Central North Zone holds an annual Award Dinner where talented, dedicated professionals in our local area are recognized.
Awards include the Central North Zone Teacher of the Year, Director of Distinction, Cheri Stevens Service Award, Bernard E. Hughes Award, Bob Brown Award, Helen's Heart Award, and the Professional of the Year Award recognition.
We appreciate your help in letting us know of a deserving colleague, administrator/coordinator and /or organization that is worthy of recognition.
Student Leadership Awards
The Central North Zone Student Leadership Award Committee is excited to announce that we will be hosting an in-person Student Leadership Award program again this year to recognize deserving students within our zone.
The tentative date for the 2024 Student Leadership Award program is June 10, 2024. Details will be posted when they are available.
C. Brian Oaks Future Professionals Honorarium
This award is presented to two Central North Zone students entering the college for Physical Education and/or Health Education.
Selection Criteria
2022
Parker Kristoff, 2022 South Lewis CSD graduate attending SUNY Cortland for Physical Education
Brock Hunter, 2022 Alexandria CSD graduate attending Jefferson Community College for Physical Education.
2020
Nicholas Dec, 2019 Auburn Enlarged City SD Graduate Attending SUNY Cortland for Physical Education
Bailey Zicari, 2019 Lowville Academy Graduate Attending Jefferson Community College for Physical Education
Kayla Usborne, 2019 Madison Central School Graduate Attending SUNY Brockport for Physical Education
2019
Brittney Kuhn, 2018 Sauquoit Valley CSD Graduate
Physical Education Major at The College at Brockport
Central North Zone Award Recipients
Central North Zone strives to recognize the talented, dedicated professionals in our local area.
An email will be sent to all CNZ members when nominations are being accepted.
Save the Date for our Professional Awards Dinner
March 5, 2024
Vernon Downs Hotel
2023 Teachers of the Year
Victoria Mazza, Elementary Physical Education - Auburn City School District
Steve Shoults, Middle School Physical Education - West Genesee Central School District
Kathryn Oaks, Secondary Physical Education - Hannibal Central School District
Donna Cappellano, Health Education - Cato-Meridian Central School District
Lori Peters, Aquatics - Watertown Central School District
John Oliver, Recreation/Adventure Education - Auburn City School District/ SUNY Cortland
2022 Teachers of the Year
Karyn Meaney, Elementary Physical Education - Lafayette Schools
Lisa Upson, Middle School Physical Education - Central Valley Schools
Allison Teachout, Secondary Physical Education - Auburn City School District
Casey Langendorfer, Health Education - Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District
Kristi Peterson, Aquatics - Utica City Schools
Reanna Zappavigna, Technology - Rome City Schools
2020 Teachers of the Year
Diane Penella, Elementary Physical Education Rome City School District
Kara Kleiboer, Middle School Physical Education Sackets Harbor Central School District
Diane Weismore, Secondary Physical Education Syracuse City School District
John Oliver, Adapted Physical Education Auburn City School District
Jack Popper, Aquatics Fulton City Schools
Jodi Bard, Health Educator Richfield Springs Central School District
Exercise Science/Sports Medicine Kulaa Bacheyie, Syracuse University
Higher Education Dr. Michael Norris, Syracuse University
2019 Teachers of the Year
Kelsey Maselli, Elementary Physical Education - Fulton City School District
Patrick Bond, Middle School Physical Education - Oswego City School District
Candace Sweeney, Secondary Physical Education - Baldwinsville Central School District
Shelly Connors, Dance - Auburn Enlarged City School District
Ed Curle, Aquatics - Syracuse City Schools
2018 Teachers of the Year
Debbie Lavner, Elementary Physical Education - Oswego City School District
Penny Leonard, Middle School Physical Education - Hannibal Central School District
