Outstanding Educators Honored at Columbia University’s Phi Delta Kappa
By Pola Rosen, Ed.D.

Faculty House at Columbia University was the scene of a well-attended event recognizing three outstanding educators for their many years of service to New York City schools and children.

While the President of Yale University recently decried the policy of early decision at colleges around the nation, Phi Delta Kappa had no problem deciding early that Superintendent Carmen Farina, District 15, Brooklyn, Superintendent Tony Sawyer, Manhattan High Schools and Principal John Mancini, JHS 96 in Brooklyn deserved the honors in 2001.

Carmen Farina garnered the award, “Educator of the Year.” She has been a public school teacher for over 30 years, spending 20 years as a classroom teacher in a variety of grades. As a curriculum coordinator she was the author of a multicultural/interdisciplinary program called “Making Connections” that was replicated in every district in New York City. This program focused on using social studies as a vehicle for learning all curriculum areas and was ultimately published and distributed by the NYC Board of Education throughout the city. She was an Associate Professor at Bank Street Principal’s Institute where she developed a policy and curriculum course that focused on developing citywide leaders. She currently serves as a member of Teachers College Reading and Writing Institute Think Tank.

Superintendent Tony Sawyer received the award “Superintendent of the Year.” He began in the NYC public school system teaching math, social studies and English quickly rising to an assistant principal at Park West High School in Manhattan and then Principal of Tilden High School in Brooklyn in 1992. Today, as Superintendent of Manhattan High Schools he supervises 38 high schools and 46,000 students. During his tenure, regents as well as attendance scores have increased dramatically. He believes that technology and learning are synonymous and ensures that all schools have state of the art computers. He has instituted a software program to track information on student progress and has paved the way for the IBM Learning Village, which helps teachers prepare and share effective lessons.

Parents can check on their children’s progress through AwareParent.com. Sawyer is currently working on his doctorate at Teachers College.

John Mancinci received the award “Principal of the Year.” His work with parents, teachers and children is legendary. With numerous awards under his belt, he has had illustrious politicians and visitors to his school throughout the years.#

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