Big Apple Award Winner
Teacher, Marie Russell (PS174)
Principal of PS174, Karin Kelly; D28 Executive Director, Dr. Jo Ann Benoit; 2023 Big Apple Award Winner, Teacher, Marie Russell; Russell’s 5th grade students.
Marie Russel, a teacher at PS 174 for 17 years, has been awarded a Big Apple Award for her leadership, demonstrated dedication to students, and contributions to the school community. The Big Apple Awards is NYC Public Schools’ citywide teacher recognition program that recognizes and celebrates the best of the best every year. BAA winners are excellent New York City teachers, who inspire students, model high-quality teaching and enrich their school communities.
"The educators honored as this year’s Big Apple Award recipients are exceptional models of the kind of commitment to student achievement that all children should experience,” said Chancellor David C. Banks. “On behalf of students, families, and staff- thank you for the care and support that you provide to our youngest New Yorkers. We are forever grateful for your service”
PS 174 art teacher Sherry Cooper got to wow the crowd at the 2023 NYCATA-UFT Members Art Exhibit with her dazzling work “Majestic Being.”
Held for the first time since the pandemic, the exhibit is put on by the New York City Art Teachers Association-United Federation of Teachers. Entitled “Metamorphosis,” with the theme “Transformation As We See it,” the January event featured more than 60 works by 43 artists — all of them city art teachers — on display at El Barrio’s Art Space in Manhattan.
“What a magnificent piece of work demonstrating her amazing talent,” PS 174, the William Sidney Mount School in Rego Park, said in a statement, noting that Cooper teaches art to children in grades K-5. “We are fortunate to have her.”
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EXCELLENCE IN SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY AWARDS This award honors individuals who apply best practices in technology and education at their school. We recognize 17 recipients for their exceptional use of educational technology to enhance teaching, learning, and/or operations at their schools. Congratulations to our school awardees: |
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Neme Alperstein, a fifth-grade teacher at PS 174 in Queens, has been nationally recognized for her work. In 2010, she received an Excellence in Teaching Award from NASA, and has continued to use NASA activities to bring STEM learning to her classroom and school community. In her words, this has resulted in “a snowball effect for student engagement.” Neme partnered with the Library of Congress, working with her students on a web-archiving project. Her students have also taken part in the Toshiba design challenge (ExploraVision), the STEM Community Design Challenge, and some have competed in and won The Stock Market Game and the Investwrite essay contest several years in succession. In addition, Neme has inspired and guided more than 40 teachers at PS 174 to write 110 grant proposals. As a result, they have been awarded over $140,000 in supplies, equipment, field trips, and residencies. |
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Karin Kelly, principal of PS 174 in Queens, keeps kids at the forefront of science and technology. She’s secured funding for SMART Boards in every school classroom, a new state-of-the-art computer lab, a number of Common Core-aligned online educational software programs, a LEGO robotics program, and two 3D printers. Karin keeps parents well informed about how children use these technologies, and sees that they, too, are trained in the software and online programs. In addition, Karin commits funds to a user-friendly website where parents can easily stay connected with the school and find useful resources to help their kids. Ensuring that technology is available to all students is critical to Karin’s vision. |
In the Fall of 2013, we were thrilled to learn that our school received recognition from New York State Education Department as a Reward School. The certificate is posted on the counter in the office and stating – Public School 174 is “leading New York State toward the accomplishment of educational excellence through an increase in student achievement and closing the gap in student performance.” Yes, our students are achieving. Yes, our students are learning. Our students, our school are excellent! Let’s be proud and share in this wonderful award!
Link to article recognizing our teacher
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/the-t-in-stem.html
Mrs. Neme Alperstein as NASA Teacher of the Year
The T in STEM
Sept 17, 2013 Science.
Technology. Engineering. Mathematics. It’s no secret that NASA has a workforce built on STEM careers. There is a lot of discussion about the importance of STEM careers and how critical it is to the U.S. that more students get their degrees in a STEM field. But before we can have students pursuing STEM fields, we need to have engaging and excited educators to teach these students. NASA knows the importance of education and mentoring, and the agency is a strong proponent of supporting STEM educators.
