We asked students, staff, and our community to help celebrate our teachers, and here's what you all had to say!

Teacher: Mrs. Kelly - Social Studies

Submitted by: Tyler Hinckley

Mrs. Kelly has made me enjoy social studies and pushed me to be the best student I could be every day. She’s funny, supportive, and a good teacher.

Teacher: Jennifer Streeter - Math

Submitted by: Anonymous

Jennifer Streeter is a very kind person who is always there for a student when you need her. After a family member passed, she gave me a big hug and said, “If you need absolutely anything, let me know.” She’s kind, caring, and funny.

Teacher: Ms. Rougeau - Pre-K

Submitted by: Natasha Curtis

Ms. Rougeau is such a light! She’s so full of love and kindness. She treats our children as if they were her own and helps them thrive and glow! A memorable quote that reflects her is, “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think,” by A.A. Milne. She’s kind, empathetic, and personable. She has the biggest heart out of anyone I’ve ever met!

Teacher: Mr. Weaver - Special Education 5th Grade

Submitted by: Ashley Sweatman

Mr. Weaver has made a tremendous difference in my daughter’s school experience this year. She feels very comfortable with him and loves working with him. He advocates for her needs and is very flexible and caring. We are so grateful for him! A memorable moment was when Mr. Weaver advocated for my daughter with other teachers so everyone was on the same page, and it made a big difference. He’s caring, attentive, and supportive. Without Mr. Weaver, this big transition year would not have gone as smoothly as it has.

Teacher: Mrs. Conklin

Submitted by: Natasha Curtis

Mrs. Conklin helps shape and guide our little ones! She gets down with them on a personal level and exudes such a beautiful amount of love, kindness, and patience! She’s one of the best! A quote that reflects her is, “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong,” by Ella Fitzgerald. She’s patient, sweet, and loving. She’s absolutely amazing! She gives our children the extra love and time with one-on-one care to make sure they thrive and succeed. She has the patience of a saint and is an absolute blessing!

Teacher: Sharron Schnaufer

Submitted by: Tasha Carpenter

Sharron Schnaufer is an amazing teacher, excellent with her students. She does what she has to help her students without a doubt. I’m thankful I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside her in her classroom. She’s always putting a smile on the students’ faces. She’s amazing, patient, and caring.

Teacher: Mr. Myatt - Global Studies

Submitted by: Hayden Berry Doane

Mr. Myatt has impacted me by being a teacher I know I could go to if I needed someone to talk to. He’s also helped me understand my schoolwork a lot more. One time, I was having a hard time understanding an assignment and was getting frustrated and overstimulated, but he “dumbed” it down so I could understand it better, and it worked. He’s caring, devoted, and motivational. Mr. Myatt cares a lot about his students’ mental and physical health more than any other teacher I’ve had. He checks up on me when I’m having a bad day and makes funny jokes to make me laugh because he knows I’ve struggled with several mental health problems. He genuinely wants the best for all of us students.

Teacher: Nikki - OT at Willard (Prior)

Submitted by: Natasha Curtis

Nikki is taking the time to teach my son in the areas he is struggling with. Her patience is absolutely admirable! Thanks to her, he has come so far and is thriving. The time she takes and the love she gives him is truly beautiful! A quote that reflects her is, “Dream big... don’t let anybody or anything break your wishbone. Stay strong, full of faith, and courageous... keep that backbone straight. And along the way, don’t forget to laugh and enjoy the journey,” by Chuck Swindoll. She’s patient, dedicated, and determined. She’s such a sweet, kind soul! You guys are so lucky to have her! She is forever changing lives, literally! Super grateful for Ms. Nikki!

