Science Teacher Named Technology Alliance of Central New York Outstanding Teacher of the Year

The Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY) presented Gwen Raeford, Fowler High School science teacher with their 2012 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award at the recent Board of Education Business Meeting. The award was created in 1988 to recognize the vital role that teachers play in the preparation of future technologists.

The Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1903. The mission of the organization is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation, and education of technology; and to collaborate with like-minded organizations across Central New York. The mission is implemented through various programs and initiatives including the Outstanding Teacher Awards Program, TACNY Junior Café Scientifique, Science Olympiad, Build ‘Em and Bust ‘Em Bridge Building Competition, Greater Syracuse Scholastic Science Fair, CNY Rocket Team Challenge, Milton J. Rubinstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) which TACNY originally started as the Discovery Center.

Ms. Raeford was recognized for her continued passion and commitment to the students at Fowler High School and throughout the Syracuse City School District. Among her many accomplishments she founded a chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at Fowler and continues to serve as the group’s adviser. The NSBE program has enhanced the educational opportunity for hundreds of students at Fowler. Through her guidance and her students’ dedication the Syracuse City School District has received awards such as Chapter of the Year, Chapter of the Semester, National First Place Science Fair, and two second place Robotics awards at the National level.

Last year, Ms. Raeford collaborated with SUNY ESF and founded an Environmental Club at Fowler to raise students’ awareness of how to maintain their communities. While serving on the Board of the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency she implemented a school wide recycling program. She is a coach for Fowler’s science fair competitions, and teaches forensic science workshops to elementary school-aged children. She also chairs an annual boat race, in which middle and high school students build boats out of cardboard and race them at Fowler. Ms. Raeford is involved with SECME, a national group that seeks to increase the number of underrepresented groups -- minorities and women -- who pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Ms. Raeford will be recognized at TACNY’s Twenty-Fourth Annual Awards banquet on May 4, 2012 from 6:00-9:30 PM at the Ramada Inn. She will be presented with a check for $1000 and recognized as one of five outstanding teachers from Central New York.