Skip to main content

byron-bergen central school district

Two inductees to the Byron-Bergen Alumni Hall of Fame to be honored Wednesday

By Billie Owens

Press release and submitted photos:

Byron-Bergen Central School District has named two alumni to its Hall of Fame for 2019. Kenneth Hay (Class of 1966) and Dennis DeVelder (Class of 2001) join the ranks of other distinguished Byron-Bergen alumni honored with a place in the Alumni Hall of Fame for their achievements after graduation.

The Byron-Bergen Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes the accomplishments of the district’s graduates, providing young people with positive adult role models and showing that graduates of Byron-Bergen can achieve high levels of accomplishment in their lives.

This honor is in its 16th year and has become part of the school district culture. It is a permanent reminder to students about the outcome of hard work and diligence.

The 2019 Byron-Bergen Alumni Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27, in the Byron-Bergen High School Auditorium.

The two inductees will spend the day visiting with Byron-Bergen students and will be sharing how their school experience influenced their lives. The inductees will briefly speak to students and receive their Alumni Hall of Fame plaques during the school’s National Senior Honor Society induction ceremony.

Kenneth Hay – Class of 1966

While attending Byron-Bergen, Hay participated in Concert Band, Concert Choir, Yearbook Club, and Wrestling. After graduating high school, Hay received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Fredonia State College, after which he continued with graduate work at Fredonia, Brockport and Geneseo state colleges, and the University of New Hampshire at Durham.

He taught music at East Irondequoit, Alexander and Batavia school districts. He started working as Batavia City High School band director from 1982 until his retirement in 2003, being named Music Department chairman in 1991. Hay was instrumental in Batavia’s concert and marching bands, jazz ensemble, and the musical pit orchestra.

For many years, he organized the Pageant of Bands in Batavia to show the musical talents of high school bands. He directed the pit orchestra for Batavia Rotary Club productions for many years.

Hay served as president of the Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators’ Association and was a member of the New York State School Music Association. Accolades include Paul Harris Fellowship (awarded by the Rotary Club), University of Rochester’s Teaching in Secondary Schools Award (1995), and recognition by Warner School of Education as being a Teacher of Excellence (2003).

Hay shared his musical passion inspiring students to "make music, not just play music," and serves as a positive role model for the youth of Byron-Bergen.

Dennis DeVelder (Class of 2001)

While at Byron-Bergen, DeVelder participated in Baseball and Golf. After graduation, DeVelder worked for his family’s lawn care business until July 2008 when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. After recovering from brain surgery, DeVelder began taking classes online at Monroe Community College. He eventually earned his associate degree and went on to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Finance at SUNY Brockport.

DeVelder was inducted into Tau Sigma Honor Society and underwent a second brain surgery prior to graduation in May 2012. Following radiation treatment in the summer of 2012, DeVelder was hired at The Villa of Hope, an organization that provides trauma-informed care for youth and families in Rochester. DeVelder remains employed there as a senior accountant.

He is passionate about raising money for cancer research at Wilmot Cancer Institute, co-chairing “The Coop Cup for Brain Cancer Research” (a golf tournament raising money for brain cancer research and a scholarship at Byron-Bergen in Clint Cooper’s name – another Byron-Bergen alumnus) and participating in the Annual Wilmot Warrior Walk with his family.

Living life to the fullest, DeVelder is an inspiration to the youth of Byron-Bergen.

Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School announces 2017-18 second quarter Honor Roll

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Bergen, NY ~ The Byron-Bergen Central School District is proud to recognize the following students who have been named to the Honor Roll for the second 10-week marking period of the 2017-18 school year:

