SLATE HILL- Minisink Valley Middle School Technology Teacher Jonathan Clemmons has been officially named a New York State Education Department Teacher of the Year finalist in a ceremony held on September 12, 2o23, during the New York State Board of Regents’ meeting at the State Education Department offices in Albany.
Clemmons, who began his 25th year of teaching at Minisink Valley this school year, went through four rigorous rounds of review beginning last February, which included an application process and a written process asking him about his personal teaching philosophies. There was also an onsite visit to the middle school by the Teacher of the Year Committee. Lastly, he traveled to Albany for a meeting before the Teacher of the Year Committee in June.
Clemmons joined the district in 1998, and has instructed thousands of students in three STEM-centric fields since that time: science, math and technology. He’s the only teacher in the district’s history to earn three separate tenureships in these areas and holds K-12 technology, 7-12 mathematics, 9-12 biology, and 7-9 science NYS certifications.
Currently he teaches sixth and eighth-grade technology, using engaging and challenging technology syllabi to keep his students in the forefront of technology proficiency. Clemmons is committed to ensuring the technology knowledge they gain from his classroom helps prepares them for their high school careers and beyond.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Clemmons serves as a co-advisor of the Middle School’s technology/tractor club. He’s been the academic advisor to other school clubs as well, in addition coaching community youth basketball, softball and soccer teams.
When not in the classroom, Clemmons drives a bus in the school district’s fleet, using his CDL passenger endorsement to transport students to and from school while the district — like others nationwide — deals with a driver shortage.
Clemmons, a Minisink Valley graduate, holds a master’s degree from New York Institute of Technology; a bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz; and an associate degree from SUNY Orange, where he’s also an adjunct associate professor in the Mathematics Department.
