Borough wide
Three cheers to the two local principals honored by Schneps Media’s New York Family magazine at the publication’s annual awards ceremony on Jan. 14, where the Kings County educators were recognized for dedicating their lives to the enrichment of local youngsters.
Schneps Media president and publisher Victoria Schneps-Yunis handed Tabari Zaid Bomani, principal and founder of the Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a Blackboard Award plaque in the Outstanding School category for his Fulton Street high school, which he said succeeds on the strength of its inclusivity.
“Our core philosophy is organized around the conviction that our school community is open to all students, regardless of their educational or personal history,” said Bomani at the ceremony held at the New York Institute of Technology in Manhattan.
And Karen Ditolla, principal at Mark Twain IS 239 for the Gifted and Talented in Coney Island, nabbed the plaque for Outstanding Principal, saying her students inspire her each and every day to strive for perfection.
“There is a magic at Twain that continues to inspire both young and mature,” said Ditolla. “Simply put, I would not want to be anywhere else. I am humbled to be part of such a community.”
The Blackboard Awards, which kicked off in 2002, honors both exceptional schools and educators across the five boroughs.