The 2019 Blackboard Awards For Schools & Principals

On Monday, January 14, the 2019 Blackboard Awards for Schools and Principals, presented by New York Family, honored 14 of the city’s finest schools and principals in a special ceremony at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). The event was hosted by Vicki Schneps, the president and publisher of Schneps Media, and Mia Weber, the executive editor of New York Family. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. were both on-hand to each present an Award.

For photos from the event, click Here.

The Blackboard Awards honor excellence in local education in all sectors (public, private, charter, and parochial), and all grade levels (nursery through high school). The annual schools and principals’ ceremony is in the winter, and the annual teachers’ ceremony in the spring. Parents are welcome and encouraged to nominate their beloved schools and educators, and we typically hear from several thousand local families in the course of the year. We also have a board of advisors, experts in local education, who make recommendations as well (in fact, with the 2019 Blackboard Awards for Teachers coming up next, we would especially welcome nominations for wonderful teachers right now).

The 2019 Blackboard Awards for Schools & Principals Honorees are:

A.C.E. Academy for Scholars PS 290q
Principal Jose Jimenez

Atlas School
Executive Director Amanda Friedman

The Caedmon School
Principal Matthew Stuart

Family Life Academy Charter School 2
Principal Kathy Ortiz-Herscher

Mark Twain IS 239 for the Gifted and Talented
Principal Karen Ditolla

Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice
Principal & Founder Tabari Zaid Bomani

Our Lady of Lourdes School
Principal Suzanne Kaszynski & Former Principal Cathy Hufnagel

The Park Preschool
Executive Director Kevin Artale & Educational Director Ellen Offen

P.S. 452
Principal David Scott Parker

P.S. 198 The Isidor and Ida Straus School
Principal Katharine DeBenedictis

River East Elementary School
Principal Michael Panetta

The River School P.S. 281
Principal Jessica Orleans

The Scholars’ Academy
Principal Brian O’Connell

Speyer Legacy School
Co-Founding Trustee Jennifer Selendy

Academics West

Academics West is an accredited high-support college preparatory school designed to meet the academic and social-emotional goals of its students. Our unique model allows for each student to benefit from a customized educational experience to ensure they are acquiring the skills necessary to navigate their post-secondary lives whether they attend college or pursue another path to future success. Students can select different tracks to construct the most beneficial program to suit their needs and goals. Unlike conventional education, this innovative model enables students to prepare for an ever-changing world that requires young people to have advanced executive functioning, interpersonal and leadership skills to become independent and resilient adults. &nbsp;

BASIS Independent Brooklyn

<span style="font-size: 15.499999999999998pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BASIS Independent Brooklyn, a top-ranked private school, fuels creativity, ingenuity, and independence in curious learners in PreK&ndash;Grade 12. The nationally recognized BASIS Curriculum is built from global best practices and designed to inspire students to learn at the highest international levels in a supportive environment. From their very first day, students engage in a spiraling liberal arts program with advanced STEM offerings&mdash;including Mandarin, engineering, humanities, the sciences, and more. Led by Learning and Subject Expert Teachers, our students gain the critical inquiry and problem-solving skills needed to be successful in their education and beyond.

Ready Set Grow Preschool

<a href="https://www.readysetgrownassau.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.readysetgrownassau.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1692384562653000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3H4vbx-RdPPdKc5YnYYhnS">Ready Set Grow Preschool&nbsp;</a>(RSG), located in New Hyde Park believes that lifelong learning begins with a well-rounded, comprehensive and compassionate early childhood education.&nbsp; Ready Set Grow, the treasured preschool attached to the Progressive Athletic Center, serves as an educational hub for children 2 to 4 years of age. The educational team at RSG have created an enriching environment that hones in on children&rsquo;s natural curiosity about the world around them in order to promote socialization, creativity, and critical thinking. Student&rsquo;s delve into thematic daily play-based lessons in science, mathematics, art, literary enrichment, and physical education that serve as building blocks for the child's academic future. Preschoolers at RSG have the unique opportunity to develop their gross motor skills at the attached, fully equipped gymnastics facility where they engage in climbing, movement-based games and gymnastics.&nbsp; Ready Set Grow preschool offers 4 age-based classes taught by certified teachers. Each thoughtfully curated class is an excellent nursery to grade school transition. The warm and welcoming environment of the school allows children to feel confident in their new-found independence. As a first-time mom, N.S,&nbsp; was relieved when her son felt immediately comfortable at the preschool relaying to the director that, &ldquo;From the first day of school, my son's teachers have shown such warmth, compassion and professionalism. We are greeted each day with genuine smiles and excitement. My son looks forward to drop off each day and often mentions teachers and classmates at dinner. It's so cool to know that he&rsquo;s making such good memories&rdquo;. The professional and fun-loving staff helps their students cultivate social and academic skill sets that will be utilized throughout their school career. As a mom of two now-grade schooler&rsquo;s, Cheryl L. thanks RSG for &ldquo;...making her children's pre-school experience so special and helping to prepare them for Pre-K. Cherryl continues by stating, &ldquo; RSG staff creates an educational atmosphere combined with caring, creativity and fun.&rdquo; <a href="https://www.readysetgrownassau.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.readysetgrownassau.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1692384562653000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3H4vbx-RdPPdKc5YnYYhnS">Ready Set Grow Preschool</a>&nbsp;is now accepting Fall new-student applications for 2&rsquo;s, 3&rsquo;s and 4&rsquo;s. Visit their website or email RSG&rsquo;s head director, Louiza at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rsgpreschool@aol.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rsgpreschool@aol.com</a>&nbsp;for information on classes and registration.&nbsp;