2026 Scholarship Winner
The Dr. Karl R. and Ruth Kramer Northeastern Zone Retired Educators of New York Education Scholarship has been awarded to Maddison Mero. She is a graduate of Peru Central High School and plans to attend SUNY Brockport in August 2026 as an education major. Throughout high school, Maddison achieved high honor roll and was a member of the National Honor Society while participating in two sports and serving as team captain. She was a class officer, a Varsity Club officer and a student council member throughout high school. Also, during this time, she shadowed two elementary teachers assisting in the classroom and working one on one with students in various capacities. Madisson helped in the PACE (Peru Afterschool Career Exploration) program and Freshman Orientation along with many other school and community volunteer activities. We wish her the best of luck in this next chapter!
2026 Educator Grant Winner
2026 Educator Award
Contributed by: Simone Lutz & Alison Brown
Peru CSD Special Education Teacher Receives Educator Grant for
Virtual Reality Project
Jennilee Corrow, a special education teacher in Peru High school, has been awarded the Northeastern Zone (NEZ) of Retired Educators of New York Kramer Memorial Educator Award for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. The grant will fund Corrow’s innovative new project, “Virtual Reality for Real-Life Readiness,”which brings cutting-edge technology directly into the classroom to support student independence.
With the grant funding, Corrow plans to purchase a Meta Quest 3 virtual reality headset. The
technology will allow students to practice critical, real-world skills, such as cooking, driving, and
automotive maintenance, in a safe, controlled, and highly interactive digital environment.
Recognizing the widespread impact this technology can have, Corrow plans to share the device
across multiple classrooms, benefiting students from grades 6 through 12.
"Our organization aims to support active educators, like yourself, in the work you do every
day," the NEZ Selection Committee stated in their award letter. "We have been in the
classroom and know the challenges you face, both financially, with budget constraints,
and socially, with ever-changing concerns and demands from the communities in which
you work and live."
The NEZ Kramer Memorial Educator Award is highly competitive, recognizing area educators
who design outstanding projects aimed at enhancing student achievement or supporting specific
social, academic, or physical needs. The committee noted that Corrow’s application stood out
exceptionally due to its focus on life-long learning skills, innovative use of technology, and
hands-on opportunities and direct connections to daily living.
"We are incredibly proud of Ms. Corrow for her dedication to finding creative, modern solutions
that empower our students," said High School Principal Matthew Berry. "This virtual reality tool
will bridge the gap between classroom learning and daily independence, giving our students the
confidence they need to succeed in the real world. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the
Retired Educators of New York for their continued support of active teachers."
Photos from June Luncheon
Our next NEZ Luncheon
Thursday, September 3rd · 10:30am – 1:30pm
Details in the next Nor'easter publication!