Regina Derrico, Lifetime Achievement. Regina Dunlavey Derrico’s teaching career began in 1959 under the mentorship of the Sisters of Mercy at Holy Family School. Having mastered double digit addition and subtraction, and reading above grade level, Regina established a K-3 classroom in the basement of her family home. There she taught arithmetic, spelling, reading and writing to an assortment of imagined students.  As a high school student, she taught piano lessons to neighborhood children before going on to earn a B.S. in English Education, SUNY College at Buffalo (1973) and a M.A. in English Literature, Fairleigh Dickinson University (1975).   A teacher in the Williamsville Central School District for 37 years, she was also an adjunct instructor in the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo for 5 years. Currently Regina volunteers as an instructor for two adult writing groups, the Stadnitski Writers at the Stadnitski Gardens, an independent living community for seniors, and the Valley Writers, adults with disabilities under the auspices of Aspire WNY-Tri Main Center. As a docent for the Burchfield Penny Art Center, Regina works with students and writers of all ages. Regina was an elected member of the Secondary Section Steering Committee of the National Council of Teachers of English (2001-2005) and was the recipient of the NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence Award (2006).  She was selected as a New York State Educator of Excellence (1995) and served as Membership Chairperson of the Executive Board of the New York State English Council from 2000-2003.