Watervliet sixth grader interviews district's master teachers, state education commissioner

Jan. 4, 2012

Just before the holiday break, the Watervliet City School District hosted a ceremony to honor 25 local teachers, including three from Watervliet, who earned National Board Certification this year.

In cooperation with WVLT Channel 17, Watervliet sixth grader Patrick Ethier got the opportunity to conduct one-on-one video interviews during the event. In the below video, Ethier interviews state Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. and New York State United Teachers Vice President Maria Neira, both of whom were among those present at the event to honor the local teachers. Ethier also interviewed Watervliet’s outgoing superintendent Dr. Paul Padalino, the district’s newly appointed superintendent Dr. Lori S. Caplan and Watervliet teachers Megan Cahill, Michaeleen Backus and Todd Birmingham.

Cahill, Birmingham and Backus are the first Watervliet teachers to achieve National Board Certification, a voluntary credentialing process widely considered to be the "gold standard" for teaching excellence.

In the below video, it’s NYSUT’s Ms. Neira that turns the table on Patrick and begins interviewing him. She asks the sixth grader what he thinks of school.

“I think the school here is great. We have a lot of good teachers,” Patrick said.

Watervliet students Nate Spain, Kylea Spain and Kelly Veshia and the staff of the Watervliet Housing Authority assisted with the production of the video.

 

 

See related story: Watervliet and other local teachers achieve National Board Certification