​ "Keep Informed ​& ​Up-to-Date
with Driver Ed Issues in New York State"​ 
 Saturday  March 14th, 2026
Conference site
Doubletree Hilton Hotel
Binghamton, NY 13903

Hotel Suggestion
Comfort Inn, Front St. Binghamton, NY 13901
See our website to the link and make a reservation​. 

Register for Conference
MORNING SESSION 

8:00 AM (Soft start)
  • ​​Coffee/Danish, Chat, 
  • Vendors Recognition and Slide Show
  • Vendor exhibits will remain open just before and just after Lunch break.
  • Open voting Election Box and ballot. 
  • Star Spangle Banner
  • Pledge Of Allegiance

Speaker Introductions 
Presiding: Daniel Redmond, Vice President

8:30 AM
"Welcome Members to the NYSDTSEA 17th Annual Conference"
Review the Conference Agenda/ New Business Announcements. 
Presenter: Neil Sapolsky, President

9:00 AM
"Annual Review & Update of Young Drivers Behavior and Collisions"
Promoting responsible driving behavior and making roads safer is the core of AAA’s mission.
Presenter: Alec Slatky,  New York State AAA Safety and Risk Management Analyst


Hall of Fame Award Presentation 2026 
Recipient: Alec Slatky



10:00 AM
"Making Sure Teens Understand"  
The Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Use BTW
Presenter: Deputy Edward P. Hlebica, Broome County Sheriff’s Office


10:45 AM
"New York drivers to face tougher penalties under updated DMV Point System"
​Information Update on Recent Rules, Laws, and Regulations
[email protected]
Presenter:  A message from the Dept of Motor Vehicles - Kodi Sprague


11:00 AM
"Arrive Alive at 25 for Young Drivers"
A National Safety Council Traffic Court Program 
Presenter:  Marla Nowak,  Driver Education Program Teacher
​

11:15 AM
"A Moment in Time Can Change Lives Forever"
Keynote Speaker: Jill Chadwick, Impact Volunteer Speaker


12:00 PM
"Steven Brown Memorial Buffet Luncheon"            
"Driver Ed Comic Relief"
Presenter: Jill Green - SUNY Broome Driver Education Programs




AFTERNOON SESSION

1:00 PM
"Updates from NYSDTSEA”
  • ADTSEA Virtual Workshops
  • National Conference 2026
  • DTSE Guidelines 
  • Governor's Traffic Safety Committee - Young Driver's Tool Kit

1:15 PM
"Unlock Road Safety Knowledge - Free Resources - Drive Safe NSA"
https://drivesafensa.org/free-printable-resources/
Presenter:  Ronald Alexander, SUNY Oswego 


1:45 PM
Update on "Look Twice Save A Life"
​www.Bikerwall.com/ourpresentation 
Presenter: Bruce LePorte, Traveling Memorial Wall for Fallen Bikers, Inc.

2:30 PM
​"New Kids on the Block - Are Electric Bikes and Scooters a Concern for Traffic Safety?"
Presenters:  Troy Townsend & Bruce LePorte 

3:00 PM
"Strengthening the link between Classroom and Behind the Wheel."
DERIC - Driver Education Research & Innovation Center Project
Reviewing this last year's workshops and discussing next year's focus.
Presenters: Suzanne Stegich, GTSC & Dept of Health & Mike DeMay Fairport CSD


3:30 PM
"Simulation Training: Backed by Research, Driven by Results"
Pathway Dynamics | simulation-based driver training | Grant Opportunities
Presenter: Van Burns, Pathway Dynamics

4:00 PM
"Dynamic Strategies for Student Engagement"
Teaching this next generation using Challenges and Rewards
National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF)
Presenting: Jane Townsend

4:30 PM
"Adjourning the 2026 Conference"
  • A call for volunteers to run for office position
  • Voting & Elections ends March 29th, 2026
  • Next year's conference will be on Zoom (odd year)
  • Door Prizes to be drawn 
  • Frank Beyer Conference Award for 2027 Membership

5:00 PM
After Conference 
  • Roundtable Discussion
  • Interested in teaching the PIRP
  • I Drive Safely Updates, Todd Rabideau


Staying for Day 2 Workshop?
Sunday March 15th, 2026
DERIC WORKSHOP
SUNY BROOME Campus - Business Building
 
Note: A $100 Incentive will be awarded and mailed
to the first 16 Participants who register. 
Participants must be registered to attend. 