Chrissy Popper, Secondary Physical Education - Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District
Ashleigh Barnhart-Burto , Health Education - Belleville Henderson Central School District
Jacqueline Graves, Aquatics - Syracuse City Schools
Kelly Schulz, Adapted Physical Education - Oswego BOCES
2017 Teachers of the Year
Kory McMahon, Elementary Physical Education - Fayetteville-Manlius School District
Scott Leonard, Elementary Physical Education - Hannibal Central School District
Alice Benjamin, Elementary Physical Education - Phoenix Central School District
Maureen White, Middle School Physical Education - Cortland Enlarged City School District
Tracey Engle, Secondary Physical Education - Jordan-Elbridge Central School District
Dan Gilmore, Health Education - Fulton City School District
2016 Teachers of the Year
Lynn Halliwell, Elementary Physical Education - Hannibal Central School District
Jane Connors, Secondary Physical Education - Central Valley School District
Daniel Barbaglia, Adapted Physical Education - Jordan-Elbridge Central School District
Daniel Stadtmiller, Health Education - Fulton City School District
Alissa DeBie, Dance - Syracuse City School District
2014 Teachers of the Year
Lyndsay Maloney, Elementary Physical Education - North Syracuse Central School District
Matt Barnello, Middle School Physical Education - Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District
Allison Peelle, Middle School Physical Education - Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District
Ashley Mirabito, Adapted Physical Education - Lyncourt Union Free School District
Karen Anderson, Health Education - Central Valley School District
Eileen Corlett, Dance - Syracuse City School District
2013 Teachers of the Year
Lindsay Kidder, Elementary Physical Education - Sauquoit Valley Central School District
Rebecca Peter, Middle School Physical Education - Jamesville-Dewitt Central School District
Darcey Cross, Secondary Physical Education - Clinton Central School District
Staphanie Moore, Adapted Physical Education - Jefferson Lewis BOCES
Lisa McAllister, Health Education - Port Byron Central School District
2012 Teachers of the Year
Ed Kupiec, Elementary Physical Education - Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District
Amy Coleman, Middle School Physical Education - Mt. Markham Central School District
Melissa O'Rourke Secondary Physical Education - Rome Free Academy
Nancy Garofano, Health Education - Fulton City School District
Lindsay Kidder, Dance - Sauquoit Valey School District
2011 Teachers of the Year
Hal Moore, Elementary Physical Education - Camden Central School District
Steven Gates, Middle School Physical Education - Mt. Markham Central School District
Shelly Connors, Secondary Physical Education - Auburn Enlarged City School District
William Myers, Adapted Physical Education - OCM BOCES
Kelly Schulz, Aquatics - Oswego BOCES
MaryJo Donaldson, Health Education - Oneida Central School District
Danae Bader, Dance - DMB Dance Prod.
2010 Teachers of the Year
Jack Silvestri, Elementary Physical Education - Whitesboro Central School District
Duane Weimer, Middle School Physical Education - Vernon Verona Sherrill Central School District
Jason Izzo, Secondary Physical Education - Herkimer Central School District
Matt Dadey, Adapted Physical Education - East Syracuse Minoa Central School District
Mary Beth King, Health Education - Clinton Central School District
Erica Kent, Dance - Morrisville-Eaton Central School District
2009 Teachers of the Year
Monica Wolfe, Elementary Physical Education - Vernon Verona Sherrill Central School District
Janine Corning, Middle School Physical Education - West Genesee Central School District
Chris Villieri, Secondary Physical Education - South Lewis Central School District
Carol Martin, Adapted Physical Education - O-H-M BOCES
Michelle Moore, Aquatics - Rome Free Academy
John Manion, Health Education - Hannibal Central School District
Shelley Mitchell, Dance - Oneida YMCA
Director of Distinction
2022 Corey Pike, Owen D. Young Central School District
