Western STANYS Science Teachers Association of NYS
Western Section

Science teachers of Western New York

We are the western section of STANYS: K-12 and college science educators from Buffalo to the Southern Tier who get together to trade labs, ideas, and the things that actually work on a Tuesday morning.

Teachers working through a hands-on dissection at a lab bench
Hands-on, the way we teach it
Teachers lined up at a conference registration table
Sign in, grab a folder
Students at lab tables in a science classroom
Why we do it

Coming up

2026–27 school year
November6–9 Fri–Mon · 2026

STANYS Annual Conference

Oncenter Convention Center and Marriott Syracuse Downtown, Syracuse

  • The 131st state conference, with teachers from every section of New York
  • Friday pre-conference workshops, full sessions Saturday and Sunday, and a Monday option
  • Subject-area breakfasts, the exhibit hall, and the awards
Early-bird rates end October 5. After that, $50 more.
Register Pricing Schedule
January2027 Date to be confirmed

Western STANYS Mini-Conference

Buffalo State University, Science & Math Complex, 1300 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo

  • An after-school evening of hands-on workshops, run by teachers for teachers
  • Close to home, no hotel, and ideas you can use the next day
  • We need presenters. Got a lab or a lesson that works? Bring it.
Registration opens after the STANYS conference in November.

Last January: 15 teacher-led sessions in three rounds, the Western STANYS Outstanding Educator Awards, local vendors, and a raffle to close the night.

Spring2027 Dates to come

More events this spring

Dates will be posted here as they are set.

Who runs this

Western Section board

Directors and officers

  • Annette MillerCo-Director · Earth & Space Science Co-SAR
  • Katie AgenCo-Director
  • Jamie Mancuso-DulakCo-Treasurer
  • Deanna PrzepioraCo-Treasurer
  • Diane KesslerSecretary · Elementary SAR

Subject area representatives

  • Alan BaczkiewiczIntermediate Co-SAR
  • Rae ZimmermanIntermediate Co-SAR
  • Rob WardwellBiology SAR
  • Samantha StoneEarth Science DAL · Earth & Space Science Co-SAR
  • Sara DannebrockChemistry SAR
  • Adriane SalernoPhysics SAR, High School
  • Melissa ElliottCollege SAR · Membership Liaison

Committees and at large

  • Melissa SedivyApplied Science Committee DOC
  • Sarah Proctor-BatesSPED/ELL Committee
  • Ryan SajdakWebsite Manager
  • Kathleen BurkeMember at Large

SAR: subject area representative. DAL: director at large. DOC: director of committee.

Join STANYS

A STANYS membership puts you in the Western Section automatically. Members pay less for conferences and get a statewide network of science teachers.

Become a member