CASDA's Annual Awards and Friends of Education Dinner will be held on April 30, 2026 at Duo at the Dunes in Albany, NY

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Strong school communities also benefit immeasurably from the contributions of staff members, community members and parents who support your schools and offer opportunities for enrichment beyond the classroom. To acknowledge the important work of these individuals, CASDA established the Friends of Education Award to recognize individuals whose selfless dedication supports and sustains the school community.

 

In the past, awards have been given to individuals in recognition of the wide array contributions they have made to their school, students and community. Recipients have included an individual who organized food backpack programs to address student hunger, dedicated volunteers involved with after school reading programs and a facilities director who worked with students to implement gender neutral bathrooms, to describe a few. While these efforts may not be reported on a state school report card, they enrich the lives of students and reflect education’s highest ideals.​​​

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The 2026 Friends of Education Award Recipients are:

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Mary Kay Smollin, Shaker High School Hall Monitor, North Colonie CSD
Jeffery Smith, Montgomery County Sheriff, Fort Plain CSD
Sierra Pizzola, Communications Specialist, Greenville CSD
Lori Lewis, Brittonkill PTSA President, Brunswick CSD
Judi Matthews, Chatham Education Foundation Chairperson and Co-President of The Chatham Area Silent Pantry, Chatham CSD
Colleen Urlich, Educational Consultant, CASDA
Holly Clark, IT Assistant, Berne-Knox-Westerlo CSD
Wes Lackie, A/V Technician, Coxsackie-Athens CSD
Pat Ross, Volunteer, Ravena Coeymans Selkirk CSD
Rebecca "Becky" Muller, Director of Security, Mohonasen CSD
Cheryl Dozier, Associate Professor/Associate Dean, UAlbany
Shelley and Chris Arduini, Community members/local small business owners, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville CSD

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