By Linda Kessler

For the Express

MAYFIELD - Sixth graders at Mayfield Elementary School ranked number one according to a comprehensive report, that placed the students as “Best in the State” according to Mayfield Elementary Principal Nicholas Criscone at last Tuesdays Mayfield Central School Board of Education meeting.

Criscone shared the progress of each grade level with the school board, with data highlighting the results from New York State Assessments for English, Language and Arts, and mathematics.

School districts are measured by the scores their students achieve, said Criscone. Mayfield’s Elementary sixth grade students scores were compared against Suburban Council that includes much larger school districts, such as North Colonie, Burnt Hills, Niskayuna, etc... Mayfield student’s outperformed other sixth graders by 13 percent in the Suburban Council, and in the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery region by 30 percent.

According to Ceiscone, he is a very competitive person in nature, and so are his teachers.  Elementary math teacher Ted Horn was noted as being very humble about the outstanding results at a recent school meeting,

Horn described the achievement as a team effort. Horn had previously been a seventh grade math teacher who moved down a grade to work with the elementary sixth graders.

The grade adjustment was a nice advantage for the sixth graders to have gotten some solid training as for raising the level of math competency for the students said Criscone,

“I am very proud of all Mayfield Elementary’ working educators and their results” said Criscone

In other news, faculty perfect and outstanding attendance recognition was awarded for the Mayfield Central School District’s 2010 to 2011 school year to facility.

Mayfield School Board President, Janis Frisch stated the board appreciated, valued and recognized the commitment and dedication of faculty and staff members as demonstrated by exemplary attendance during the School year.

“The Board directs the Superintendent to place a letter of commendation in the personnel file of the following individuals” she said. 

Awards are as follows:

Perfect attendance - Kimberly McKeough and Wendy Yucha.

Outstanding attendance - ( 3 days or less) Jon Caraco, Miriam Cole, Lauren Lozier, Donna Novak, Jill Sheldon, Donald Toscano, Georgia Van Nostrand, Christopher Wojeski.

The Wall of Dedication ceremony to be held Wednesday, Oct. 19 in honor of the fine people of Mayfield Central School to be recognized for their contribution to the success of students, while achieving the districts educational goals.

“Mayfield students, the Mayfield school, and Mayfield community have been privileged to have these fine people serve them” said Mayfield BOE President Frish.

The Wall of Dedication was established in 2004 and this year will recognize, Herbert McClain, Jack Sanford, Jennifer Shaad-Derby, and Chris Mraz. They will have a plaque placed on the wall in their name at the upcoming ceremony.

The next scheduled Mayfield Central School Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m.