Middle school principal is New York ‘Outstanding Educator of the Year’
It’s with pride and pleasure that we announce our own Middle School Principal, Mrs. Jennifer Miller, has been named Outstanding Educator of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State!
This award is presented annually to one SAANYS member from across the state who’s made outstanding contributions to New York schools through public education, professional organizations or research and writings in the field of education.
Avon Board of Education President Rodney George congratulated Miller on her “well-deserved” recognition and praised her student-centric approach.
“Every decision she makes begins with the question 'What's best for students?'" said George. “Her quarter century at the helm of Avon Middle School has been marked by empathy, clarity and a unique ability to bring people together. We really couldn’t be prouder to have such a dedicated professional here in Avon.”
Superintendent Ryan Pacatte was of a like mind.
“Jenn is someone we can count on in any situation. Whether navigating complex challenges or responding to unexpected events, she brings steady leadership and a remarkable ability to remain composed under pressure,” he said. “She’s the person you want involved when circumstances are difficult and she consistently delivers results beyond expectations.”
A town of Greece native, Miller began her career in education at Pittsford Central School District's Barker Road Middle School, where she taught English. She worked as a reading specialist in the Canandaigua and Greece school districts before coming to Avon in 2000 as an administrative intern overseeing the district’s summer reading program. She was hired on as the assistant principal of the junior/senior high school at the start of the 2000-01 school year, then as Avon’s first - and to date, only - middle school principal in 2001 following the district’s school realignment.
One of the things that most impressed the SAANYS award committee was Miller’s work building the middle school from the ground up, said Christina Ecklund, director of academic programs here in Avon.
“Over the past 25 years, Jenn’s worked collaboratively to establish a vibrant and effective middle school program,” said Ecklund, who’s worked alongside Miller for the past decade. “By bringing together both elementary and high school staff, she helped create a shared vision for an engaging learning environment where every student feels known, valued and supported.”
During her tenure in Avon, Miller has led efforts to align curriculum, strengthen instructional practices and support ongoing professional learning, resulting in greater coherence across grade levels.
That willingness to roll up her sleeves and try new things has led to real-life impacts for middle school students.
“She’s always been very supportive of any efforts to bring in more engaging curriculum or try a new lesson or project - anything to get students more interested in whatever it is they’re learning about,” said Tim Baumer, a middle school science teacher. “For example, our science fair project - that’s something that our sixth graders look forward to all year and always ends up being a really impactful experience for them. Same with our astronomy unit activities like the rocket-building project - that’s really become a cornerstone of the 6th grade experience and is one Jenn supported wholeheartedly right from the get-go.”
In addition to her instructional work, Miller’s demonstrated a strong commitment to literacy and has played a key role in supporting the implementation of the district’s literacy program, now in its second year, supporting and coaching fifth and sixth grade teachers in refining practices and strengthening student outcomes.
But the work of establishing Avon Middle School as a place where students can thrive not only academically, but socially and emotionally, has required more than just aligning curriculum and strengthening professional learning opportunities.
“Jenn’s all about relationships and really prioritizes and makes time for establishing and strengthening those with students and staff alike,” Ecklund said.
Ecklund recalled one instance where Miller, wanting to ensure a student’s birthday didn’t go unnoticed, purchased a cake and card so the student could celebrate their birthday with her and the middle school office staff.
“She just wanted to make sure that student knew that their birthday was important and valued,” said Ecklund. “There’s 100 other stories just like that that I could have told that really speak to how Jenn goes above and beyond to create relationships with students and make sure they know they’re part of a community in the middle school.”
This is the second straight year SAANYS has chosen to recognize Miller’s contributions to public education in New York.
In 2025, she was named the George Vito Administrator of the Year for SAANYS’s Region 11, which includes Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties.
After receiving the award last year, Middle School Counselor Melanie Resch took it upon herself to talk to middle school students to see what they thought of their principal.
“One of the kids I talked to said ‘Mrs. Miller never gets mad. She has the perfect mentality for working with kids. She is always calm if things are tough and is really good at helping kids talk out their problems so they can get along better,’” Resch recalled. “To me, that was the perfect example of what Jenn brings to the table as a principal - she genuinely cares about her students and teachers, is always willing to step in whenever support is needed and dedicates as much time as is needed to talk things out and problem solve and resolve things in a positive, productive way.”
Middle School Secretary Beth Herberger has worked closely with Miller for the past few years, but her first interaction with Miller was as a parent, when her son made the move up to 5th grade.
“When he came into the middle school, I worked with Jenn to help him get placed into a reading support program,” Herberger said. “She listened to my concerns, reviewed his grades and test scores and then came up with a plan that worked best for him. I found it reassuring that she was willing to put the time and effort into helping personalize an educational plan for a student. That was many years ago now but Jenn’s approach hasn’t changed - she still goes above and beyond to make sure that a student gets what they need to be successful.”
Taken together, these reflections paint a clear picture of an educator whose impact reaches far beyond any single interaction. Miller’s ability to build trust, respond thoughtfully to individual needs and remain consistently student-focused has not only shaped positive outcomes in the classroom, but left a lasting impression on families and colleagues alike.
It’s in no small part because of this sustained commitment to excellence that Kerri Levine, director of pupil personnel services here at Avon, wasn’t particularly surprised when she learned SAANYS had chosen to recognize Miller as its Outstanding Educator of the Year.
“It didn’t come as a huge shock, no,” said Levine. “She’s been a cornerstone of our community for more than 20 years and in that time, she’s consistently brought the same level of dedication to her role. Year after year, she shows up for students, staff and families with integrity and purpose and for me, that makes this recognition not only well-deserved, but long overdue.”
Miller will be honored alongside her fellow 2026 award winners May 1 at SAANYS’s annual awards ceremony at The Desmond Hotel in Albany.
Jennifer Miller, Avon Middle School principal.