Today’s Utica Gem is Maria Fielteau, a teacher who has served as an English as a New Language (ENL) educator at Proctor High School for the past nineteen years. As a National Board Certified teacher,  Maria is recognized for her dedication to multilingual learners, inclusive education and mentoring the next generation of educators.

At Proctor, Maria collaborates across departments to expand opportunities for English language learners (ELLs). She serves on the CTE High School Advisory Committee, integrating career exploration content into ENL instruction to empower students with real-world skills. In partnership with the World Languages Department Chair, she co-coordinates the school’s successful Seal of Biliteracy program, celebrating students who achieve high proficiency in two or more languages. She also supports equitable access to academic content by advocating for co-teaching models in science courses to assist multilingual learners.

Maria is a world class collaborator. She partners with institutions such as Clarkson University, Syracuse University, CUNY Graduate Center and the University at Albany in order to strengthen her practice and leadership in ENL education. Her statewide influence includes service on several NYSED committees, including the Seal of Biliteracy Task Force, where she advocates for policies that support English learners.

Her accomplishments have earned her the Marie and Richard Baecher Teacher Leadership Award from NYS TESOLL in 2022 and the Utica City School District Excellence in Education Award in 2014. Most recently, Maria was selected as one of only sixteen educators nationwide to participate in the New York Public Library’s Center for Educators and Schools Summer Residency. She was chosen from over 500 applicants for her commitment to creative, inquiry-based learning and the humanities. With outstanding all around commitment to her field and her students Maria Fielteau translates into a Utica Gem we are proud to recognize as our own.