The Geneva City School District is rolling out a new districtwide honor aimed at spotlighting the educators shaping its classrooms, launching an inaugural Educator of the Year Award backed by a longtime community partner.
District officials say the new recognition, created in partnership with Finger Lakes Federal Credit Union, will highlight educators who make a measurable impact on students, families, and the broader school community — with a $1,000 award going to the selected recipient.
Nominations opened April 6 and will remain open through April 27, inviting submissions from staff, families, and community members across the district.
Superintendent Bo Wright said the award is designed to elevate the everyday work happening inside schools. The process will unfold in two stages, beginning with a criteria-based nomination form that will undergo a semi-blind review to ensure fairness. Finalists will then move to a second phase, where supervisors provide formal recommendations detailing each educator’s contributions and professional impact.
The winner will be announced at the district’s Opening Day ceremony in September.
Finger Lakes Federal Credit Union officials said their involvement reflects both a commitment to education and deep historical ties to the district. The institution was originally founded in 1967 as the Geneva School Employees Credit Union and has since expanded to serve more than 20,000 members across four counties.
In addition to the new award, the credit union will continue supporting the district’s Panther Awards, which recognize staff members annually. Eight recipients will each receive a $100 award at the same Opening Day event.
District officials say nominations must be submitted through an online form, with the goal of making the process accessible to the entire community.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.