Finley English Teacher to be Honored at State Conference

Erica Parris is being recognized as one of the best at her craft. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School teacher will be honored by the New York State English Council and presented with the organization’s Educators of Excellence Award.

“Each year the New York State English Council recognizes excellence in teaching by presenting awards at its annual conference to English Language Arts educators nominated by their schools and then selected by the Council,” according to the organization.

The awards ceremony will be a highlight of this year’s NYSEC conference in Albany. This year’s conference theme is “Tracing Paths: Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, and Shaping the Future.”

Ms. Parris has taught in Huntington UFSD for 28 years. After graduating from Half Hollow Hills West High School, she earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at SUNY Binghamton. She garnered the Clifford D. Clark Fellowship scholarship at Binghamton, named in honor of a former college president. She won a full tuition scholarship.

Ms. Parris pursued dual undergraduate majors at Binghamton in English literature and Afro-American and African Studies. Her Master of Arts degree is in Teaching English 7-12.

It is a special honor to be recognized by the NYS English Council as an Educator of Excellence,” Ms. Parris said. "It means someone put my name forward, and the Council of professionals who know the details of what we do, agree that I meet the standard. I truly appreciate the award and I’m excited to go to Albany next week to receive it."