Facilitators

READ BIO

Susan Alviene's career in public education has been shaped by a belief in the power of educators learning from and supporting one another. As a teacher leader in the Schenectady City School District, she became National Board Certified, served on Building Leadership Teams, PBIS teams and the district’s Trauma-Sensitive Schools Workgroup. She also served as a Grade Level Leader supporting colleagues across 11 elementary schools for three years. These experiences deepened her appreciation for shared learning and continue to inspire her work creating meaningful opportunities for educators to learn, grow and strengthen their practice together.

Through her work with the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, Susan focuses on social-emotional learning, trauma-sensitive teaching practices, student engagement and whole-child development. She values helping educators connect research and shared learning to meaningful shifts in their practice while creating space for colleagues to learn alongside one another. Susan believes that whole-child development includes attention to the well-being and growth of the adults who create the conditions for students to thrive.

Susan also serves on the SEL4NY Leadership Team, contributing to statewide efforts to promote, support and advocate for high-quality social-emotional learning across New York State.

READ BIO

Suzette Clark is a high school mathematics teacher at Middleburgh Jr/Sr High School. She earned her BA in Mathematics: Adolescence Education and MS in Professional Teacher Education from The College of Saint Rose. Suzette is a member of the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State. She also serves as the Past-President and Current 2nd VP for the Alpha Nu Chapter of NYSO DKG and the Technology Coordinator NYSO DKG.

READ BIO

Stephanie A. Conklin, Ph.D. earned her B.S. in mathematics from Union College, Ed.M. in Math Education from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. from University of Albany in STEM education. Dr. Conklin taught mathematics in Boston Public Schools, Saratoga Springs High School and currently teaches math at Colonie Central High School; she is dual certified in math and special education. A strong advocate for student-centered instruction, she focuses on differentiating lessons for all learners. Dr. Conklin was previously honored with the Sontag Prize for Urban Education, University at Albany’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and named as a Gates Master Teacher and a New York State Master Teacher. Dr. Conklin currently instructs graduate courses at the University of Albany and at Siena University.

READ BIO

Diana Del Giudice is an Art Teacher at Albany High School. She earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education with a minor in Art History and a Master of Arts in Studio Art from Long Island University Post Campus, where she also worked as a Graphic Designer for the Tilles Center of the Performing Arts. Diana holds New York State Professional Certification in Art Education for grades K-12 and previously taught art at the elementary, middle, and high school levels across several Long Island districts. Diana teaches lessons in Media Arts, including graphic design, digital illustration, and animation, as well as Studio Art, including drawing, painting, printmaking, and pottery. She advises the Digital Art Workshop after school program at Albany High School. Diana constantly evolves her curriculum by integrating the latest art technology, ensuring students stay actively engaged with modern creative tools.

READ BIO

Heather Graham is a first grade educator at Hudson Falls CSD. She has been working with the GCRTC for over 5 years now. Heather leads mostly elementary mathematics courses, but does also offer courses on learning and educator self-care at times as well. She is passionate about helping educators see themselves as mathematicians. Heather wants educators to believe in their math abilities, encourages them to think outside the box and strives to provide current evidence based and research based practices to fill in curriculum gaps.

READ BIO

Jessica Hallock is a math teacher at Bethlehem Central High School in Delmar, NY. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and a Master’s of Science degree in Education, both from the University at Albany. Jessica currently teaches AP Statistics, Algebra II and Applied Geometry, but has taught courses from 8th grade math through Precalculus in three different districts over her 19 year career. She also serves on the Wellness Committee and is the advisor of the New York State Math Honor Society for the district. This is her first time facilitating a course, sparked by her enthusiasm for working alongside others.

READ BIO

Ashleigh Harris (Johns) is a full-time faculty member at Albany High School in Albany, NY, where she is the course creator, curriculum writer, and instructor for Studio in Crafts, Advanced Studio in Crafts, Fashion Illustration, Advanced Fashion Illustration, and is a College Board certified instructor of Advanced Placement 3-D Art. She holds a total of four art degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Binghamton University, Buffalo State College, and the New Hampshire Institute of Art, the last from which she obtained her MFA in Visual Art. Ashleigh is in her 12th year of serving on the Executive Board of her school district’s union. Having held various positions, she is most recently serving as the Executive Board Secretary. Additionally, her union roles include serving as a NYSUT ED10 Delegate, AFT Delegate, NYSTRS Alternate, NYSUT Subject Area Committee for the Arts, and graduate of the 2025 NYSUT Leadership Institute cohort. Ashleigh is a member of the professional organizations CAA, NAEA, and NYSATA. Through her NYSATA membership, she sponsors the Albany High School chapter of National Art Honor Society. Ashleigh also sits on the Board of Directors of the Albany Fund for Education which helps to provide funding opportunities to teachers and students of the City School District of Albany.

READ BIO

Jen Hazzard is a science educator with more than 18 years of teaching experience and certifications in biology, chemistry, and physics. While she primarily teaches chemistry, Jen has also served as an elementary science coordinator, working extensively with students and educators in grades K–5, and is an adjunct professor at Fulton-Montgomery Community College.