Teacher: Mrs. Smith - 3rd Grade

Submitted by: Brittaney O'Dell

Mrs. Smith welcomed my daughter to Seneca Elementary as a new student this year. Braelynn had a rough couple of years in her old school, and Mrs. Smith did not judge her. She treated Braelynn like she didn’t have a past and worked hard for her to have a successful year. My daughter has succeeded this year more than any year before. I’m thrilled we made the right decision to move to Oneida School District. One time, she had to go to the office for not being kind to her friend during lunch. Instead of lecturing her, Mrs. Smith took a couple of minutes to check on her, gave her a hug, and told her she knows she is a good girl who made a mistake. She’s kind, caring, and fun. Please consider Mrs. Smith for the impact and hard work she instills in the lives of the children she teaches. This has been the best year my daughter has ever had! We are blessed to have had her and Mr. Coriale in our daughter’s life!

Teacher: Mrs. McLain - Art

Submitted by: Nadine Ray

Mrs. McLain has given me so much confidence in not only my art but in myself. When I was scared about singing in front of people for the musical, I talked to her about it, and she told me to be brave and not worry about how other people react or feel because none of that will matter in the long run. She’s supportive, inspiring, and understanding. She’s not only an amazing teacher but an incredible friend.

Teacher: Linda Buschatzke - 2nd Grade

Submitted by: Anonymous

Linda Buschatzke is an incredible educator. She loves each student who walks through the doors of Seneca Street Elementary. No matter what, she always shows up for her kids and staff who are in her classroom. We appreciate all that she does to make each kiddo feel seen and loved. Linda is always going above and beyond to make sure her students receive the best possible education. A quote that reflects her is, “Educators are the only people who lose sleep over other people’s kids,” by N. Ferroni. She’s strong, willing, and passionate.

Teachers: Mrs. Bradley and Mrs. Pawlikowski

Submitted by: Brittaney O'Dell

Mrs. Pawlikowski and Mrs. Bradley have worked tirelessly to build a relationship and trust with my daughter. These two teachers stood their ground at my daughter’s IEP meeting to make sure she would succeed in the future and not fall through the educational cracks. They’re determined, compassionate, and wonderful. My daughter has autism and Tourette syndrome. Both teachers came up with different ideas to help with her eyes by utilizing a blue screen for her Chromebook. If she needed to see another teacher or principal (not for any trouble), Mrs. Bradley would go with her so she would have someone she trusted with her. Both teachers are absolutely the kindest women I have ever met and truly care about the kids!

Teacher: Mrs. Rush - Math

Submitted by: Summer

Mrs. Rush helped me with having confidence in myself. A memorable moment was in 2nd grade at NB during the donut challenge. She’s amazing, funny, and smart.

Teacher: Mr. Markle - History

Submitted by: Anonymous

Mr. Markle always brightens class with his unique sense of humor and his willingness to speak his mind. He ensures an entertaining learning environment with his students, whether that be through videos, one-man shows, or unmatched conversation starters. His dedication to keeping his students informed on current events does not go unappreciated. A quote that reflects him is, “I have 5 minutes - I’m gonna use them.” He’s authentic, energetic, and involved.

Teacher: Miss Zeller - Kindergarten

Submitted by: Sheena McCready

Miss Zeller works patiently with students and their needs in the classroom. She sits there and takes her time to help students and helps them accomplish things that may be a bit difficult for them. She’s awesome, friendly, and caring. Miss Zeller has done an amazing job trying to understand my son with his speech issues and motor skills. She has complimented my son on how he tries his hardest to accomplish things in the classroom that may be difficult for him and how he will clean up after other students without being told to do so. She is an all-around amazing person and awesome teacher.

Teacher: Mrs. Rogers - 5th Grade

Submitted by: Cindy Wilson

Mrs. Rogers is very kind and helpful. She helps with my son’s math homework. She’s always there for her students. She has helped both of my older two kids with anything they needed help with. Anytime I’m having a freakout with helping my son with his math homework, she is right there to walk me through it. We need more teachers like her. She is such an amazing teacher with a kind heart and is an amazing person. She’s kind, friendly, and warm-hearted. She’s an amazing teacher.

