Patricia Roberts, a Stewart School Resource Room teacher, has been appointed to the New York State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching. She is one of 28 members statewide. Mrs. Roberts has worked at Stewart not only as a teacher, but also did her administrative internship there.

The State Board of Regents, as part of its teaching reform initiatives outlined in the 1998 report, New York’s Commitment : Teaching to the High Standards , called for the State Professional Standards and Practices Board for teaching to develop a Code of Ethics for Teachers.

The Standards Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Regents and the Commissioner of Education. Its membership consists of teachers, school administrators, higher education representatives, public members, and a teacher education student. The Board worked for over a year to develop a draft Code of Ethics. The process involved a review of numerous other codes developed by professional organizations and by other jurisdictions, both for the teaching profession and for other professions. Individual Board members also consulted with their colleagues in the field to inform the process.

The Code of Ethics is a public statement by educators that sets clear expectations and principles to guide practice and inspire professional excellence. Educators believe a commonly held set of principles can assist in the individual exercise of professional judgment. This Code speaks to the core values of the profession.

In her letter of recommendation for Mrs. Roberts, Dr. Marie Braccia, Stewart School principal, described Mrs. Roberts, involvement in teacher evaluations, professional development and the hiring of new teachers. She has facilitated several staff development workshops in areas of her expertise which include differentiated instruction, inclusion and grant writing. Dr. Braccia said that, “Patricia Roberts has all the hallmarks of a lifelong learner, and avails herself of opportunities to learn new material. She attends many graduate level and in-service courses. She wrote and received two technology grants from Nassau Tract: one for the Earobics Literacy Launch and another for The Civil War: Primary Source.”

Mrs. Roberts is also a member of Stewart School’s Discipline Committee, the Stewart School Instructional Support Team, the Stewart School Crises Response Team and the Stewart School Site-Based Team.