posted March 10, 2015- written by Ashley Weselak, SOE Graduate Assistant
“Because of Buffalo State I am committed to giving back to my community, through teaching and leading.”
Heidie Buffomante found her passion in education at a young age, and began preparing for a career in teaching well before attending a university.
Buffomante’s first student was her younger sister, and her first classroom was the basement of her home. She quickly expanded her expertise during her elementary school years, when her teachers saw her natural talent and allowed her to facilitate group “read alouds” and teach small groups of her fellow students.
Buffomante’s experience at SUNY Buffalo State has had a lasting influence on her work as an educator and school leader. Her placements during student teaching had a meaningful impact on what traits she feels a successful teacher should encompass. Buffomante states, “Specifically, Mrs. Rebecca Hillman taught me to be trustworthy, model professional behaviors, and be kind.” In addition, Dr. Jevon Hunter, assistant professor in the Elementary Education and Reading department, has become a mentor for her professional work.
Despite graduating in 2011, Buffomante has held an active relationship with Buffalo State.
With the constant expansion of innovative technology becoming accessible to our society, Buffomante recognized a need to blend digital tools and the classroom. Together with Dr. Hunter she has become extensively engaged in researching the use of technology in schools. Their shared work has not only been introduced in university courses, but has been recognized locally and nationwide. Buffomante and Dr. Hunter have presented their findings at the annual National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and their experiences and findings are featured in the March 2014 issue of the English Journal.
They continue to experiment with different ways to enhance literacy practices through the effective infusion of technology. She considers the core concepts taught in teacher and school leader preparatory programs as central to her future research interests.
Since graduation, Buffomante has continued to grow as an educational leader. She has surveyed several grade levels as a teacher in elementary, middle, and high school over five years. She has also shared her knowledge and experience as an instructional coach and mentor program coordinator. Her leadership inside and outside the classroom has brought her to her position as assistant principal at Health Sciences Charter School.
As one who has experienced several roles in the education field, Heidie believes the best teachers are “challenging, supportive and endlessly kind to our young people.”
Buffomante has become a committed leader in the field of education, whether through teaching, researching, or leading. She continues to find ways to reach students in the classroom and remain an advocate for their educational experiences.
Read this article for more information on Heidie’s research with digital tools and literacy.
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