GRADE 12

  • HIGH HONOR ROLL—Larissa Ashton, Cameron Brumsted, Lauren Burke, Benjamin Chaback, Brionna DeMichel, Jean Denson, Morgan Fuller, Margaret Graney, Ethan Green, Edgardo Guzman, Tyler Henry, Alyssa Hing, Brian Ireland, Daniel Jensen, Brendon Kendall, Nathan Knickerbocker, Melanie Kulikowski, Shaun LoVerdi, Peyton Mackey, Julia Menzie, Lily Mercovich, Dillon Montgomery, Makenzie Muoio, Joshua Phelps, Garrett Sando, Austin Sharpe, Dana VanValkenburg, Catherine Weaver, Riley White. 
  • HONOR ROLL—Jerra Amesbury, Megan Brown, Jacob Burlingame, Kylar Chambry, Quinn Chapell, Shayla Dearring, Justin Hannan, Brandon Kropf, Benjamin Lathan, Paul McDermott, Ryan Niemi, Riley Sadler, Cameron Shenk, Jonathan Stumpf, Nicole Welka, Esther Wilkins, Emma Wride. 
  • EFFORT ROLL—Larissa Ashton, Lauren Burke, Benjamin Chaback, Quinn Chapell, Brionna DeMichel, Jean Denson, Morgan Fuller, Margaret Graney, Ethan Green, Justin Hannan, Tyler Henry, Alyssa Hing, Brian Ireland, Daniel Jensen, Brendon Kendall, Nathan Knickerbocker, Melanie Kulikowski, Shaun LoVerdi, Peyton Mackey, Julia Menzie, Lily Mercovich, Makenzie Muoio, Joshua Phelps, Garrett Sando, Austin Sharpe, Leah Thompson, Chaderic Toal, Dana VanValkenburg.

GRADE 11

  • HIGH HONOR ROLL—Benjamin Bowman, Adam Drake, Jared Fregoe, Annaliese Hersom, William Johnson, Hunter Leach, Janae Meister, Erin Parnapy, MacKenzie Rosse, Wade Thompson, Kyong-ae Yun.
  • HONOR ROLL—Aaron Barnum, Sarah Bleiler, Nicholas Brown, Lydia Campbell, Cole Carlson, Alissa Countryman, Anthony DiQuattro, Tabitha Fuller, Leah Gale, Emma Goodman, Jason Hoehn, Isaac Ladley, Danielle Mason, Sabastian Pawlukewicz, James Roggow, Brianna Shade, Emma Smith, Lucas Stucchio, Colby Taylor.
  • EFFORT ROLL—Sarah Bleiler, Benjamin Bowman, Lydia Campbell, Anthony DiQuattro, Adam Drake, Jared Fregoe, Leah Gale, Emma Goodman, Annaliese Hersom, William Johnson, Hunter Leach, Janae Meister, Erin Parnapy, Sabastian Pawlukewicz, MacKenzie Rosse, Colby Taylor, Wade Thompson.

GRADE 10 

  • HIGH HONOR ROLL—Caitlin Ashton, Justine Bloom, Alexander Brumsted, Siomara Caballero, Alexander Dean, Madison Farnsworth, Sara Fraser, Emily Gonyea, Amaya Gunther, Zachary Hannan, Evan Harter, Rick Hubbard, Mikaela Hubler, Cambria Kinkelaar, Chad Kupfer, Jillian Menzie, Auburn Schwartzmeyer, Caleb Sharpe, Chloe Shuskey, Isabelle Stevens, Garrett Swinter, Annabella Vurraro, Grant Williams, Nathan Zwerka.
  • HONOR ROLL—Julianna Amesbury, Ariana Bobzien, Hannah Catalino, Jacey Donahue, Elizabeth Donnelly, Kelsey Fuller, Chad Green, Rose Hubbard, Travis Lambert, Samuel Pringle, Wyatt Sando, Kevin Smith, Brandon Stefanski, Cameron Sweet, Miriam Tardy, Hannah VanSkiver. 
  • EFFORT ROLL—Julianna Amesbury, Caitlin Ashton, Justine Bloom, Alexander Brumsted, Siomara Caballero, Alexander Dean, Jacey Donahue, Elizabeth Donnelly, Madison Farnsworth, Sara Fraser, Kelsey Fuller, Chad Green, Zachary Hannan, Rick Hubbard, Cambria Kinkelaar, Melissa MacCowan, Jillian Menzie, Auburn Schwartzmeyer, Caleb Sharpe, Chloe Shuskey, Isabelle Stevens, Miriam Tardy, Annabella Vurraro, Grant Williams, Nathan Zwerka.