Teacher: Mr. Litwak - Geometry

Submitted by: Anonymous

Mr. Litwak is very well-driven and a great person to be around. As a student who has never believed in my own abilities to do math, Mr. Litwak has shown me that I can do this. He’s honestly one of the most humorous people I know and truly one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. A quote that reflects him is, “You can do these things.” He’s funny, considerate, and insightful. He never fails to make most people smile or laugh.

Teacher: Ms. Fox - Spanish

Submitted by: McKay

Ms. Fox always advocates for the students’ best interests. When sitting on a committee with her, she advocated for students and made make sure they were fairly represented and put their interests and needs first. To me, this embodies a true educator. She’s kind, thoughtful, and knowledgeable. She’s committed to doing the best job.

Teacher: Mrs. Jones

Submitted by: Hollis Pizzimenti

Mrs. Jones helps us learn. A memorable moment is brain breaks! She’s fun, cool, and creative. She’s a great teacher.

Teacher: Ms. Marhardy - 2nd Grade (with Mrs. Jones)

Submitted by: Hollis Pizzimenti

Ms. Marhardy lets us do fun stuff like reading our books together as a group. She lets us read about Howard Carter, who found Tutankhamen’s tomb. She’s cool, fun, and a great teacher.

Teacher: Coach D - Seneca Street PE

Submitted by: Hollis Pizzimenti

Coach D makes gym class super fun. He let us play Ga-ga ball. He’s fun, smart, and fun!

Teacher: Mr. Steenburg - Science

Submitted by: Makayla Liess

Mr. Steenburg helped me when times were rough. He helped me be happy. He’s brave, caring, and nice. He’s the best teacher ever.

Teacher: Mrs. Paz - 4th Grade

Submitted by: Anonymous

Mrs. Paz is extremely happy, respectful, kind, and caring. Fun class activities and her personality just brighten up my day. For instance, every morning she would have music to freshen up our days. She’s amazing, hilarious, and understanding. She treats everybody with kindness and compassion.

Teacher: Mr. Finnerty - Seneca Street Library

Submitted by: Hollis Pizzimenti

We learned to type with Type-tastic. Mr. Finnerty takes the time to show us really cool books in the library. He’s fun, nice, and funny.

Teacher: Mr. Coriale - Seneca Street Principal

Submitted by: Hollis Pizzimenti

Mr. Coriale keeps school safe. He makes every day special by giving each day a special name like Thumbs Up Thursday and my favorite, Tee-hee Tuesday. He’s fun, a great principal, and kind.

Teachers: Mrs. Ezman and Mrs. Trumble

Submitted by: Elianna Snyder

Mrs. Ezman and Mrs. Trumble have helped Elianna excel. They’re nice, attentive, and caring. They’re both amazing people.

Teacher: Mrs. Driemiller - Science and English

Submitted by: Anonymous

Mrs. Driemiller is just a kind person and lovely to have as my teacher. Thank you for all you do. She’s kind, sweet, and joyful. You are the best teacher ever to have.

Teacher: Ms. Belowich - Kindergarten

Submitted by: Brandon Guernsey

My daughter, has had many challenges when it comes to learning, focus, and willingness to understand many things. Ms. Belowich not only recognized the things that needed to be improved but even reached out to come up with a plan best to fit her present and future. The improvement from the beginning of the year to the end has been amazing. I couldn’t be more grateful for someone to show patience, understand my child, and, most of all, her ability to connect with her. My daughter absolutely loves her teacher, loves going to school, and talks about her as if she is part of the family. Thank you so much for your work this year, very impressive! No quote or memorable moment will ever take away from the amazing work she has provided as an educator. It’s not just one quote or moment; it’s about each and every single one she provided in less than a year. She’s passionate, caring, and driven. She deserves to be recognized in front of the whole school district, county, and statewide! Let this teacher get her time to shine!

Teacher: Mrs. Sawner

Submitted by: Rylee Westcott

Mrs. Sawner is so kind and sweet. She never lets you down and is always standing up for kids no matter what. She is a refreshing breath of kindness in a world full of hate. She’s loving, beautiful, and kind-hearted.