​

(Updated schedule above)

MORNING SESSION 

8:00 am (Soft start)
​​Coffee/Danish, Chat, 
Vendors Recognition and Slide Show
Vendor exhibits will remain open just before and just after Lunch break.

Open voting Election Box and ballot. 

Star Spangle Banner     https://youtu.be/vPKp29Luryc
Pledge Of Allegiance     https://youtu.be/2L1s2MRm4co?feature=shared

8:30 am
"Welcome Members to the NYSDTSEA 17th Annual Conference"
Review the Conference Agenda/ New Business Announcements. 
Presenter: Neil Sapolsky, President 2025/2026 
Presiding: Jane Townsend

9:00 am
"Annual Review & Update of Young Drivers Behavior and Collisions"
Promoting responsible driving behavior and making roads safer is the core of AAA’s mission.
Presenter: Alec Slatky New York State AAA Safety and Risk Management Analyst
Presiding: Neil Sapolsky

Hall of Fame Award Presentation 2026 Award   Recipient; Alec Slatky
Congrats Alec! Thank you for providing support and speaking at our conferences!
We appreciate your dedication.     

10:00 am
"Making Sure Teens Understand"  The Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Use BTW
Presenter:  Deputy Edward Hlebica   STOP-DWI  Broome County Coordinator
Presiding:  Dan Redmond

10:45 am
"New York drivers to face tougher penalties under updated DMV Point System"
​Information Update on Recent Rules, Laws, and Regulations
Presenter:  A message from the Dept of Motor Vehicles - Kodi Sprague
[email protected]

11:00 am
"Arrive Alive at 25 for Young Drivers"
A National Safety Council Traffic Court Program 
Presenter:  Marla Nowak  Driver Education  ProgramTeacher
https://www.aliveat25.com
​
11:15 am
"A Moment in Time Can Change Lives Forever"
Keynote Speaker: Jill Chadwick, Impact Volunteer Speaker
Presiding: Marla Nowak

AFTERNOON SESSION
12:00 pm
"Steven Brown Memorial Buffet Luncheon"
Presenter: Troy Townsend  - SUNY Broome Driver Education Program.             

"Driver Ed Comic Relief"
Presenter: Jill Green - SUNY Broome Driver Education Programs

12:45 pm
"Updates and Understanding the SED/DMV Driver Ed Guidelines"
A Message from NY State Dept of Education (SED)  
Presiding; Troy Townsend
Driver and Traffic Safety Education Guidelines 
State Ed Conference Info - Google Slides

Governor's Traffic Safety Committee - Young Driver's Tool Kit
GTSC Conference presentation - Google Slides

1:15 pm
"Unlock Road Safety Knowledge - Free Resources from Drive Safe National Safety Association"
Presenter:  Ronald Alexander, SUNY Oswego 
Presiding: Daniel Redmond
https://drivesafensa.org/free-printable-resources/

1:45 pm
Update on "Look Twice Save A Life"
Presenter: Bruce LePorte, Traveling Memorial Wall for Fallen Bikers, Inc.
​Presiding:   Jill Green 
​www.Bikerwall.com/ Our Presentation  

2:30 pm
​"New Kids on the Block - Are Electric Bikes and Scooters a Concern for Traffic Safety?"
Presenters:  Troy Townsend and Bruce LePorte 
League of American Bicyclists​, PedalAce Programs
Collision Awareness + Rider Etiquette
For Schools: EBike Safety Course & Certificate Programs 

3:00 pm
"Strengthening the link between Classroom and Behind the Wheel."
Reviewing this last year's workshops and discussing next year's focus.
Presenters: Suzanne Stegich, Dept of Health, Mike DeMay, Fairport HS
Driver Education Research & Innovation Center Project

3:45 pm
"Simulation Training: Backed by Research, Driven by Results"
Presenter: Van Burns, Pathway Dynamics
Presiding: Jane Townsend
Pathway Dynamics | simulation-based driver training

4:30 pm
"Dynamic Strategies for Student Engagement"
Teaching this next generation using Challenges and Rewards
Presentations: Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF)
Presiding: Jackie Townsend

