Local Heroes, United in Bravery
CISNY Salutes Those Who Courageously Served Their Schools on September 11th

October 17, 2001

Manhattan High Schools Superintendent Welton Sawyer presents an Award of Appreciation to Principal Ronald Tabano of Wildcat Academy, one of the nine schools directly affected by the events of September 11.

Members of the New York City Public Schools joined distinguished guests to honor the educators who guided their students to safety on September 11th. The event was presented by Communities in Schools, New York, the Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation, and the Creative Artists Agency Foundation.

Over 200 people attended the ceremony held at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School in midtown Manhattan. New York City Schools Chancellor Harold O. Levy and High Schools Superintendent Welton L. Sawyer expressed their appreciation for the hard work and courageous efforts of principals, teachers, school support staff, parents and students.

"Times like this put everyone to the test," said Mr. Levy. "Teachers rose to the occasion and protected their students. A lot of students were saved from injury because of the quick thinking of teachers and principals."

Dr. Roy J. Blash, Executive Director of Communities in Schools, New York: "Stories abound of the quiet heroism of so many New Yorkers during these times of anxiety. Our educators, like so many other public servants and private citizens, deserve much recognition for their efforts to ensure the safety of our children."

Mr. Sawyer echoed Mr. Levy's sentiments. "We're very proud of our teachers, our principals, our parents, our students, and everyone who performed valiantly on a very fateful day," he said. "I'm so proud that so many people did the right thing at the right time to make that all of our children were safe."

Musical great Quincy Jones, actor Ellen Barkin, and actor/director Penny Marshall also attended the event.
Mr. Jones described the way in which educators at Murry Bergtraum High School evacuated all of their students and reunited them with their parents. "As a parent of seven myself," he said, "I can imagine just how grateful those parents are."

Ms. Marshall read "Sitting," a poem by her brother, which describes the shared experiences of and collaboration between New Yorkers. Ms. Barkin praised the efforts of teachers and school officials. "I think [helping their students] is the greatest thing that the teachers could have done," she said.

Dr. Marilyn Smith, CEO, Communities in Schools, National

Several speakers recognized that although the events of September 11th were indeed tragic, the response by educators to those events has been remarkable. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Principal Euclid Mejia described this contrast using the open-ing lines of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. "This has been 'the best of times and the worst of times,'" he said.

On September 11, 8,323 students were evacuated from nine schools located within blocks of the World Trade Center. Amidst the fire, smoke and catastrophic destruction surrounding them, all students returned home safely thanks to the efforts of those who work in and with the public schools. Together, New Yorkers pitched in to ensure that children were reassured and unharmed.

The Student Chorus from the Ronald Edmonds Learning Center (IS 113, Brooklyn) performs "The Star Spangled Banner" at the opening of the Local Heroes ceremony.

Petra Candler, Earth Science teacher at the High School for Economics and Finance, was one of the teachers who helped her students to escape. "It was the most frightening experience of my entire life," she said. "I had to run for my life, and I had great kids who followed what I was telling them."

The nine schools directly affected by the attacks on the World Trade Center were:

• PS 89, Manhattan
• IS 89, Manhattan
• PS 150, Manhattan
• PS 234, Manhattan
• John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School
• Stuyvesant High School
• Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers
• High School for Economics and Finance
• High School of Leadership and Public Service

Additionally, seven schools acted as hosts for the crowds of evacuated students. They were:

• PS 3, Manhattan
• PS 41, Manhattan
• IS 70, Manhattan
• Nest+m, Manhattan
• Brooklyn Technical High School
• Fashion Industries High School
• Norman Thomas High School