The 2014 Blackboard Awards

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Blackboard Award-winner Principal Brian O’Connell of Scholars Academy with two of his students.

Perhaps the proudest moment I’ve had as the editor of New York Family was the time I had the honor of presenting a Blackboard Award to Principal Brian O’Connell of Scholars Academy (that’s him in the photo below), an outstanding public school (grades 6-12) in the Rockaways. The previous year the school was devastated by Hurricane Sandy, with over 60 percent of their students rendered homeless or dislocated—and yet, by June of that year they somehow managed to graduate their entire senior class!

But here’s the thing I most want to impress: as emotional as that particular award was, every time we give out a Blackboard Award to a deserving school or educator, I’m inordinately proud and humbled to be among these local heroes—our teachers and principals who give so much to our children.

So please, please, please, take a moment right now to tell us about a wonderful school (or principal) in your child’s life. Click here to nominate a school or principal.

The Blackboard Awards celebrate excellence in education in all NYC school communities (public, private, charter, parochial, and nursery)—and we are presently accepting nominations for schools and principals (we celebrate teachers in the late spring). The ceremony to celebrate the honored Schools and Principals will be held on December 9, 2014, at the Auditorium at Scholastic in Manhattan. For more information about the Blackboard Awards, visit blackboardawards.com.  Nominate Now! »

Relevant Directory Listings

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Xaverian High School

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; color: #000000;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">A private, co-educational Catholic college preparatory school for grades 6–12 located in Bay Ridge. Giving students the opportunity to grow in their faith, intellect, leadership skills, musical passions, athletic talents, and much more, in the long standing tradition of the Xaverian Brothers.</span></p>

Twin Parks Montessori Schools

<p>TwIn Parks Montessori Schools nurtures a child’s natural tendency to learn.  Our three campuses on the Upper West Side of Manhattan serve children from 3 months to 5 years of age.  We are called Twin Parks because each of our campuses are across from Central Park or Riverside Park.  Being close to nature is just one of many things that make Twin Parks a wonderful school.  Twin Parks is well known for its warm stimulating environment, joyful, active, independent learners, and welcoming community.  At Twin Parks, each child is regarded with profound respect and care. Our nurturing teachers foster a beautiful learning environment designed to help each child reach their full potential.  </p> <p>All of our students, even our youngest children, have enriched experiences in math, language, science, cultural arts, music, art and movement.  The Montessori approach is internationally renowned for the development of each child’s creativity, individual resourcefulness, and potential.</p> <p>All of our classrooms share a deep commitment to the Montessori Method and at each level our program is carefully constructed around the developmental stages of the child.</p> <p>The Montessori curriculum varies at the levels of our school, but the goals are consistent throughout the programs:</p> <p>- To partner with parents in the education of their children</p> <p>- To foster a love and joy of learning</p> <p>- To help children develop a positive self-image </p> <p>- To foster open minds, compassion, and respect for others</p> <p>- To develop independence and confidence.</p> <p>- To instill in each child a sense of responsibility for the world in which we live</p> <p>- To maintain the highest standards for a safe and clean program.</p>

Green Meadow Waldorf School

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Striving to create a social, cultural, and learning environment that recognizes the child’s spiritual freedom and growth, Green Meadow nurtures the physical, emotional, and intellectual capacities of the growing child through a developmentally appropriate curriculum.</span></p>