Valerie Lovelace, Ed.D. is the Executive Director of the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center. As a New York State permanently certified Pre-K - 6 teacher, Valerie has been actively involved in designing and facilitating professional learning experiences for educators for over two decades. She has been affiliated with GCRTC since 2000, first as a professional learning instructor and later as a full-time Program Specialist. Valerie obtained her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Master of Science in Teacher Education, Graduate Certificate in Educational Computing and Graduate Certificate of Advanced Study in School District Business Leadership at the College of St. Rose. She also holds NYS certification in both School District Leadership and School District Business Leadership. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the Esteves School of Education at Russell Sage College. In addition, she has worked at Questar III BOCES and in higher education at SUNY Schenectady. Valerie is proud to serve as a member of the New York State Teacher Center Statewide Leadership Team. Valerie can be reached at valerie@teachers-center.org.

Shannon Woodle is the Public Information Specialist for the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center. Shannon has 20 years of experience in creative services and multimedia production, with much credited success in elevating brand awareness. A graduate of Marist College, she has worked for several large television networks, including TV Land, Spike TV (now the Paramount Network), VH-1, Nickelodeon and NBC Sports. During her career, Shannon has served as the network Production Executive on many critically acclaimed series and events, spearheaded large brand initiatives and pro-social campaigns, and managed productions both domestically and internationally. She has returned to the Greater Capital Region to raise her family, and is proud to use her expertise to support area teachers. Shannon can be reached at shannon@teachers-center.org.

Geoffrey Bizan is currently the High Potential and STEM teacher at Lake George Elementary School, where he coaches a First Lego League Robotics Team, serves as the Science Curriculum Leader and coordinates many enrichment programs for students in grades K-6. In addition to his 13 years in the classroom, Geoff is fortunate to share his passion with area educators as the Teacher Leadership Coach for Technology Integration at the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center. He has presented at several statewide conferences, and has led nearly one hundred workshops to teachers all over New York State. Geoff is an Apple Distinguished Educator, a National Board Certified Teacher, a New York State Master Teacher and also holds two advanced certificates as a School Building Leader and School District Leader. Geoff can be reached at geoff@teachers-center.org.

Erica Boms Egdemir has joined the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center as the Teacher Leadership Coach for the Humanities. Erica holds a New York State professional teaching certification in 7-12 English and Special Education, and has taught in Special Education and English Language Arts classrooms for the past eleven years. She began her work in conjunction with Questar BOCES, supporting socio-economic disadvantaged learners within the Capital Region in both language and literacy. Erica joined the Catskill Central School District as a high school Special Education teacher where she supported students and families in transitioning out of the school setting and into the workforce, while creating possibilities for post-secondary educational opportunities. Her passion for technology and collaboration guided district-wide initiatives and knowledge-building amongst colleagues for the use of adaptive and assistive technologies. As a Google-certified educator, Erica brought these initiatives into both general and Special Education classrooms where she taught secondary English to diverse groups of learners. Additionally, working alongside colleagues with project-based teaching and learning, Erica brings a knowledge of humanities-centered instruction to the team. Her passions for education, technology, and the humanities steered her towards offering professional learning endeavors with the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center for the last several years. Erica is excited for the opportunity to share her expertise in her new role as Teacher Leadership Coach for the Humanities. Erica can be reached at erica@teachers-center.org.

Elizabeth Daley supports students and families as a special education teacher at Queensbury School District. Liz focuses on pedagogy designed to give students the opportunity to learn and practice independence in skills and decision making. She works to create meaningful parent engagement, and build systems to support collaboration between stakeholders. Liz is an advocate for students and teachers as a National Board Certified Teacher and through her role as the Teacher Leadership Coach for Special Education at the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center. She is certified by New York State to teach Special Education, Elementary Education and English 7-12. As a Teacher Leadership Coach, she facilitates regional professional learning experiences for Special Education teachers and for Teaching Assistants. She has written curriculum for certificate extension pathways and designed courses that support evidence-based practices in special education, teaching partnerships and student mental health and wellness. Liz can be reached at liz@teachers-center.org.