Jen is passionate about helping students experience the wonder of science and creating space for them to question, explore, and make sense of the world around them. She enjoys facilitating professional learning for much the same reason: she is constantly researching, learning, reflecting, and refining her own practice. Jen values the opportunity to share what she has learned while also learning from her colleagues. In her sessions, she strives to provide practical ideas, strategies, and resources that educators can take back to their classrooms and put to use right away.

READ BIO

Sabrina LaPointe teaches PreK-4th grade general music and 4th grade chorus in the Glens Falls City School District. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from SUNY Plattsburgh. Sabrina previously taught PreK-7th grade general music, elementary and Jr./Sr. chorus, and elementary and Jr./Sr. band at Minerva Central School, where she also served as the drama club advisor. She is Conversational Solfège certified, First Steps in Music certified, and a Seesaw Certified Educator. She is also the No Place for Hate club advisor at Jackson Heights Elementary.

READ BIO

Megan Latina has nearly 20 years of experience in education and is passionate about supporting students and educators in practical, meaningful ways. She holds New York State certifications in Students with Disabilities, Literacy, and Early Childhood Education.

Megan began her career as a New York City Public School teacher, spending nearly 10 years working with students and families in Harlem and Brooklyn. Her experience in self-contained, general education, and co-teaching settings has shaped her belief that all students can thrive with the right support and high expectations.

For over eight years, Megan has been part of the South Colonie Central School District, where she serves as a building literacy facilitator and is a member of a long-standing kindergarten co-teaching team. She also facilitates professional development and has supported the district’s Special Education Council.

Megan values learning alongside other educators and strives to create a supportive, engaging environment in every course she facilitates.

READ BIO

Rachel May is a high school Spanish teacher at Middleburgh Jr./Sr. High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Education from Siena College and her Master’s Degree in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology from the University at Albany. Rachel also serves as co-adviser for Middleburgh’s Spanish Club.

In addition to teaching Spanish, Rachel is passionate about finding creative ways to make learning engaging and meaningful for students. She also enjoys exploring new ideas and tools that can help educators create practical, student-centered learning experiences.

READ BIO

Lisa McLeod is a high school math teacher, currently teaching Algebra 1 and Geometric Applications in both regular and full inclusion classrooms, at Glens Falls High School in Glens Falls, NY. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Montana Western, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Montana Missoula and a second Master’s Degree in Educational Technology with graduate certificates in Online Teaching K-12 and Technology Integration from Boise State University. Ms. McLeod holds National Board Certification in Early Adolescence Mathematics and is a New York State Master Teacher Emeritus. She is a current High School Representative on the Executive Board for the Association of Math Teachers of New York State and is a frequent presenter for AMTNYS on topics such as educational technology, interactive notebooks, Building Thinking Classrooms and the Modern Classrooms Project. Outside of school, she enjoys exploring new places, attending concerts and spending time with her daughters.

READ BIO

Katie McNally has been teaching math for over a decade at Farnsworth Middle School in Guilderland, NY. She currently serves as a Math Interventionist for grades 6-8 and as the Math Department Teacher Leader. She has experience teaching 7th grade, 8th grade, and Algebra 1 and has extensive experience co-teaching. She also leads the new teacher mentoring program for her building and is a member of the district-wide MTSS Implementation Team. Katie has led several professional development workshops and courses in the Capital Region about increasing student engagement across all content areas and embedding the practice standards in mathematics instruction. She is also involved in assessment development with the NYS Department of Education. She is a graduate of Boston University (B.S. Mathematics Education) and the University at Albany (M.S. Educational Theory and Practice). Outside of her work in education, Katie enjoys performing music and spending time with her husband and son.

READ BIO

Kristine Monahan teaches high school art courses in the Albany City School District. She earned both a Bachelor of Science in Art Education and a Master of Arts in Studio Arts with a concentration in Printmaking from the College of Saint Rose. Kristine holds New York State Professional Certification in Art Education and has developed curricula for Studio Art, Drawing/Painting I & II, AP Studio Art, IB Visual Art & Portfolio Development.  She serves as the acting Fine Arts Department Chairperson between faculty and administration for the Fine Arts Department and has contributed to school-wide curriculum writing and review. Kristine is an active member of the National Art Education Association, New York State Art Teacher Association, and the Southern Graphics Council. Currently she also serves as a graduate adjunct professor for MAT Art Education program at Russell Sage College.

READ BIO

With 22 years of experience in education, Rachel currently serves as a junior high special education teacher. She holds New York State certifications in Childhood Education (Birth–Grade 6), Social Studies (Grades 7–12), and Students with Disabilities (Birth–Age 22), along with secondary extensions in English Language Arts and mathematics. Outside of her professional work, Rachel has been married for 18 years and is a parent to a 9-year-old daughter. An avid skier and snowboarder, she and her family spend winters at Mount Snow in West Dover, VT, where she acts as an adaptive coach with Adaptive Sports at Mount Snow and volunteers annually as a snowboarding coach for the Vermont Winter Special Olympics.