An excerpt:
Educator Neme Alperstein also has had a productive three years since the award. Of her experience she writes, “Receiving the NASA Teaching in Excellence Award was a tremendous honor, humbling and influential in promoting my educational career. When I moved to my new school, PS 174 William Sidney Mount, that award clearly resonated with administration, my students and their families in an enthusiastic embrace of NASA activities in the classroom. Families have celebrated our activities by attending our videoconferences with NASA's Digital Learning Network. … NASA's award has expanded my ability to extend education outreach to bring STEM learning to students in our school. It has been instrumental in emphasizing the importance our classroom investigations activities, which are aligned with the new Common Core standards. From the platform NASA has given me through this award, we have been able to enhance student use of online NASA resources, and it has unquestionably bolstered student enthusiasm for an innovative way to learn. The award has been what my students and their families interpret as an endorsement to get involved with NASA competitions and projects. I see it as prestigious recognition that has given me the freedom to encourage student "out-of-the-box" thinking through science and technology. NASA's recognition has resulted in a snowball effect for student engagement. Family support and feedback convince me that parents understand the power of this award. What better endorsement than to have parents’ enthusiasm for the innovative learning that NASA continues to offer?” It’s no secret that NASA and technology go hand-in-hand. NASA recognizes the need for a future workforce that is STEM-literate, so that it can continue its many diverse missions. For students to pursue those STEM careers, NASA needs educators who are excited and knowledgeable to teach students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Engaging students early in their education experience is a great way to get them excited about STEM, and using NASA resources and technology is a sure way to fire their desire to aim high.
Mrs. Marilyn Friedman
Teacher at Public School 174
Big Apple Awards Finalist 2013 Big Apple Awards – Recognizing Teacher Excellence as one of our City’s best and brightest teachers.
“Every person can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives.” - President Obama, 2012 State of the Union Address
Great teachers change lives. They unlock their students' potential and put them on paths to success. This year, the New York City Department of Education recognized the great work of some of our best and brightest teachers with the first annual Big Apple Awards.
Over 75,000 teachers are making a difference in the lives of New York City's students. Based on nominations from parents, colleagues, principals, students, and members of the public, 11 outstanding New York City teachers were recognized this June. By honoring their success, the NYCDOE celebrates the countless teachers who go above and beyond to serve the 1.1 million students of New York City.
Here is the link to nominate a teacher for this year… http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/BigAppleAwards/default.htm
http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2010/19/at_column_kowald_20100506.html
I Sit And Look Out: Rego Park teacher, students plant a new tree every year
By Kenneth Kowald
Nancy Wolf, who coordinates New York City Arbor Day — observed April 30 — told me that one of the most enthusiastic regulars each year is Pat Evens, a kindergarten teacher in PS 174, the William Sidney Mount School, in the Crescents section of Rego Park. Evens and her students have created a small arboretum with the successful planting of Arbor Day trees for many years.
In honor of Evens’ and her students’ work, in the spring of 2009 the Bartlett Tree Co. donated a large specimen tree — a Kwanzan cherry cloned from those in Washington, D.C.’s Tidal Basin — to the school. As Wolf put it, this larger tree and all the smaller ones are “cherished by those at PS 174 and are well-cared for by the custodians at the school.”
Evens’ students wrote a thank-you letter, read it at the ceremony and presented it to the company.
I had the pleasure of meeting Evens, all too briefly, a number of months ago. I was immediately impressed by her enthusiasm for teaching and the way she seemed to reach each of her students in a personal way. It made me feel good about the state of education in our city.
Evens began teaching at PS 174 in the early 1990s and each year she has stressed the importance of trees and nature and has done plantings with her students. First, it was with shrubs obtained from the state Department of Conservation Forestry Service. For many years, Evens has worked with Wolf as part of Arbor Day.
Once the tree arrives, it stays in Evens’ classroom for a couple of weeks. The children vote on a name. They measure how tall it is, using cubes and links. They compare their own heights to it. They count and observe the leaves. They take turns watering it. Evens said, “They get excited when they see a little rolly-polly bug or worm hiding in the soil.”
The custodial crew helps with the planting. All examine the root ball before it goes into the ground. The children enjoy filling up the hole with soil. Then they circle the tree and chant, “Grow big and grow strong!” For the remainder of the semester, all are involved in making sure the tree is properly cared for.
One year, Evens told me, one of her students moved away at the end of the school year. She wrote to Evens in September, asking about “Mikey,” the tree she had helped plant and care for. Evens took pictures of the tree and sent them to her.
One year, Evens’ class named the tree after a student’s new baby sister, Briana. When Briana came to kindergarten some years later, she was introduced to Briana the tree, which is still growing strong in the school garden. Briana then had the same experience caring for the tree that her big brother had years before.
No wonder Evens and her students were cited for their exceptional devotion to trees and nature.
Many years ago, when I was employed, my job put me in close touch with many teachers on all grade levels in New York City in private, public and parochial schools. As I used to tell people about my experience, I would say, “I am most fortunate. I meet and work with only the best teachers.”
Evens is one of the best and everyone who cares about the world we live in should be happy to be around when she and her students are working their magic at the William Sidney Mount School.
