The Peru Gazette

L-R Principal Matt Berry, Jennilee Corrow, Simone Lutz and Alison Brown from RENY

Peru, NY, June 15, 2026  — Peru Central School District is proud to announce that Jennilee Corrow, a special education teacher in the 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 its 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.”