Our Empire State Excellence Award Teachers

Ogdensburg City School District is proud to have several Empire State Excellence Award winners as part of our Ogdensburg Free Academy faculty.

The Empire State Excellence Award for Teachers was a program established in 2016 by former Governor Andrew Cuomo to honor and financially support outstanding educators throughout New York State. The award recognizes teachers who excel at:

Inspiring Creativity: Fostering a love of learning and encouraging creative thinking in their students.

Promoting Achievement: Motivating students to set and reach ambitious academic goals.

Encouraging Inquiry: Cultivating critical thinking skills and student-led initiatives.

Commitment to Growth: Actively pursuing ongoing professional development.

“I am extremely proud of our district teachers. This is an amazing achievement and it demonstrates their drive and commitment to the profession, as well as to the OFA students and the entire Ogdensburg Community,”

– Ogdensburg City School Superintendent Kevin Kendall

Recipients of the award receive a stipend of $5,000 to be used for their continued learning and professional development. They are also given the opportunity to directly advise education policymakers, sharing their insights and expertise. The program is managed by a selection panel of leaders from various professional education associations in New York.

Dianne Drayse-Alonso, 7-12 Art Teacher

Drayse-Alonso, the advisor for the high school Art and Gallery Club and the Art Department Chairperson, has a classroom designed to support a wide range of artistic activities. The space includes a large main area for general classes, a mini-Mac lab, dedicated zones for still-life painting and printmaking, and plenty of storage. Additionally, it features moving display walls and an adjacent small studio for students in the Independent Study program.

“I think this award honors the teaching profession as a whole by acknowledging our commitment to lifelong learning, a practice that we strive to model for our students. ‘Be curious!’ is essentially what I teach students on a daily basis through the visual arts. The grant money provided a professional growth opportunity that I would never have had otherwise – traveling to Japan to study woodblock printmaking. I am a better artist and teacher because of this amazing cultural experience,” Ms. Drayse-Alonso says.

Bridgette Havens, 7/8 English Teacher

“It is an honor to be receiving the Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award. After close to twenty years of teaching, this achievement exemplifies my commitment and passion for education,” says Ms. Havens. “As an educator, my day-to-day interactions with students and involvement in my community both serve as an example of what can be achieved when you dedicate yourself to your work. This award will allow me the opportunity to further pursue professional growth opportunities and bring that learning back to my students. It is exciting to consider where this opportunity can and will take me.”

Kylie Pinkerton, 7-12 Spanish Teacher

Pinkerton says it was an honor to receive the Excellence in Teaching Award and be recognized for her work and dedication. “However, more exciting is what the generous stipend that comes with the award will allow me to provide for my students! An assortment of flexible seating options in my deskless classroom, several World Language professional development opportunities in second language acquisition, and a variety of materials and resources to create engaging lessons and foster multicultural awareness are at the top of the list,” said Pinkerton.

Christina B. Frank

Christina Frank, formerly a Spanish teacher at Ogdensburg Free Academy and UPK-2 Principal at Kennedy Elementary School, is now the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment is also a recipient of the Empire State Excellence Award.