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JULY 2003


Making History: Honoring Outstanding Teachers in New York City Public Schools to Become Annual Event

The Department of Education, as the Board of Education is now known, is over 100 years old. During that time, the pendulum has swung from centralization to decentralization and back, from teaching reading via phonics to the whole word approach and now back to phonics again, from bilingual education to immersion and back. Reform movements have abounded, thrived and died. Underlying all the rhetoric, the steadfast image of the teacher has remained undiminished. And the preparation of fine, solid educators has been the cornerstone of our children’s success. Yet, no one has ever celebrated or honored outstanding teachers until Education Update decided to do so. Recommended by principals, superintendents and colleagues, 42 teachers appeared throughout the year in the pages of the award-winning monthly culminating in a ceremony at the Harvard Club on June 20th.

Teachers were proudly accompanied by their supervisors and family members. Mrs. Lee came from the furthest point, Hawaii, placing fresh leis on her son’s shoulders. All five boroughs were represented across all grade levels. Dr. Pola Rosen, founder and publisher of Education Update, and a teacher, supervisor and college professor for many years, shared the fulfillment of her dream to honor these “wonderful teachers who serve as inspirations and guides to knowledge, remembered forever by the young people whose lives they’ve touched.” Adam Sugerman, associate editor of Education Update, placed a ribboned gold medal over the heads of the teachers as they were called up to receive their certificates by the sponsors of the event.

Education Update is grateful to the following sponsors who made the event possible: Citibank, Maureen Nipar, Exec. VP; Con Edison, Luther Tai, Senior VP of Central Services; Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, Jill Levy, President; The Everett Foundation, Edith Everett, VP; McGraw-Hill, Dr. Charlotte K. Frank, Sr. VP; Reading Reform Foundation, Sandra Priest Rose, Founder, Trustee of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Trustee of the NY Public Library; Assemblyman Steven Sanders, Chair, Education Committee, NYS Assembly; Laurie Tisch Sussman; Time Warner Cable, Harriet Novet, VP, Public Affairs.

President Jennifer Raab of Hunter College gave welcoming comments recalling with fondness her days in the public schools of New York before going on to Princeton and Harvard Law School. The keynote address was delivered by Regent Merryl Tisch who emphasized the importance of excellent teacher preparation and leadership in our schools today. Special guest Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein was delighted to share this special day with the teachers, principals and families, awarding several of the certificates and personally congratulating the recipients.

One of the high points of the program was the concert by student violinists from public schools (and Opus 118), taught and conducted by honoree Roberta Guaspari (Meryl Streep starred in the movie about Roberta’s life recently). The young violinists, demonstrating a range of styles and techniques from blues to Bach, from pizzicato to legato, received a standing ovation.

Rosen, recalled the words of teacher Christa McAuliffe who died on a space shuttle, “I touch the future; I teach.”

To see a video clip of the event covered by Pauline Liu of Channel 11 (WPIX News), click here.

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