Home About Us Media Kit Subscriptions Links Forum
APPEARED IN


View All Articles

Download PDF

FAMOUS INTERVIEWS

Directories:

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

HELP WANTED

Tutors

Workshops

Events

Sections:

Books

Camps & Sports

Careers

Children’s Corner

Collected Features

Colleges

Cover Stories

Distance Learning

Editorials

Famous Interviews

Homeschooling

Medical Update

Metro Beat

Movies & Theater

Museums

Music, Art & Dance

Special Education

Spotlight On Schools

Teachers of the Month

Technology

Archives:

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

1995-2000


JULY 2005

Editorial:
I Touch the Future; I Teach

By Pola Rosen, Ed.D.

The words in the title are those of Christa McAuliffe, the imaginative and daring teacher who went up in a space shuttle that plunged to earth in a ball of flame. Those words inspired me to think of a way to honor outstanding teachers in New York City who are influencing the next generation of students.

When we talk about standards, about producing readers and leaders, we must talk about the teachers providing the motivation, the academic excellence and mentoring that is so vital to education. Three years ago, I requested that principals and assistant principals nominate outstanding teachers in their schools and fill out a form online with certain criteria. I then assembled an Advisory Board with Laurie Tisch, Dr. Charlotte Frank, Dr. Alfred Posamentier, Dr. Augusta Souza Kappner and Adam Sugerman to judge the entries each month. In June of 2002, we had our first awards breakfast honoring teachers from all parts of the city who had appeared in Education Update each month.

Many corporations, foundations and philanthropists renewed their support for the third year.

Our keynote speakers this year were Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and CUNY Vice-Chancellor Jay Hershenson. Among our honored guests were Dr. Selma Botman, CUNY Executive Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Alice Belgray, Chairperson, Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College, Dr. Maritza Macdonald, Director of Education at the American Museum of Natural History, Dr. Merryl Kafka, Curator of Education, New York Aquarium and Natalie Anersen, VP for Education, the New York Botanical Garden.

We were also honored to have President Carolyn Williams, Bronx Community College and President Delores Fernandez, Hostos Community College as well as Superintendent Susan Erber, District 75, Special Education.

Amidst a group of 150 attendees, each teacher was called to have a gold medal bestowed upon him/her by Hershenson and Botman as well as the sponsors. Many principals came with their teachers.

Recently, I was honored to be a judge at the New York Academy of Science for the Nobel Laureate Essay Contest. The three winning high school students will be sent by the Swedish Consulate to the Nobel ceremonies in Stockholm next year. In speaking to the students, I noted a common thread: the inspiration, guidance and support they were receiving from their teachers. In each case, their teachers arranged for them to do advanced research in a hospital or university lab, while providing continuous mentoring along the way.

This year, 2005, marks the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s publication of The Theory of Relativity. Imagination, Einstein felt, was more important than knowledge. The Outstanding Teachers of New York City excel in stimulating students’ imaginations, in helping them see the poetry of life, in inviting them into the realms of the unknown to discover their own ultimate truths.

It is about time we recognized these unheralded teachers in New York City.#

COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

Name:

Email:
Show email
City:
State:

 


 

 

Education Update, Inc.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express consent of the publisher. © 2009.