READ BIO

Andrew Quell earned his B.A. in Biology and Secondary Education from the College of Saint Rose and his M.S. in the Science of Teaching Mathematics and Science from Union Graduate College. Mr. Quell has taught science for 17 years and currently teaches seventh grade life science at Acadia Middle School in the Shenendehowa Central School District. He is a National Science Bowl coach and an AI Coordinator for his district. Andrew enjoyed facilitating a variety of professional developments from Science Assessment Design to AI integration and student engagement in the NYS Science Learning Standards.

READ BIO

Melissa Palmer is an English teacher at Greenville High School in Greenville, NY. Palmer teaches 9th grade English, Creative Writing and Popular Literature as well as being the HS English Department Chair. She is President of the Greenville Public Library’s Board of Trustees. Palmer has served on a variety of committees through YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association).

READ BIO

Tiffany Phelps teaches German at O'Rourke Middle School in Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. She earned a BA in German from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA and a MS in Literacy from SUNY Cortland. She has over 20 years of 6-12 classroom experience and was on the New York State committee that wrote the updated World Language Standards. Additionally, she has held several roles at Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, facilitating professional development on everything from World Languages to standards-based grade and poverty's impacts on student learning.

READ BIO

Ryan Proper has facilitated workshops through the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center since January of 2015. Workshop topics have included Google Classroom, G Suite, Flipped Learning, Literacy & Technology, Remote Learning with Google Workplace, Artificial Intelligence, and other technology integration topics. Ryan served as a middle school Math teacher for ten and a half years at Taconic Hills CSD. He then spent one and a half years as a STEM Coach and is currently in his 12th year as a PreK-12 Technology Integration Specialist. Ryan enjoys sharing technology integration ideas with others in order to promote strong learning opportunities for students.

READ BIO

Carly Samach, LMHC, is the Clinical Director and co-founder of Upstate Center for OCD & Anxiety. She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from the University at Albany and brings over a decade of experience across inpatient, intensive outpatient, and outpatient settings, working with individuals ages 4 to 80. Carly specializes in treating OCD and complex anxiety disorders, emphasizing evidence-based care delivered through a humanistic, person-centered lens. In addition to her clinical work, she provides advanced training and consultation to fellow clinicians and leads ongoing professional development at the Upstate Center. Her current research explores the role of hope in treatment outcomes, informing both the Center’s clinical philosophy and its commitment to helping individuals move toward fuller, values-aligned lives.

Katelynne Schuttig is a social studies teacher at Middleburgh Jr./Sr. High School in Middleburgh, NY. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Adolescence Education & Social Studies from the State University of Oneonta and a Master's degree in Literacy Education as well from SUNY Oneonta. In addition to her teaching, Katelynne is also an active member of her village, serving as Vice-President of her community's Rotary Club. When it comes to teaching, Katelynne enjoys developing positive relationships and connections with others, and facilitating important discussions amongst groups. She primarily teaches World History & Geography, as well as US History & Government courses.

READ BIO

Melinda Teter has 27 years experience as a kindergarten teacher. She holds a New York State certification in Early Childhood Education and Literacy.

Melinda has been teaching in the South Colonie Central School district since 1997, and has spent all but 1 of those years as a kindergarten teacher. She has been lucky enough to be part of a long-standing kindergarten co-teaching team as well.

Melinda loves learning, and facilitating courses because it allows her to expand her reach beyond a single room to inspire growth, elevate instructional practice, and shape the learning experiences of entire student communities.

READ BIO

Alexandra Townes is a dedicated Special Education Teacher in her 15th year of teaching and her 12th year at Queensbury High School. Throughout her career, she has been committed to supporting students with diverse learning needs and helping them build the academic, social, and self-advocacy skills they need to be successful.

She earned her Master’s degree from The College of Saint Rose and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from SUNY Potsdam. Her background in science and special education allows her to bring a strong combination of content knowledge, creativity, and individualized support to her teaching.

Beyond the classroom, she is actively involved in the Queensbury school community. She is a member of the Technology Committee, where she helps explore and support the use of technology in education. She also helps coach Unified Bocce and Unified Bowling. In addition, she serves as an advisor for Key Club and the Teen Advocacy Group. She is passionate about promoting inclusion, teamwork, developing leadership skills, and empowering all students to reach their potential.

READ BIO

Sally began her career as an elementary classroom teacher and now teaches English as a New Language (ENL) in the South Colonie CSD, working with English learners in kindergarten through fourth grade. She brings more than 30 years of experience to her work with students. Sally holds a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MS in Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology from SUNY Albany. She also holds graduate certificates in TESOL (SUNY Albany) and Reading Science (Mount St. Joseph University). Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, gardening, hiking along the Mohawk River, and spending time with family. Her motto is: Today is a great day to learn something new!

READ BIO

Cindy Yetto has taught Spanish, French and English as a New Language for the past 28 years in New York State. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature from Potsdam State University, and a Master's Degree in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology from SUNY at Albany. She achieved National Board Certification in World Languages in 2017, and served as President of the Capital Organization of Language Teachers (COLT) for several years. Cindy is an active member of ACTFL, NYS TESOL and NYSAFLT, and presented at the NYSAFLT annual conference in 2022.