State Senator Shelley Mayer, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, honored 18 exceptional educators from across the 37th Senate District with her 2026 Outstanding Educator Award at a ceremony held on June 15 at Scarsdale High School. The award recognizes educators who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their students, schools, and communities through their leadership, innovation, and dedication to education.
Each honoree was nominated by their school principal or superintendent. During the ceremony, Senator Mayer led a roundtable discussion, providing an opportunity to learn more about their work, the innovative approaches that distinguish them, and the meaningful impact they are making in their schools and communities. Educators shared their experiences and ways they are helping strengthen the communities they serve. Senator Mayer then awarded each educator with a proclamation recognizing their impact.
Senator Mayer honored:
Lisa Azria, Special Education Life Skills Teacher at Bronxville High School, Bronxville Union Free School District;
Melanie Bradish, 5th Grade Teacher at Church Street Elementary School, White Plains Public Schools;
Karen Caine, 6th Grade English Language Arts Teacher at Hommocks Middle School, Mamaroneck Union Free School District;
Andrew Colasuonno, Assistant Principal of Student Services and Director of Athletics at Tuckahoe Middle School, Tuckahoe Union Free School District;
Julie Cupertino, Grades 3 and 4 Special Education Teacher at School 5, Yonkers Public Schools;
Amanda D’Addona, Grade 9 and 10 Social Studies Teacher at Rye Neck High School, Rye Neck School District;
Amy Estersohn, High School English Teacher at White Plains High School, White Plains Public Schools;
Kimberly Fleming, Grades 3 -5 Music Teacher at F.E. Bellows Elementary School at Rye Neck School, Rye Neck School District;
Noreen Garvey, Special Education Teacher at Westchester Hills School 29, Yonkers Public Schools;
Jennifer Gherardi, 5th Grade Math Teacher at William E. Cottle School, Tuckahoe Union Free School District;
Toby Gillen, High School French Teacher at Bronxville High School, Bronxville Union Free School District;
Richard Harman, High School Math Teacher at Yonkers Montessori Academy, Yonkers Public Schools;
Jessica Haag, High School English Teacher at Eastchester High School, Eastchester Union Free School District;
Dina Hofstetter, High School Art Teacher at Scarsdale High School, Scarsdale Union Free School District;
Oren Iosepovici, High School Guidance Counselor at Scarsdale High School, Scarsdale Union Free School District;
Joseph Liberti, Social Studies Civic Education Teacher at Mamaroneck High School, Mamaroneck Union Free School District;
Carrie Valle, Grades 2 -5 Special Education Teacher at Anne Hutchinson School, Eastchester Union Free School District.
Senator Shelley Mayer said, “I am proud to present the 2026 Outstanding Educator Awards to 18 exceptional educators from across the 37th Senate District. These teachers, counselors, and school professionals represent the very best of public education in New York. As Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I am continually inspired by the extraordinary work happening in our schools. It was a privilege to hear directly from these educators about their experiences, their classroom innovations, and the impact they have every day on their students’ lives.
“Thank you to Superintendent Dr. Drew Patrick, Principal Kenneth Bonamo, and the entire Scarsdale High School community for graciously hosting this celebration and helping us honor these outstanding educators.”
Among the recipients –
Lisa Azria, from Bronxville Union Free School District, has dedicated her career to teaching young adults with developmental disabilities and behavioral disorders. Ms. Azria ensures that her students have coordinated instruction across all areas in order to thrive as high as possible – language, reading, fine and gross motor skills, vocational, and so much more. When asked what inspires her work, Ms. Azria said, “My philosophy from the start of my teaching career has been that every child has something special to contribute to their community. It is my job to figure out that ‘something special’, so they can become active contributors to their communities and as independent as possible.”
Julie Cupertino, from Yonkers Public Schools, teaches students with complex and intensive needs through innovative, trauma‑informed, and research‑based instruction. Ms. Cupertino fosters an inclusive and structured classroom where students experience academic growth alongside gains in emotional regulation, independence, and self‑confidence. She uses combinations of hands-on learning, STEAM activities, executive functional supports, cultural arts integrations and original strategies to ensure equitable access and meaningful engagement for all learners.
Amanda D’Addona, from Rye Neck Union Free School District, has an innovative approach to teaching history, making the subject meaningful and relevant by helping students connect historical events and lessons to their own lives and contemporary issues. Beyond the classroom, she serves as advisor to the Student Senate, revitalizing the organization within the Rye Neck Public Schools and empowering students to tackle important issues and engage in causes that matter most to them. In addition, Ms. D’Addona coaches two sports teams and advises the Human Rights Club, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to student leadership, civic engagement, and personal growth.
Richard Harman, from Yonkers Public Schools, has taught for 25 exceptional years in the Yonkers Public School System. Mr. Harman mentors students both in and beyond the classroom through experiential learning opportunities, including intersession travel programs and local service partnerships that foster independence, empathy, and global citizenship. He is also the founder of the school’s Math Honor Society (Mu Alpha Theta), now serving over 100 students through peer tutoring and service, and a co‑leader of programs such as Project Impact and Eagle Eats, which integrate service learning, entrepreneurship, and community support.
Oren Iosepovici, from Scarsdale Union Free School District, is known for his incredible and far-reaching stewardship of the counseling program and has developed a comprehensive approach within his department to supporting students at Scarsdale High School. Mr. Iosepovici has skillfully been guiding students as a Dean for the past 18 years and leading the Counseling Department as Director for the last 10. As Director of Counseling, he led a sophisticated sequence of consequential events, activities, conversations, and decisions that have a direct impact on our students’ futures, helping earn them admission to a diverse array of prestigious colleges and universities.
