September 18, 2024

Dear Parents and Families,

As we embark on the 2024-2025 school year, I would like to take a moment to express my deep appreciation for the dedication and commitment of New York’s educators, students, and families. With your hard work and passion, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Please take a few moments to watch my welcome back message for all educators, students, and families. The video is part of our Welcome Back Video Series, in which senior staff at the New York State Education Department (NYSED) share their goals for the new school year.

Commemorating September 11, 2001

The New York State Museum announced the opening of a new exhibit, Sadako’s Crane, in The World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response Gallery on Tuesday, September 10th. On display until October 6, 2024, the new exhibit will showcase an important artifact that connects the tragedies of the 1945 Hiroshima, Japan atomic bombing and the September 11, 2001, attacks through the story of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki. In 1955, Sadako created a tiny origami crane using the red wrapper from a container of the medicine she was taking to treat the leukemia she had developed as a result of her exposure to radiation. In 2010, Sadako’s brother, Mashiro Sasaki, donated the crane, one of only seven remaining worldwide, to the 9/11 Tribute Museum in New York City. This significant artifact was transferred to the State Museum from the 9/11 Tribute Museum in 2022.

On September 11th, my senior staff and I visited the World Trade Center Gallery at the New York State Museum, where Sadako's Crane is on display.

Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force

The Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force will host three public hearings on the following dates: 

Monday, September 16, 2024 

New York State Education Building

Chancellor’s Hall 

89 Washington Ave Albany, NY 12234

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm 

Monday, September 23, 2024

Zoom (Virtual) 

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm 

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

The Windward School 

212 E 93rd Street 

New York, NY 10128 

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

To register to attend the hearings and/or provide written or oral testimony, please visit NYSED's Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Hearings webpage.

For questions about the Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force, please email dyslexiataskforce@nysed.gov.

New York State Teacher of the Year

At the September 2024 Board of Regents meeting, the Board and I honored Colleen Keough, a second grade teacher at Hamilton Elementary School in Schenectady, the 2025 New York State Teacher of the Year. Ms. Keough is a tireless advocate for the students in her classroom and for all students and families in the Hamilton Elementary School community. I am proud to honor Ms. Keough as our Teacher of the Year. Congratulations!

Watch this inspiring video from New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) to learn more about 2025 New York State Teacher of the Year Colleen Keough!

Congratulations to the finalists for the 2025 New York State Teacher of the Year who were also honored:

• Nicole Hesari - Todd Elementary School, Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District
• Joshua Levitt - Freeport High School, Freeport School District 

Thank you for all you do to stay involved in your child's education. By attending back-to-school nights and parent-teacher conferences, checking in with your child's teacher regularly, and volunteering at school events when possible, you help ensure that your child has a successful and fulfilling school year. Working together, we can make this the best school year yet!

Sincerely,

Betty A. Rosa

Commissioner