A total of 52 school district educators in the Finger Lakes region were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was John Abbott, deputy superintendent of East Irondequoit CSD, at $306,144. Read More
A total of 17 school district educators in the Mohawk Valley were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was Utica City SD Superintendent Christopher Spence, at $281,875. Read More
A total of 36 school district educators in Central New York were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was East Syracuse Minoa CSD Superintendent Donna Desiato, at $310,881. Read More
A total of 21 school district educators in the Southern Tier were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was Ithaca City SD Superintendent Luvelle Brown, at $292,442. Read More
A total of 38 school district educators in the Capital Region were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was South Colonie CSD Superintendent David Perry, at $300,918. Read More
In 2024, the New York state Legislature decided the state needed some money — $75 billion, to be exact — for “comprehensive adaptation to the effects of in New York state.” The Legislature thought it had f Read More
Greater Long Island’s recent into the rise of homeschooling sparked quite a debate. Hundreds of readers on Facebook, weighing in on everything from academics and socialization to parental rights, teacher qualificatio Read More
New York’s schools are spending more than ever, but student performance keeps falling. Unsurprisingly, Empire Center’s latest opinion poll shows with how education is run. They want better results, less spending, and more choice — somethi Read More
Long Island may be New York's strongest case that money matters in education — and also its strongest warning that, past a certain point, more money is not the answer. Long Island is widely regarded as one of New York's better education regions, Read More
We like to associate the law with justice—protecting the innocent and punishing the wrongdoers. But sometimes our laws punish the innocent and protect the wrongdoers instead. Dutchess County mom Vika Shock learned this the hard way. In Novemb Read More
Testimony of Bill Hammond Senior Fellow, Empire Center for Public Policy Before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee Read More
Testimony of Zilvinas Silenas President, Empire Center for Public Policy Before the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committees, on FY 2027 New York State Executive Budget Revenue Article VII Legisl Read More
Testimony of Bill Hammond Senior Fellow, Empire Center for Public Policy Before the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committees February 10, 2026 Medi Read More
Testimony of Zilvinas Silenas President, Empire Center for Public Policy Read More
Testimony of Bill Hammond Senior Fellow for Health Policy, Empire Center for Public Policy Before the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committees February 11, 2025 Read More