Don Gates

With over 25 years of experience, I advocate for a holistic educational approach focusing on core academic knowledge, critical thinking, citizenship, and workplace skills, achieved through interdisciplinary project-based learning. As a Skills Win Consultant at Caper Associates, I've witnessed firsthand how skills-based education fosters success in both academic and professional realms.
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EDUCATION

B.S. Environmental Studies
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
May 1987
M.S. Social Studies Education
Syracuse University
May 1997

EDUCATION EXPERIENCE

Syracuse City School District, Independent Evaluator and Social Studies Teacher, Syracuse, NY
February 2003 – Present
  • Independent Evaluator – Since fall of 2023 responsible for conducting evaluations of teachers in the district, providing objective written and oral feedback, content area expertise and experience to improve SCSD teacher effectiveness.
  • Social Studies Teacher – 7 – 12th grade teaching including, U.S. Regents, Global History Regents, ESF Ecology of the Economic Process, SUPA Public Policy. Served on School Leadership Teams.
 
Legacy High School for Integrated Studies, Social Studies Teacher, New York, NY 
September 2001 – January 2003

Regents Global Studies classes and also taught a weekly colloquium class on the Environment and Public Policy.

 

The Living Schoolbook, Field Coordinator and Producer, Syracuse, NY
October 1995 – May 2000
  • Assisted teachers and students in New York State school districts to learn and incorporate computer technologies.
  • Focused on video teleconferencing, web-based research, web design and production, and the creation of on-line learning environments for the classroom.
  • Presented projects to superintendents, building leaders and possible partners to recruit new teachers and attract funding.

NON PROFIT EXPERIENCE

Izaak Walton League, Central New York Chapter Member,  Manlius, NY
January 2003 – Present
  • Initiated and Developed Young Naturalist program with local libraries with goal to engage youth in the outdoors. Wrote several grants to support the project as it expanded from one library in 2015 to many libraries in Central New York. Recruited and supervised college interns who led programs at the various libraries. Project recently received $40,000 in funding, and formalized a partnership with SUNY @ESF.
  • Co-created and manage online water quality database on Central New York streams, in addition assisting schools and citizen groups to learn how to conduct stream surveys to monitor water quality and contribute the data.

PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE

Commerce One, Senior Project Manager, New York, NY
June 2000 – August 2001
  • Project manager on large interactive marketing engagement for Fortune 500 company.
  • Responsible for management of internal team and coordinating on-line efforts.
 
Davoli, McMahon, Kublick P.C., Project Coordinator, Syracuse, NY
October 1993 – September 1995
  • Coordinated research on CNY construction projects.
  • Responsibilities included documenting and classifying projects.
  • Produced monthly reports and designed a database for over 1,000 projects.
 
Devorsetz, Stinziano, Gilberti, and Smith, P.C., Legal Assistant, Syracuse, NY
December 1992 – October 19935
  • Managed environmental cases with respect to federal, state, county and local law compliance.
  • ConductedFreedom of Information requests and researched and wrote memorandums.
 
Koar Inc., Project Assistant, Los Angeles, CA
March 1989 – May 1991
  • Coordinated $48M condominium development project.
  • Supervised $48M and $16M loan draws with lender.
  • Tracked project costs and schedules.
  • Wrote monthly status reports for partners, investors, and consultants.
  • Prepared budgets, schedules and financial analysis.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Town of Manlius Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee (Spring 2021 to Present)

Onondaga County Council on Environmental Health Board Member (2013 to Present)

Central New York Project Watershed Board Member (1999 – Present)

Manlius Watershed Stewards – (2023 to present)