GRADE 9 

  • HIGH HONOR ROLL—Nicholas Baubie, Bianca Brumsted, Emily Chaback, Richard Denson, Julietta Doyle, Veronica Duell, Joshua Fleming, Eden Goff, Sara Goodman, Hope Hersom, Kelly Ireland, Carli Kirkwood, Aiden Kulikowski, Colby Leggo, John Mercovich, Alaura Rehwaldt, Skylar Sharpe, Deacon Smith, Sarah Streeter, Xavier Thomas.
  • HONOR ROLL—Carleigh Buell, Hallie Calhoun, Zoey Chambry, Jonah Clare, Tylor Coats, Matthew Gonyea, Adriana Guzman, Logan Lewis, Andrew Parnapy, Bryanne Puma, Matthew Rada, Seth Sharp, Devon Zinter.
  • EFFORT ROLL—Mya-Lyn Albanese, Nicholas Baubie, Bianca Brumsted, Carleigh Buell, Emily Chaback, Richard Denson, Veronica Duell, Joshua Fleming, Sara Goodman, Hope Hersom, Kelly Ireland, Carli Kirkwood, Colby Leggo, Logan Lewis, John Mercovich, Bryanne Puma, Alaura Rehwaldt, Skylar Sharpe, Deacon Smith, Sarah Sue Streeter, Xavier Thomas.

GRADE 8 

  • HIGH HONOR ROLL—Corin Abdella, Rachel Best, Madison Burke, Caleb Calhoun, Caleb Carlson, Aidan Clark, Sadie Cook, Leanna Curts, Makenzie Eccleston, Angelique Heick, Grace Huhn, Brooke Jarkiewicz, Johnathon Klafehn, Madelynn Pimm, Elli Schelemanow, Grace Shepard, Alayna Streeter, Ella VanValkenburg, Alexandra Vurraro, Kaitlyn Windhauser, Emily Zastrow, Corden Zimmerman.
  • HONOR ROLL—Jared Barnum, Camryn Brookhart, Destiny Colon, Alexander Donnelly, Connor Gale, Christian Haller, Sarah Hanel, Meghan Kendall, Danyel Nowatchik, Aleigha Shallenberger, Kaden Sheard, Jorie Strzelecki, Ashley Weit, Emma Will, Claire Williams, Kaitlyn Zastrocky, Joshua Zittel. 
  • EFFORT ROLL—Corin Abdella, Rachel Best, Madison Burke, Payton Buzzell, Caleb Calhoun, Caleb Carlson, Aidan Clark, Sadie Cook, Leanna Curts, Angelique Heick, Grace Huhn, Brooke Jarkiewicz, Meghan Kendall, Johnathon Klafehn, Danyel Nowatchik, Madelynn Pimm, Elli Schelemanow, Aleigha Shallenberger, Grace Shepard, Alayna Streeter, Ella VanValkenburg, Alexandra Vurraro, Kaitlyn Windhauser, Emily Zastrow, Corden Zimmerman, Joshua Zittel.

GRADE 7

  • HIGH HONOR ROLL—Cassidy Ball, Olivia Best, Jason Bleiler, David Brumsted, Fiona Burke, Dayanara Caballero, Cameron Carlson, Caris Carlson, Evan Cuba, Emma Dormann, Kendan Dressler, Frank Hersom, Sage Johnson, Alec Kulikowski, Ryan Muscarella, Matthew Olander, Victoria-Pearl Parnell, Valerie Pastore, Kendall Phillips, Elizabeth Piper, Austin Salmonds, Brianna Salmonds, Emily Salmonds, Alexandria Schuck, MacKenzie Senf, Zoey Shepard, McKenna Shuskey, Matthew Tanner, Joshua Tardy, Ava Wagoner, Lillian Walker, Leyna Wheeler, Hannah Wies, Kaya Wildschutz, Nicholas Zwerka.
  • HONOR ROLL—Alyssa Ball, Molly Belknap, Hailey Canfield, Grace Capostagno, Elizabeth Cramer, Jonny Fooks, Kailee Gurtler, Sege Kalmbacher, Ethan Lewis, Autumn Mathisen, Andrew Rimmerman, Aidan Townsend, Julia Will, Emily Yun. 
  • EFFORT ROLL—Alyssa Ball, Cassidy Ball, David Brumsted, Fiona Burke, Dayanara Caballero, Cameron Carlson, Caris Carlson, Evan Cuba, Kendan Dressler, Frank Hersom, Alec Kulikowski, Ryan Muscarella, Matthew Olander, Victoria-Pearl Parnell, Valerie Pastore, Kendall Phillips, Elizabeth Piper, Austin Salmonds, Brianna Salmonds, Emily Salmonds, MacKenzie Senf, Zoey Shepard, McKenna Shuskey, Matthew Tanner, Joshua Tardy, Ava Wagoner, Lillian Walker, Leyna Wheeler, Hannah Wies, Kaya Wildschutz, Emily Yun, Nicholas Zwerka.

