May 24, 2011

SARATOGA COUNTY EDUCATOR RECEIVES STATE BAR’S LAW, YOUTH & CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM EMIL ZULLO TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake teacher Karen Ferris-Fearnside has been honored as the Emil Zullo Teacher of the Year Award by the Law, Youth & Citizenship Committee of the New York State Bar Association.

In her 38 years of teaching, Ferris-Fearnside has taught all grades 7-12. She has mentored many teachers and inspired countless students to be engaged, responsible citizens. She has traveled and written extensively about her observations.

 “Karen Ferris-Fearnside’s remarkable presence can be felt in every corner of the state,” said Eileen Gerrish, director of the Law, Youth & Citizenship(LYC) program. “From Watertown to Jamestown to Levittown, she has helped LYC grow to be the third largest civics education network in the nation.”

LYC Chair James Hanlon added, “She has conducted well over 50 professional development sessions for us in the past 15 years. At a moderate average of 20 teachers per session, that’s over 1,000 teachers trained -- and those teachers in turn have taught thousands of students statewide using the techniques and information presented by Karen.”

Ferris-Fearnside received the award at a dinner ceremony on May 19, held in conjunction with the Capital District Council of Social Studies.

The award is presented annually by the State Bar Association to an educator who has made an outstanding contribution to law-related and civic education. It is named in honor of social studies teacher Emil “Butch” Zullo, who was a Social Studies teacher at Kingston High School for many years and later an assistant director the LYC Program before his death in 2003.

The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in 1876.

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