Younger Drivers Toolkit | Governor's Traffic Safety Committee

Free Traffic Safety Resources | The National Road Safety Foundation


GTSC Young Driver's Toolkit
5:00 pm
"Adjourning the 2026 Conference"
A call for volunteers to run for Office 
Voting and Elections ends March 29th, 2026

Next year's conference will be on Zoom (odd year)
Door Prizes to be drawn 
Frank Beyer Conference Award for 2027 Membership

5:15 pm
After Conference 
Roundtable Discussion
Interested in teaching the PIRP
aka: I Drive Safely Updates

Staying for Day 2 Workshop?
"Dinner on your Own" 
Suggesting: Coppertop, The Garage, Lost Dog Cafe, AppleBees, Thai Time.

Day 2
Sunday March 15th, 2026
DERIC WORKSHOP
SUNY BROOME Campus - Business Building
 
Note: A $100 Incentive will be awarded and mailed
to the first 16 Participants who register. 
Participants must be registered to attend. 

Can't attend the workshop this time?
There will be additional workshop signups available at 
three other host locations around the state later in the year.
Later Dates TBA

Morning Session
 AGENDA

9:00 am 
WELCOME. Coffee and Chat with Participants
This opening session will be blending DERIC curriculum
and resources to enrich our DE programs. 
Workshop Leader and Presenter: 
Troy Townsend & the Curriculum Development Committee

9:15 am
Reviewing the latest DERIC CURRICULUM Materials and Updates
DERIC Module 13 

"Emergency Response and Advance Driver Assistance Systems"
Break up into working groups. 
 Sharing Tips - Working Project Groups

10:00 am
The Role of the Driver Educator and Teaching Vehicle Technologies
inside and outside of the classroom. DERIC Updates

11:00 am
Working Lunch - Box Lunch will be provided to participants 
during this session.
Update and preview video library for use with various DERIC modules.  
How to make the DERIC material eye appealing. 

12:00 pm 
Coaching, Correcting and Evaluating Behind-the-Wheel Lessons
 Defining ongoing and summative evaluations in the BTW DERIC Curriculum. 
Sharing Tips - Working Project Groups

12:30 pm
Enhancing Laboratory DERIC materials 
Behind The Wheel, Simulation, Range suggestions

1:00 pm 
Adjourning the NYSDTSEA Conference Workshop

Notes:


Lunch Videos:  (48) Dashboard Warning Lights Explained | Quick Tip - YouTube(3 min)
(48) The Highway Transportation System - YouTube (3 min)
(48) Worlds Best Creative Road Safety TV Ads Commercials - YouTube  (10 min)​



Pathway Dynamics



Pathway Dynamics

Hello and Good Afternoon NYSDTSEA members!  Sean Murphy here at State Education Dept.
Congratulations on this being your 17th Annual Driver Education Teacher Conference. 
 Wow! This past year sure has gone by fast.  It's great that driver education teachers have a place to go to learn about new information, problems and trends in your field. 
 I want to thank you for the invite to attend and speak at the conference again this year.  

As in the past, I am not able to travel to conferences but through Zoom I am able to make contact with you and express thanks for all you do for the young teenagers in your programs and our State. Thanks for teaching them how to keep safe on the road. We appreciate your dedication.
Here are a few thoughts for my presentation time and Troy you can help field questions at the end.
I ask that before summer school programs begin that you revisit the NY State Driver Education Guidelines and where possible help administrators understand what administration policies your programs need to follow.  Issues such as attendance, required time for classes, safety equipment in vehicles, route planning, what to do in an emergency and how to file paperwork, etc. 

It looks like NYSDTSEA.org has a website where you can do a one stop shop for this information. Check it out.

I also want to thank the DERIC committee for their ongoing work with the driver education curriculum. The committee works monthly to make updates and continues to provide workshops to help driver education teachers.  Later in the agenda the Health Dept will present updates in this area.
Should you have any questions, you can always reach out through our email address, and we will follow up with you. Our email address is:   

This is the best and fastest way to reach us.

If you have questions now, Troy Townsend who is presiding can provide some guidance, and where possible, direct you to some resources.  
 Have a great conference, great summer programs and as always     DRIVE SAFE!