Community holiday spirit abounds at Byron-Bergen Central School District

By Billie Owens

(Photo: Volunteers packed more than 100 food baskets and delivered them throughout the community during the weekend of Dec. 16.)

Submitted photos and press release:

Members of the Byron-Bergen Central School District’s learning community can always be counted on to provide assistance to neighbors in need during the holidays. For many years, district students, teachers, staff, and administrators have worked together with local partners to make the season happier for everyone in the Byron-Bergen area.

This year’s Holiday Community Service program collected toys and games, clothing items, rolls of wrapping paper, boxes for wrapping gifts, and more than 1,200 non-perishable food items.

In addition, close to $4,000 was donated by the faculty, staff, and others in our learning community to purchase gifts for district families in need. Many area businesses also helped out by “adopting” local families and individuals, providing special holiday gifts.

The district partnered with the local Hesperus Lodge No. 837 Free & Accepted Masons, where donated items were taken for sorting and packing. Organized by Dick Sands, the Masons, and employees from both the Byron-Bergen Elementary and Jr./Sr. High schools, Board of Education members, and community volunteers pitched in to help. More school volunteers help deliver over 100 food baskets and gifts before the holidays.

“The magic of this special season is the community spirit it inspires in so many of us,” said District Superintendent Mickey Edwards. “I am so proud of the generosity shown by all of our students and by everyone in our schools.”=

A big part of the program’s success this year was the contribution made by the Varsity Club Holiday Food Drive. Student athletes from the high school pulled together to collect more than 850 food items—a record amount.

The drive was organized by student officers Leah Thompson, president; MaKenzie Muoio, vice-president; Morgan Fuller, secretary and Lucas Stucchio, treasurer, and the hard work was provided by the girls and boys basketball and swim teams, and the cheerleading team. Team members pooled their competitive spirit to make the challenge more fun: it became a contest, won by the Cheer Team who collected more than 300 items.

Varsity team members from all three seasons of sport at Byron-Bergen perform community service throughout the school year, with projects like the annual Lift-a-thon, the Retro Apparel Sale, and the spring Blood Drive.

(Photo below: Varsity Club members with a few of the hundreds of donated items collected for the Holiday Food Drive.)

Byron-Bergen CSD seeks community Input for 2017-2018 Budget

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Byron-Bergen Central School District is in the process of developing the 2017‑2018 school budget and we welcome, appreciate, and value your input. The Board would like to extend an invitation to members of the Byron-Bergen School District to participate in a survey that will help the Board to determine priorities for next year’s budget.

Please take a moment to complete the online survey by visiting our website www.bbschools.org and clicking on the “2017-18 Budget Development Survey” link. If you prefer a hard copy of the survey, please contact Mrs. Gunio at (585) 494-1220, ext. 2329, and she will be happy to mail you a copy, through Jan. 31.

Budget information will be updated on our website www.bbschools.org and discussed at our regularly scheduled Board of Education Meetings. Our meetings start at 7 p.m. and take place in the Professional Development Room (former Jr. High Library).

Please note that the public is invited to provide budget input at the Thursday, Feb. 2, Board meeting, which will take place in the Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria to accommodate the community at 7 p.m.

