OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Fredonia teachers Nick Bertrando, pictured, and Joanne Lotter presented their Personal Fitness and Nutrition course to the Board of Education earlier this year. The course has now received state recognition.

Earlier this year, Fredonia teachers Nick Bertrando and Joanne Lotter presented their new course, Personal Fitness and Nutrition, to the Board of Education at a regular meeting.

The response from the board was positive, with positive comments from members Steve Johnston, Lisa Powell Fortna, and Sheila Hahn.

“I just love that it’s real-life application and something valuable for someone’s whole life. It’s fantastic,” Hahn said.

But it wasn’t just the Board of Education who took notice.

At a recent meeting of the Board of Education, Fredonia Superintendent Brad Zilliox revealed the course received recognition from the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA). The district was recognized as “Champions for Change” because of the course.

Zilliox explained that the recognition was unsolicited, with Bertrando admitting he was unaware the course was even nominated for an honor. Zilliox credited District Clerk Christine Slagle for promoting the district’s updates through social media.

“They felt that it was a very progressive course that we are now offering and wanted to recognize us as a Champion of Change,” Zilliox said. “Certainly, we want to recognize Joanne Lotter and Nick Bertrando’s efforts in creating the course and really building it from the ground up … along with everybody else who played a role in taking this idea and really making it a reality.”

The district will receive a banner from the state to recognize their efforts, likely at a board meeting during the school year.

“This is great news, and really a nice recognition – especially because we did not apply, we did not reach out, we did not submit this course. This was them recognizing our good work,” Zilliox said.