David Fields has been a secondary math teacher at Colonie Central High School for over 20 years, and has served as the Math Department Coordinator for the past 14 years. In 2014, he joined the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center as a Teacher Leadership Coach for HS Mathematics. Dave began his role at the Teacher Center after completing the School Building Leadership program at the College of St. Rose. There, Dave extended his knowledge of professional development, curriculum implementation, and how to network with educators across the region and state. Dave regularly presents at the statewide AMTNYS and regional HMVAMC math conferences each year, and for several years has partnered with PBS affiliate WCNY on producing their Regents Review Live program. Dave’s work at Greater Capital Region Teacher Center focuses largely on bringing New York State math teachers together to collaborate, sharing family-school engagement strategies, and growing financial literacy in schools. Dave can be reached at dave@teachers-center.org.

Lorena Hurst is an elementary education teacher, certified in pre-k through 6th grade, with concentrations in special education and mathematics. For the past six years, she has served as the Teacher Leadership Coach for Elementary Education at the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center. In this role, she facilitates in-person, blended and fully online CTLE programming individually and collectively with other teacher-leaders, sharing their expertise and passions through the collaborative development of highly effective educator course instruction. Lorena holds a Certificate of Graduate Study in Teacher Leadership from the University at Albany, which informs her work at the Center. Lorena has worked in regional schools as an educational consultant to support teachers’ professional learning of writing instruction. She brings this love of writing into the classroom as an Academic Intervention Specialist for Writing, at the intermediate level, for Mohonasen Central School District. Her classroom expertise has been informed by her work as a Clinical Supervisor for preservice teachers in the Master of Science in Secondary Education and Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages programs at the University of Albany. Her experience in higher education is paired with twelve years of authentic experiences working alongside primary learners in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. Additionally, Lorena has collaborated with the New York State Education Department as an evaluator for elementary level science assessments for over a decade, and served five years as a mentor teacher to preservice teachers for higher education institutions across the state of New York. Lorena can be reached at lorena@teachers-center.org.

Denise Lutter, Ed.D. has joined the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center as the Teacher Leadership Coach for Visual and Performing Arts. Denise has recently retired from the Bronxville School District, where she served many roles, including Teacher Center Director, High School Orchestra Director, AP Music Theory teacher, Performing Arts Department Curriculum Leader, and Professional Development Coordinator. She currently teaches orchestra in the South Orangetown School District. Denise holds a Doctorate in Music from Columbia University Teachers College, a Professional Diploma in Educational Administration from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and is a National Board Certified Teacher. As an active NYSSMA member, she has edited four editions of the viola section of the NYSSMA Manual, is an active solo, all-state and major organization adjudicator, and is a member of the Curriculum Committee. Denise also proudly serves on NYSED’s Arts Content Advisory Panel, Individual Arts Assessment Pathway committee, and as subject area specialist for the music teacher certification examination. A recipient of two Fulbright-Hays Scholarships and a NEH grant, Denise has studied in India, Egypt, China, Tanzania, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and actively pursues opportunities to learn from and with the global community. Denise can be reached at denise@teachers-center.org.

Mary Ann Nickloy, a Teacher Leadership Coach for MS Mathematics at the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, earned her BS in Elementary Education/Mathematics from Russell Sage College, MS in Ed. Reading from Sage Graduate School, and AAS in Early Childhood from SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology Cobleskill. In the classroom for 24 years, Mary Ann currently teaches mathematics at Draper MS, in the Rotterdam-Mohonasen Central School District, where she also serves as the Instructional Leader for the Mathematics Department grades 6-8. Mary Ann is a NYS Master Teacher, and a member of The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Council of Exceptional Children, the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, Capital District Area Mathematics Supervisors and National Career Pathways Network. She is the curriculum developer for NEATEC, and was on the executive board as the Middle Level Representative for the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State. She also previously served as Co-Program Chair for the Association of Mathematics Teachers of NYS Conference. Mary Ann can be reached at maryann@teachers-center.org.

James St. Denis, a teacher with over 20 years of experience, has been teaching at Shenendehowa High School for the past 18 years. He currently teaches AP Biology and Forensic Science - a program he created to maintain students’ interest in science during their senior year. As the Teacher Leadership Coach for Science at the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, James is able to combine his love of learning with years of teaching experience, in order to offer professional development to fellow teachers. James achieved National Board Certification and went on to become a Candidate Support Provider, leading a local cohort. He is a New York State Master Teacher Emeritus and remains an active member, enjoying collaborating with amazing teachers from across the state and presenting at area conferences. James can be reached at james@teachers-center.org.