academic Intervention Services. Now twenty years into her career, Heather reflects on how much has changed—yet the most beautiful aspects remain constant: no two classes are the same, and every day brings new opportunities to change lives.

Heather lives in Williamsville, NY with her supportive husband Erik, two daughters who are her heroes, an energetic dog, and a village of incredible humans. This is not a job done independently. Heather remains involved in professional organizations and has collaborated on presentations at NYSEC and ISTE conferences. She believes that education is an evolving practice and remains committed to fostering student voice, resilience, and building relationships in every classroom she shares.

Colin Dabkowski is in his fifth year of teaching at Alden High School, where he teaches English 12, creative writing, acting, and multimedia production. He is also the advisor of Alden High School's Theater Club, its gender-sexuality alliance, and its creative writing club. Before becoming a teacher, he spent 12 years as the arts critic of The Buffalo News.

John Starkey is the founding principal of Lafayette International Community High School in Buffalo, a program that opened its doors in September of 2016. Lafayette High School serves a community of refugee and immigrant students who have arrived in the United States within the past six years and are in the lowest three levels of English proficiency. Starkey earned a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Buff State, studied TESOL at SUNY New Paltz and Educational Leadership and Administration at the College of Saint Rose. Prior to his current position, Starkey was Master Principal of the Renewals Initiative at Bronx High School of Business & Peace and Diversity High School after having served as an ENL teacher and later Principal of International High School at La Guardia in Queens, NY.