Geneseo hosts third annual English Teachers’ Day
Photo courtesy of Lanielle Brazee
Pictured are teachers brainstorming in small groups during the plenary session.
On Friday, Apr. 17, SUNY Geneseo welcomed 60 outstanding educators from across the region to the Milne Library for the third annual English Teachers’ Day. This event continues to grow as a hub for professional development, collaboration, and inspiration for English educators who teach grades 7 through 12.
The day began with opening remarks delivered by Dr. Agya Boakye-Boaten, the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Milne librarian Alessandra Otero Ramos, and Dr. Alice Rutkowski, Chair of the English Department, who helped co-organize Teacher’s Day. Together, the three of them emphasized the importance of creating spaces where educators can exchange ideas, build lasting networks, reflect on their teaching, and have an opportunity to be the student.
Sessions were led by English faculty, beginning with Dr. Beth McCoy who led a session on Early Black Poetry, inviting teachers to engage with historically significant texts—such as Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “Sympathy”—and consider strategies for bringing them into their classrooms. Meanwhile, Dr. Sonya Bilocerkowycz facilitated a workshop on creative nonfiction, focusing on ways to help students craft authentic narratives. Dr. Gillian Paku guided participants through her session, “Letters as Literature,” exploring epistolary forms of narration and creation as a creative teaching and learning tool. Finally, Dr. Robert Doggett led a discussion on “Teaching Poetry: Obstacles and Opportunities,” addressing challenges teachers often face when introducing poetry and offering practical strategies for student engagement.
The afternoon brought a second round of workshops as well as lunch, which doubled as an opportunity for optional networking groups for teachers. The informal gatherings allowed participants to connect around shared interests, ranging from book suggestions to learning how to design and build an elective.
Julie Bastedo, a high school English teacher in Orchard Park, NY, led a wonderful discussion centered around logistics and planning for teachers looking to create a new course for their students. Teachers from different districts were then able to exchange contact information and, subsequently, share materials and resources. As noted by Grace Tulowiecki, a high school English teacher at Geneseo City School District (CSD), Teachers’ Day provides a unique opportunity for dozens of teachers across the region in the same discipline to share concerns, solutions, and a sense of camaraderie. This opinion was one shared by all in the room.
At the conclusion of the day, everyone reunited in Milne’s Multipurpose room for the plenary session, entitled “Planning Events, Project-Based Learning & Building Community.” The session was started by Lainelle Brazee (‘26), the student intern, who shared about her experience connecting the community with her students while student teaching. Dr. Ken Cooper, co-organizer and a professor in the English Department, introduced a project his students were currently working on. Then, Andrea Klein, Director of Scheduling and Events, offered insights into how educators can design meaningful, student-centered experiences, focusing on the tool “backwards design” to make planning less overwhelming.
With more than 50 attendees, Geneseo English Teachers’ Day successfully celebrated its third year, demonstrating the value of bringing educators together in a shared, supportive environment. Dr. Rutkowski and Dr. Cooper will be looking for an up-and-coming education candidate next year to serve as the second student intern, a fantastic way to establish new connections with teachers and maintain ones with people you may already know. By combining practical workshops with opportunities for reflection and connection, this event underscores a central idea: teaching is not an isolated endeavor, but a collaborative and evolving practice.