Teacher: Mr. Myatt - U.S. History

Submitted by: Berlyn Schroeter and Meadow Liddiard

Mr. Myatt is a great teacher to talk to when you’re having a bad day or even a good one. Every day, Mr. Myatt says things to us that put a smile on our faces. He’s funny, honest, and supportive.

Teacher: Mr. Goggins - Science

Submitted by: Anonymous

Mr. Goggins cares about his students’ education and has a fun way to present the material. He’s quirky, open-minded, and caring.

Teacher: Ms. Piccola

Submitted by: Anonymous

Ms. Piccola always goes above and beyond for her students. She takes her own time to check on and assist students as well as their families. A memorable moment is when past students come in and run right up to her and tell her their success stories and how she helped mold them into the people they are today. She’s caring, funny, and dedicated. Ms. Piccola is always engaged with her students and is a building favorite among students and coworkers. She’s always willing to put her own things aside to step up and help anyone.

Teacher: Mr. Anderalli - Band

Submitted by: Anonymous

Mr. Anderalli shows appreciation for his students and helps them achieve their best.

Teacher: Tom Rose - Gym

Submitted by: Alexis DeGroat

Tom Rose has helped me through so much and many other people. He’s always nice to everyone and is always helping others. A quote that reflects him is, “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm,” by Abraham Lincoln. He’s thoughtful, open-minded, and kind. He’s the best ever!

Teacher: Mrs. Engler - First Grade

Submitted by: Selena DeFrancisci

Mrs. Engler is always friendly, patient, kind, caring, and accommodating, among other things. She keeps us informed of anything we should know and is always welcome and open to discussion regarding ways to better support my daughter. It’s clear that she loves her job and being around the children. She meets my daughter at her “level” and really took the time to learn how to support her individual needs. During Spring break, my daughter became sad one day, and when I asked her what was wrong, she said, “I miss Mrs. Engler.” She clearly enjoys having her as a teacher! Mrs. Engler is supportive, caring, and a safe space.

Teacher: Brianna Crawford - School Aide

Submitted by: Anonymous

Brianna is always willing to go above and beyond to help anyone who needs it. She’s wonderful with our students and always encourages them to try their best. When a student struggles, she’s patient with them and finds a unique way to work with their individual needs. She’s an asset to the school, the staff, and the students. Brianna shows great empathy to our students, especially in times when they are distraught and having a difficult moment. She shows compassion, allows them to be heard, and does her best to help them overcome and be successful in their school day. She’s kind, hard-working, and patient. She’s always looking for new ways to help the students achieve their goals and is always polite and respectful.

Teacher: Kathy Zangrilli - First Grade, 4th Grade, and Assistant Principal at OSMS

Submitted by: Anonymous

Kathy is passionate about making a difference in the lives of all she encounters. She wants the best for her students and their families. She’ll always be one of my favorite educators of all time! Kathy celebrates the accomplishments, no matter how small. Her excitement for life and learning is contagious! She’s awesome, inspirational, and intelligent. Kathy has left a legacy in our district! Anyone who has worked with her feels the same as I do. I would love for her to feel the love!

Teacher: Marianne Urtz - Pre-K

Submitted by: Anonymous

Marianne teaches each group with compassion and patience. Her students become her children. They’re blessed to have come through her classroom. People who work with her are in awe. I’m proud to be a part of her work family. A quote that reflects her is, “Grace is the beauty of the soul,” by Saint Augustine. She’s graceful, compassionate, and patient. She’s an amazing soul.

Teacher: Cindy Smith - 3rd Grade

Submitted by: Anonymous

Mrs. Smith has shown dedication and compassion. She’s always looking for ways to connect the content to the students. She’s professional, open-minded, and a great role model. Mrs. Smith loves to make connections. She’s always been a teacher that colleagues can look up to. She’s hard-working, dedicated, and compassionate.

