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Staten Island Academy Announces Second Annual
Excellence in Education Awards
Island Ford, Staten Island Advance, Staten Island Bank and Trust, Staten Island Heart Imaging PC and Victory State Bank are Sponsoring the Awards

Download Excellence in Education Award General Information and Nomination Form

November 6, 2006 – In partnership with the local business community and the Staten Island Advance, Staten Island Academy is again sponsoring the Excellence in Education Awards. Launched last year, the award pays public tribute to outstanding educators on Staten Island. In addition to the Advance, business sponsors are Island Ford, Staten Island Bank and Trust, Staten Island Heart Imaging PC and Victory State Bank.

“No matter what their teaching environment—public, private or parochial schools; colleges; universities; or cultural institutions—educators open the minds and hearts of students and help them realize their full potential,” said Staten Island Academy Head of School Diane J. Hulse. “By honoring educators in the community, the Academy wishes to bestow upon them the recognition that they deserve and raise the status of teachers in general.

“Last year was an extraordinary experience for everyone involved,” Mrs. Hulse said of the award’s inaugural year. “I was deeply moved by the quantity of applications and the quality of our educators. This is just the beginning of a long tradition in tipping our hats to our leaders in learning on the Island.” The five winners of the first Excellence in Education Award were Mary Lee, Grades 7-8 science teacher at St. Clare Elementary School; Deric Borrero, a Grade 6 science teacher at Rocco Laurie Intermediate School 72; Betsy Wilson, who works with adults at Arthur Kill Correctional Facility; Christina Hanna, a Grade 5 teacher at P.S. 53; and Lisa Murphy, math teacher and coordinator of student activities at New Dorp High School.

Each of the selected educators will receive a plaque and an honorarium of $1,500, which has been underwritten by the business sponsors who support excellence in education. Honorees will be recognized at a ceremony at Staten Island Academy at 3 PM on Sunday, May 6, 2007, the first day of National Teacher Appreciation Week.

To be eligible for the award, candidates must hold positions as educators on Staten Island and have a minimum of five years of experience in education. Applicants may include teachers, administrators, counselors, librarians and other such professionals. Educators who are recipients will have taught their students to inquire, analyze and become critical thinkers who seek truth in the people and world around them; encouraged their students to become ethical leaders; imparted to their students the joy of learning, achievement and discovering their own voices; helped students push their intellectual, emotional and physical boundaries and discovered their inner leaders, scholars, athletes and artists; taught their students to set their goals high and to follow through in achieving them; and assisted students develop and exercise curiosity, commitment, discipline and diligence as a means to achievement.

If you have additional questions, contact Frank Crane, Staten Island Academy’s academic dean, at 718-303-7829 or fcrane@statenislandacademy.org.

The Staten Island Advance is working closely with the Academy on this endeavor because the newspaper shares the school’s commitment to educational excellence. The paper is the award’s press sponsor providing advertising and editorial support.

Download Excellence in Education Award General Information and Nomination Form

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Press Contact: Liz Campbell, 718-303-7813, communication@statenislandacademy.org