NECSD Selected Educators to Present at 2025 NYSEC Conference in Albany
Christine Baumann and Jacqueline Hall have been selected to present their innovative work at the New York State English Council (NYSEC) Annual Conference this weekend in Albany. This opportunity highlights the cutting-edge instructional practices being developed and implemented right here in Newburgh classrooms.
The 2025 NYSEC Conference, themed "Graffiti Your Dreams," brings together hundreds of English Language Arts (ELA) educators from across New York to share best practices, research, and strategies focused on empowering student voices and building resilient literacy programs. The conference is a premier professional development event, and the presentation by NECSD staff underscores the district’s commitment to fostering critical thinking and civic engagement among its students.
The workshop led by the NECSD team is titled "NEWBURGH THROUGH A CRITICAL LENS: Writing to Reimagine the Places We Live." It focuses on teaching students how to deeply analyze their local environment and history, using writing as a tool for advocacy and change. Baumann and Hall use a 20-foot-long interactive timeline of the history of Newburgh, which they created in conjunction with City Historian Mary McTamaney, to invite students to learn about and engage with the ideas on the timeline and the ideas of one another. Students use the activity as a springboard for deeper research and advocacy. Educators attending the workshop will leave with concrete ideas of how to replicate this community-focused and vital writing experience in their own classrooms and districts.
"This workshop is a testament to the powerful, relevant learning that happens when we connect the curriculum directly to our students' lives and communities," says Melinda Martinez, the ENL teacher who worked on the classroom project alongside the presenters.
The experience of presenting at a state-level conference allows our educators to contribute to the broader educational conversation while gaining valuable feedback on their teaching practices. This ensures that the most current and effective methods are continuously integrated back into the NECSD curriculum, ultimately benefiting every student.
Please join us in congratulating Christine Baumann and Jacqueline Hall on this impressive professional achievement!
Story and photos provided by Mr. Anthony Williams.
ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!