Three finalists named for superintendent of Byron-Bergen Central School District

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Byron-Bergen Central School District’s Board of Education (BOE), has named three finalists for the district’s next Superintendent. They are Karri Schiavone, Stephen E. “Ned” Dale, and Mickey Edwards.

Debra List, president of the District’s BOE, said she is pleased with the high-quality candidate pool and is enthused about the potential the three finalists have to offer.

“Choosing the best superintendent for our district is the board’s main priority,” List said. “The field of candidates was diverse, which made narrowing the field to three very difficult. We are confident that one of these candidates will be the best candidate for our school district and community.”

Stakeholder groups and the BOE will conduct the final round of interviews with the three candidates beginning on April 11 at the Byron-Bergen Central School District. The anticipated start date for the new superintendent is July 1.

Kevin MacDonald, district superintendent of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, who is acting as search consultant, said the Board has developed and implemented a process that will help determine the best candidate.

“This is a rigorous search process,” MacDonald said. “Finalists will visit the Byron-Bergen Central School District to meet with staff and the BOE to go though another round of interviews. The process concludes with the Board meeting to make a final decision.”

About the finalists

Karri Schiavone is currently the principal of Holley Elementary School, a position she has held since 2012. From 2002 until 2012, she served as the director of instruction and special programs for Holley Central Schools (HCS). Prior to that, she served as elementary principal of the Warren P. Towne School in Medina. From 1995 until 1999, Schiavone served as an intermediate teacher and in many supervisory roles at HCS, including elementary Science coordinator and district Social Studies curriculum writer.

Schiavone began her career in education in 1994 as a teacher for the Bethel Head Start in Buffalo. Throughout her career she has served in many leadership capacities. She currently oversees a number of committees at HCS, including the district’s Technology; Safety and Health/Wellness committees as well as the APPR Committee. She has a broad scope of fiscal management at HCS, including developing and managing budgets and grants for a multitude of district programs and services. She holds a Bachelor of Science from SUNY Buffalo, and a master’s degree in Education from The College at Brockport.

Schiavone earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from The College at Brockport and also holds a New York State School Administrator Certificate.

Ned Dale is the principal of Cosgrove Middle School where he has served since 2007. Dale began at the Spencerport Central School (SCS) District in 2000 as a school counselor/teacher leader at Spencerport High School. He served as the coordinator of the counseling department and developed the Career Development and Occupational Studies curriculum for grades K-12. From 2004 until 2007 he served as assistant principal at Cosgrove Middle School where he facilitated the Instructional Support Team in accordance with the Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) model. In his role as assistant principal, Dale obtained and published a grant titled “Career Exploration: Preparing for the Future Today.” His list of endeavors is varied and includes many accomplishments. Under his leadership, Cosgrove Middle School earned top rankings for academics in Buffalo Business First Schools’ List for 2015.

As president of the Spencerport Administrators and Supervisors Association, Dale has collaboratively established an approved APPR for principals, which was approved by the New York State Education Department. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. John Fisher College, a master’s degree from the Warner Graduate School at the University of Rochester. He holds a certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from the College at Brockport and has also completed the New York State Superintendent Development Program at SUNY Oswego.

Mickey Edwards is the superintendent of Wyoming Central Schools, a position he has held since 2014. As superintendent, Edwards has led extensive curriculum work in English Language Arts and literacy with alignment to the Common Core. He implemented a comprehensive literacy program including Reading Recovery that resulted in an increase of students reading at grade level.

Edwards’ role at Wyoming Central Schools includes a broad scope of responsibilities including facilities management, fiscal and instructional leadership, and community and regional involvement. Edwards initiated two capital projects focused on camera/security upgrades and redesign of building entrances. He also developed transportation consolidations programs to provide additional fiscal stability. Previously, Edwards served as the coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction for Orleans/Niagara BOCES, a position he held since 2009.

Edwards began teaching in 1996 as an Art/Technology teacher for the Albion Central School District. He continued his career at Albion Central Schools serving as the elementary school dean of students, middle school assistant principal and high school principal. Edwards earned a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Roberts Wesleyan College, and a master’s degree, as well as a School District Administrator certificate, from The College at Brockport.

Subscribe to byron-bergen central school district

Authentically Local