Kathleen DeKalb receives Outstanding Business Educator Award

Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School business teacher Kathleen DeKalb recently received the 2011 Outstanding Business Educator Award in Albany.  She has been active in business education at the local, state, and national levels, and served on the Executive Board of Business Teachers Association of New York State in various positions from regional director to president.

Mrs. DeKalb is also active in National Business Education Association and recently served as secondary program director at the national convention in San Diego and has been invited to conduct numerous presentations at NBEA and BTANYS conventions.

In recommending Kathie for the award, Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School principal Deborah Larrabee, wrote:

 “There is absolutely no question in my mind that Mrs. DeKalb is the finest business teacher I have ever worked with in my over 20 years in education. She is wonderful with students, respected by the staff and an exemplary model of what it means to be a professional educator. Kathie is a natural leader and has developed and trained teachers across disciplines to insure that our curricular meets the needs of 21st century learners. Kathie is an amazing treasure that needs to be recognized, applauded, and emulated.” One of Kathie’s students sums it all up, “Mrs. DeKalb is an unsung hero in our school. She quietly and calmly makes a difference in our lives and never demands recognition for what she does. On her desk is a sign that says, 'kindness matters'. That is Mrs. DeKalb – a kind, compassionate teacher that cares about her students’ future and helps us care about our future too.”

Mrs. DeKalb also has a list of projects with NYSED which include the development of curriculum for CTE specialty courses, CTE Sequence Study, Scope and Sequence for Business Information Systems, and career plan pilot program.