Teacher: Mrs. Culkin - Math (OSMS)

Submitted by: Anonymous

Mrs. Culkin has impacted my life greatly, in and out of the classroom. In 8th grade, she helped me understand math (which I was never able to understand until her) and was there for me during the hard times. She knew how I worked and was able to cater to what I needed and could handle. She’s truly one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. Even being out of middle school now, I still try my best to go back just to see my favorite teacher. One day, she was telling me about a shirt her daughter found that said, “I saw that. You nasty.” She regularly quoted this, and I made a shirt with her face on it with “I saw that. You nasty” on it. She loves her job. Everyone needs a Mrs. Culkin in their life.

Teacher: Melissa Smith

Submitted by: Ashley Howroyd

Melissa Smith is a great teacher! She’s very informative and keeps me up to date on my child’s progress and concerns she may have. She has great communication skills. She’s my son’s favorite teacher! She’s kind and caring.

Teacher: Mrs. DeGroat - English

Submitted by: Sadi Carpenter

Mrs. DeGroat introduced us to The Sandlot, which is the best movie ever. She makes class fun every Friday. She’s funny, nice, and smart.

Teacher: Mrs. Gleason

Submitted by: Emma

Mrs. Gleason is always so energetic and welcoming. She makes students feel so safe and always puts effort into making her class fun and entertaining. She has such a big impact on her students, not only as a teacher but as a person. She sees us as more than students or teenagers; she treats us like family. A quote that reflects her is, “Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning.” When I first read this quote, I immediately thought of Mrs. Gleason. As a student, I can truly see how much she loves teaching; her passion is so bright that it reflects off all of her students. She’s affable, joyous, and comical. She deserves the world.

Teacher: Mrs. Nestler - Math

Submitted by: Rikki Ortman

Mrs. Nestler has helped my son with all his math factors, and every day he comes home excited to tell me what she has taught him. A quote that reflects her is, “To the world, you may just be a teacher, but to your students, you are a hero.” She’s helpful, understanding, and amazing. This teacher goes above and beyond for her students. All my kids tell me they hope she’s their teacher when they go into 3rd grade.

Teacher: Mrs. Armlin

Submitted by: Kylie Meade

I love how Mrs. Armlin always keeps me updated about my child and loves sharing his favorite things together. She’s always so amazing with him. Definitely the best teacher I’ve ever had! I’ll never forget the day my son came home so excited to wear his matching NFL team gear with his teacher and always hearing how great he is to have in her class. She’s inspiring, dedicated, and encouraging. She’s an amazing teacher, and we’re so lucky to have her!

Teacher: Mrs. Sayles

Submitted by: Meghan Wagner

Mrs. Sayles is the kindest and most patient teacher ever! She always deals with all the kids at dances. She’s kind, funny, and caring. Her favorite soda is Dr. Pepper, like mine!

Teacher: Ms. O’Herien - Social Studies

Submitted by: Aaliyah Snyder

Ms. O’Herien always has snacks for students and is very kind to people. A memorable moment was when I thought, “You always act nice, but sometimes you look like you are confused about how we do these things.” She deserves a lot for knowing that some people don’t listen to her when asked. I think she’s an amazing teacher. She’s kind, thoughtful, and caring. I think she deserves this honor.

Teacher: Mrs. Sawner - Math

Submitted by: Nayelih Orcutt

Mrs. Sawner has such an uplifting personality and is always there for every student, creating a comfortable classroom to be in. She knows her students best, and I say that with my whole heart because whenever I’m having a rough day, she knows the exact words to say to get me to be myself again. She’s memorable, attentive, and patient. Everyone needs a Mrs. Sawner by their side because I know when I did, and still do, she’s always been the most supportive person to go to.

Teacher: Mrs. Gwilt - Middle School Chorus and Music

Submitted by: Dea Dlugolecki

Mrs. Gwilt has helped me through my first steps in music and singing. She’s truly an inspirational teacher, and I’ll miss her next year but will never forget the impact she’s made on my journey! Every single one-on-one lesson we’ve had, I’ve enjoyed just talking and being able to get off-topic a bit while still getting things done. She’s amazing, fabulous, and cheerful. Mrs. Gwilt is always on top of things and very reliable.