2015-2016 Blackboard Awards For Schools & Principals

BBA_HONOREESOn Wednesday, December 2, the 2015-2016 Blackboard Awards For Schools and Principals, presented by New York Family, honored 15 of the city’s finest schools and principals in a special ceremony at the the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). Nancy Redd, the host of HuffPost Live, was the co-host, along with Eric Messinger, the editor of New York Family. The event was sponsored in part by the Yorkville Youth Athletic Association.

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 fall, 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.

To see a video of this year’s Awards, scroll to the bottom of this post; to see a slideshow of photos from the Blackboard Awards ceremony and reception, click HERE!

And the 2015-2016 Blackboard Awards for Schools & Principals Honorees are:

Academy for Careers in Television and Film
Principal: Edgar Rodriguez

Bronx Charter School for Excellence
Principals: Aleisha Rodriguez (Elementary School) & Desiree Hunter (Middle School)

Community Roots Charter School
Principals: Allison Keil & Sara Stone

Friends Seminary
Principal: Robert “Bo” Lauder

Harvest Collegiate High School
Principal: Kate Burch

KIPP NYC College Prep High School
Principal: Natalie Byrne

La Scuola D’italia Guglielmo Marconi
Principal: Dr. Maria Palandra

Marymount School
Headmistress: Concepcion R. Alvar

Midtown West School
Principal: Ryan Bourke

Mott Hall II
Principal: Marlon Lowe

Pine Street School
Founder: Jennifer Jones
Director: Eileen Baker

PS 58—The Carroll School
Principal: Katherine Dello Stritto

PS 158
Principal: Dina Ercolano

Special Music School at Kaufman Music Center
Principal: Katherine Banucci-Smith

Stephen Wise Free Synagogue Balfour Brickner Early Childhood Center
Director: Lori Schneider

Relevant Directory Listings

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New Settlement Community Center

<p>Offering a host of healthy, fun and exciting programs for children ages 6 months and up, including ballet and hi-hop dance with Alvin Ailey, group and private swimm classes, mixed martial arts, youth technology, piano, violin and guitar lessons, and more.</p>

Chickenshed NYC

<p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that began in the UK in 1974. Chickenshed NYC is a young organization bringing that same ethos and unique methodology to the USA. Chickenshed’s mission is to create entertaining and outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed's model of Inclusive Theatre is based in the belief that everyone can flourish when everyone is included. At Chickenshed everyone is welcome, everyone is valued, and together we produce remarkable theatre. We want to break down barriers between people to create a world without labels and where differences no longer divide. At Chickenshed, support is given to those who need it, and given by those who can . We believe that creative activities, self-expression and performance should be available to anyone who has the desire, no matter their background or circumstances. We know that when everyone has the opportunity to shine, amazing things happen.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.3em; margin-top: 0px; caret-color: #515151; color: #515151; font-family: nimbus-sans, sans-serif;">Chickenshed NYC provides programming for little ones, children and youth through semester-long activities and performances.</p>

Speakitaly NYC

<p>SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.  Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress. </p> <p>Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge.</p> <p>Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City… Who doesn’t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history & in the arts?</p> <p>Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor’s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"</p>