2020 Matt Murphy, Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District
2019 April Wertheim, Syracuse City School District
2017 Duane Weimer, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District
2016 Scott Sugar, Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District
2014 Chris Ells, Fulton Central School District
2013 C. Brian Oaks, South Lewis Central School District
2012 Stan Congden, Herkimer Central School District
2011 Sandy Williams, Rome Free Academy
2010 Tam Ray, Auburn Enlarged City School District
2009 Tony Pascale, West Genesee Central School District
Cheri Stevens Service Award
2022 Monica Wolfe, Cooperstown Central Schools
2020 Alissa Staub, Syracuse City School District
2019 Amy Coleman, Mt. Markham Central School District
2018 Sandy Williams, Rome City Schools
2017 Shelly Connors, Auburn Enlarged City School District
2016 David Leach, Town of Webb Union Free School District (posthumously)
2014 Ashleigh Barnhart-Burto, Belleville-Henderson Central School District
2013 Monica Tooley, Little Falls Central School District
2012 Janet Getman, Herkimer Central School District
2011 Joanne Thornton, North Syracuse City School District
2010 Jane Connors, Ilion Central School District
2009 Rob Wheelock, Sauquoit Valley Central School District
Bernard E. Hughes Award
2022 Upstate Aquatics LLC, Marrick McDonald, CEO
2020 Move Along, Inc., Baldwinsville, NY Jeff Wright, Executive Director
2019 AccessCNY - David Selover (Program Coordinator for Project Adapt), Syracuse, NY
2018 YWCA Mohawk Valley, Melissa Loiacano, YWCA Mohawk Valley Community Coordinator
2017 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Wendy Fical
2017 NY National Archery in Schools Program, Melissa Bailey
2016 WKTV "Movin' Mondays" - Jill Reale & Jason Powles
2014 Clinton Arena, Clinton, NY
2013 BRiDGES to Prevent Tobacco
2012 Chobani
2011 John MacDougall, Nice N'Easy
2010 Potato Hill Outdoor Education Ctr
2009 Meg Gibbons, American Heart Association
Bob Brown Award
2022 Bruce Risley, Dolgeville Schools
2020 Mike Felice, Liverpool Central SD
2019 Christina Buschmann, Retired Clinton CSD
2018 Renee Brown, Retired
2017 Jodi Bard, Richfield Springs Central School District
2016 Elaine Hage, Retired
2014 Amy Coleman, Mt. Markham Central School District
2013 Tom Winiecki, Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District
2012 Sandy Williams, Rome Free Academy
2011 Bruce Risley, Dolgeville Central School District
2010 Monica Wolfe, Vernon Verona Sherrill Central School District
2009 C. Brian Oaks, South Lewis Central School District
Helen's Heart Award
2022 Kristie Morris
2020 Alfonzo Whitehurst, Syracuse City School District
2019 TJ Hoose, Richfield Springs Central School District
2018 Reanna Zappavigna, SUNY Cortland
2017 Payge Lehman, Madison Central School District
2016 Barrett Hawes, Mt. Markham Central School District
2014 Helen Robinson, Utica City School District
Professional of the Year
2022 Amy Dommer, Herkimer Community College
2020 Dr. Brian Bellair, Whitesboro Central School District
2019 Jonna Costin, Central Valley School District
2018 Michael Norris, Syracuse University
2017 Deborah Spinella, Oneida Herkimer Madison BOCES
2016 Tammy Alcott, Waterville Central School District
2013 Colleen Corsi, NYS AHPERD
2012 Cindy Cornish, Central Square School District
2011 Jim Drancszk, Phoenix Central School District
2010 Mark Bader, Baldwinsville Central School District
2009 Jessica Synenki, NYS AHPERD
Joy of Effort Award
2020 Steve Yarnell, Adjunct Instructor at SU & Retired Teacher & Coach
Coach of the Year
2022 Courtney Roberts, Sauquoit Valley Schools
2020 Jonna Costin, Central Valley Central School District
2019 Cheryl Polinsky, LaFayette Central School District
Exercise Science/Sports Medicine Professional of the Year
Rebecca DeMario, Jordan-Elbridge Central School District
American Heart Association Award History
Amazing People Award Recipients
Amazing People award recipients are selected by the Zone President with input from the Zone Board. The award is presented at the NYS AHPERD Conference in November.
