About Us
Our Zone is made up of members living and/or working in Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester counties. We host monthly meetings from September through June and a local conference on Election Day as well as many other events. We invite you to join us and become a part of a diverse and robust organization that continually works to enhance our members knowledge and skills, ensuring their students have the highest quality health and physical education programs possible.
If you have questions or want to get involved, we encourage you to reach out to the Zone President.
southeastern Zone Conference
Save the Date for the 2026 Southeastern Zone Conference
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Westchester Community College
Click
here
to submit a Call for Programs Application.
Thank you to all who attended our past conferences.
Click here for our Conference History.
Zone meetings
Please join us for our Southeastern Zone Meetings! Meetings are generally held in person with a virtual option and all members are encouraged to attend. Many meetings include a Professional Development segment.
Watch your email for the meeting location and /or a zoom link prior to each meeting.
Awards
Southeastern Zone recognizes excellence among our dedicated professionals with our Teacher of the Year & Amazing Person awards. We celebrate our outstanding students with the SEZ elementary/middle school Physical Education Student Leadership Awards.
Zone Grants
Southeastern Zone offers mini-grants that can help to fund your innovative projects! SEZ members can apply for a chance to receive grant funding up to $1,000.00!
southeastern Zone
Photo Gallery
Finley greeted students at the Elementary Student Leadership Awards program!
Additional information
Meeting Details
Southeastern Zone Meetings:
Details will be posted as soon as they are confirmed.
Meeting Minutes
Conference History
Southeastern Zone Conference History
- 11-4-25 Westchester Community College
- 11-5-24 Bishop Spellman High School
- 11-7-23 White Plains High School
- 11-8-22 White Plains High School
- 11-2-21 Virtual
- 11-3-20 Virtual
- 11-5-19 White Plains High School
- 11-6-18 White Plains High School
- 11-7-17 White Plains High School
- 11-8-16 White Plains High School
- 11-3-15 White Plains High School
- 11-4-14 White Plains High School
- 11-5-13 White Plains High School
- 1-6-12 White Plains High School
- 11-8-11 White Plains High School
- 11-2-10 White Plains High School
- 11-3-09 White Plains High School
- 11-4-08 White Plains High School
Awards
Student Leadership Awards
Southeastern Zone is proud to sponsor the annual SEZ Elementary/Middle School Physical Education Awards Program. Physical Educators select their own award recipients. This Awards Program is a tribute to both the students selected and the outstanding Physical Education Program conducted in our schools.
Each spring, members of Southeastern Zone, are given the opportunity to recognize students in the highest grade level they teach by nominating their top physically fit girl(s) and boy(s), who exhibit a sense of good sportsmanship and good citizenship to represent their school. (Each teacher is limited to 6 students).
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A link to nominate your students will be emailed to current members each Spring.
southeastern Zone teacher of the year award
Southeastern Zone is proud to honor talented, dedicated professionals in our local area with the Southeastern Zone Teacher of the Year Awards. The recipients are acknowledged for their achievement at the Annual Southeastern Zone Election Day Conference.
Members are encouraged to nominate colleagues who conduct quality physical education or health program within our Zone.
The Southeastern Zone of NYS AHPERD is proud to sponsor the following Teacher of the Year awards to recognize the professional contributions of our colleagues:
Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year
Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year
Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year
Health Teacher of the Year
The Awards Committee recognizes that there are many "unsung heroes" in our profession who make exemplary contributions to our students, schools, and communities. We need your assistance in identifying and honoring deserving members of our profession.
Past SEZ Teacher of the Year recipients are:
2020: SEZ Elementary PE TOY - Jeanmarie Jacques
2019: SEZ Elementary PE TOY - Carrie Spiegel
2018: SEZ Elementary PE TOY - Steve Ciancio
2017: SEZ Elementary PE TOY - Donn Tobin
2016: SEZ Secondary PE TOY - Cindy Pomarico
2016: SEZ Elementary PE TOY - Christopher Keenan
southeastern Zone Amazing People Award Recipients
Amazing People award recipients are selected by the Zone President with input from the Zone Board. The award is presented at the NYS AHPERD Conference in November.
- 2025 Suzanne Leslie
- 2024 Caitlin MacDonald
- 2023 Carrie Spiegel
- 2022 Kevin Yarnell
- 2020 Christopher Keenan
- 2019 David P. Gatta
- 2018 James Rose
- 2017 Rhonda Clements
- 2016 Laura Owen
- 2015 June Lagan
- 2014 Laura Shaw
- 2013 Margaret Robelee
- 2012 Jean Mazzilli
- 2011 Gerard "Rod" Mergardt
- 2010 Maryanne Ceriello
- 2009 Donn Tobin
- 2008 Jody Cole
- 2007 Denise Tomici
- 2006 Mario Scarano
- 2005 Dona Dimaggio
- 2004 Lisa Sherman
- 2003 Lois Codispoti
- 2001 Diana Boryk
- 2000 Margaret Greco
- 2000 Emily Watson
- 1999 Claire Demas
- 1999 Patti Robinson
- 1998 Frank Bartok
- 1998 Robert M Smalt
Grants & Scholarships
Are you looking for financial support to fund a creative project or program for your school? Have you been wanting to try out something new but need money to get started? The Southeastern Zone offers mini-grants that can help to fund your innovative projects! SEZ members can apply for a chance to receive grant funding up to $1,000.00!
Previous winners have received funds for ipads, heart rate monitors, pedometers, Fitnessgram software, registration fees for conferences, health fairs, and rollerblading.
All mini-grant recipients are expected to present their project at a Southeastern Zone Care to Share event the fall of the following year.
Please contact Laura Shaw, Mini-Grant Coordinator with any questions lauriep717@verizon.net or Laura.Shaw@irvingtonschools.org.
Application details will be distributed via email to current members during the winter/spring of each year.
2023 Recipients
Michael Cooper, Pine Plains
Jessica Diaz, Ramapo HS
Denise Tomici
2021 Recipients were:
Joe Carbone, Millbrook
Kevin Yarnell, Rhinebeck
Suzanne Leslie, Croton Harmon
Events and Activities
Care to Share
Southeastern Zone offers Care to Share Events periodically where Health and Physical Education educators are invited to bring an idea to share and learn from others! These events offer professional development and networking! Registration information is emailed to all current SEZ members!
Join us for the Fall Workshop @ Mville each Fall (details will be emailed to members)
Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament
Southeastern Zone holds a co-ed volleyball tournament annually.
Details and an application are emailed to current SEZ members prior to the event.
MEMBER BENEFITS
We provide valuable services, guidance, and encouragement to our members.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS
"We need to honor what we know, by sharing the best of what we do teacher to teacher."
Dr. Art Costa and Dr. Bena Kallick
GIVING
The goal of giving to NYS AHPERD and to our Foundation is to leave a strong and secure legacy for the generation of educators to come.