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SUNY Potsdam Education Alumni Honor Kristie Farr '92 & '95 with 2025 St. Lawrence Academy Medal

Kristie Farr '92 & '95 of Hailesboro, N.Y., Presented with St. Lawrence Academy Medal by SUNY Potsdam School of Education Alumni Association

Potsdam, NY (07/15/2025) — The SUNY Potsdam School of Education Alumni Association recently honored Kristie Farr '92 & '95 of Hailesboro, N.Y., with the St. Lawrence Academy Medal during Reunion 2025.

The St. Lawrence Academy Medal is presented to a SUNY Potsdam graduate who has made significant contributions to the field of professional education or related fields. Farr was recognized for her extraordinary impact in the field of theatre education and in her community.

About the recipient:

Kristie Farr '92 & '95 is the embodiment of a teacher who goes above and beyond. For the past 27 years, she has dedicated herself to growing theatre education in the North Country as a theatre educator at Indian River Central School District in Philadelphia, N.Y. Her engaging and dynamic teaching style has helped build a rich and lasting theatre culture not only at Indian River, but throughout the region and New York State.

Farr earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre in 1992 and her Master of Science in Teaching degree in 1995 from SUNY Potsdam. As a student, she was a member of the Theatre Guild, an HIV Peer Educator, and an actor, costume designer and director for productions at both SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University. Farr was a founding member of Alpha Psi Omega, a member of Kappa Delta Pi, and received a certificate of merit from Phi Delta Kappa. She also taught elementary and secondary theatre education methods.

At Indian River, Farr serves as artistic director and theatre manager, and coordinates the district's Arts-in-Education Program. She advises Warriors Fight AIDS, the Drama Club and the Thespian Honor Society. From 2019 to 2020, she served as a part-time arts representative for the New York State Education Department. Her statewide impact is profound. She has been deeply involved in the development of Individual Arts Assessment Pathways (IAAP), chaired the Theatre IAAP for NYSED, led curriculum work for the New York State Theatre Education Association and chaired the Arts Content Advisory Panel. In 2022, she was one of just 15 educators selected for a national theatre education initiative with the Educational Theatre Association.

Respected as a role model and mentor, Farr uses theatre to address vital social and cultural themes. Her career is defined by excellence in instruction, student achievement, and meaningful, transformative theatre education.

To find out more about teacher education at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/soeps.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

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Kristie Farr ’92 & ’95 (left) of Hailesboro, N.Y., is the recipient of the 2025 St. Lawrence Academy Medal from the SUNY Potsdam School of Education Alumni Association. She is seen here with SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Suzanne Smith at Reunion 2025.

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