Climate Leadership Awards

Bridge Builders are leaders who helped support and connect sustainability initiatives from our office to others:

• Aramis Rodriguez from the Division of School Facilities, for consistently providing practical, solutions-focused input on facilities operations to ensure the needs of school buildings and staff are met. 

• Chris Ramsaroop from the Office of Payable Operations for their patient and timely support in processing dozens of payments that helped advance the Office of Energy and Sustainability’s work during transition years. 

• Elijah Nishiura from the Office of Deputy Chancellor of Operations for supporting the Office of Energy & Sustainability's programs, budget, and operations, leveraging Divisional resources to broaden our impact across the agency. 

• Hannah Welt from the Division of Finance, Admin, and Human Resources for their consistaent support with our Annual Sustainability Grant process and for helping schools navigate funding opportunities and procurement. 

• Juliet Ulman, Ray Torres, and Hannah O'Connor from the External Communications office for proactively bringing Climate Action Days and other sustainability initiatives to families through the PS+You and monthly newsletters, and making it fun with activities in The Morning Bell. 

• Nicole Beinhorn, the District 30 Achievement Instructional Specialist for enthusiastically connecting our office with science leads and new collaborators, and amplifying our work across District 30 schools.  

• Stephan Kassan from the Division of School Facilities for supporting financial processes that keep our programs running, ensuring we connect seamlessly with Division of School Facilities. 

• Tracy Cashin from the Office of Food and Nutrition Services for being a transformative collaborator, bridging sustainability and cafeteria operations with the Office of Food and Nutrition Services. 

• Vincent Hyland from the NYCPS Office of Library Services for championing the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and helping embed sustainability as a core value of school libraries. 

This category celebrates those who excelled at Climate Action Days:

• Aaron Bell from Maspeth High School for taking Climate Action Days to the next level by involving the entire school community, incorporating the arts, athletics, career readiness, community organizations, and local electeds. 

• Amy Rothman from P.S. Q244 for making Climate Action Days accessible and meaningful for District-75 students through hands-on initiatives, including school gardens, plant-based meal programs, energy conservation efforts, and recycling education.

• Beatrice Del Ponte from Brooklyn Studio Secondary for motivating your green team and students to take meaningful action and for extending your leadership to the neighboring elementary school, inspiring younger students to get involved in Climate Action Days. 

• Colin Marshal from Sunset Park High School for connecting the dots between Climate Action Day and Arbor Day, rallying a group of Sunset Park schools to participate in a collective street tree care event, the Sunset Park Tree Fest. 

• Jasmine Rogers and Shacona Sammy from P.S 198 Brooklyn for consistently inviting our team and NYCPS leadership to Climate Action Days while advancing excellence in science education through hydroponic gardening, taste-tests, and tree stewardship projects. 

• Jimmy Reinicke from P.S. 158 Bayard Taylor for jumping in a first-year Sustainability Coordinator, pulling in both teachers and administration to create a week's worth of Climate Action Day programming during Earth Week. 

• Maria Diangco from School for the Classics for bringing their school together with creativity through their Earth Day fair and Climate Action Days. Their Green Team was featured on our Waste Climate Action Day flyer! 

These are people whose initiatives sparked impact and engagement within their larger school communities and neighborhoods:

• Alison McNally from P.S. 32 Brooklyn Samuel Mills Sprole for exceptional commitment to the community, from gardening to collection drives to resiliency efforts; even connecting students with local developers to provide feedback on nearby construction projects. 

• Anna Goldman, Helene Sorkin, and Rebecca Lew from P.S. 32 Belmont for long-term community building with Equity Design and Street Lab to create a sustainable Open Streets gathering place for students and the neighborhood. 

• Antonella Caccioppoli from I.S. 49 Berta A. Dreyfus for connecting their community through Climate Action Days, school partnerships, community gardeners, and student leadership in waste sorting. 

• Deise Kowalski from P.S. 34 Oliver H. Perry for their creative and impactful Recycled Fashion Showcase, which the whole school and their families participated in. 

• Everbell Boampong from P.S. 287 for excellent environmental leadership, empowering students through multicultural perspectives, advocacy projects, and localized hands-on experiences. 

• Francesca Capobianco from P.S. 146 Ann M. Short for bringing numerous stakeholders into the fold, inviting both students and staff to the Green Team, working with local non-profits on sustainability projects, and hosting parent workshops. 

• Jennifer Shapiro from P.S. 145 Andrew Jackson for sparking sustainability initiatives by revitalizing their school garden, improving cafeteria waste sorting, and leading hands-on community stewardship projects. 

• Raka Spoerri from Brooklyn Collaborative Studies High School for transforming Grade 10 science through hands-on environmental justice learning, marine science, habitat restoration, and community-based research. 

• Sara Babich from P.S. 111* for sharing their Green Team work as a model for educators and going above and beyond to engage teachers and students through hands-on stewardship and the District 30 STEAM Fair. 

• Sharon Forero from P.S. 9 Ryer Avenue Elementary School for creating a vibrant outdoor learning space and strengthening waste sorting by bringing custodial teams, administrators, the Green Team, and all students together. 

• Soleil Sabalja from East Side Community High School for bringing climate justice and environmental science to life through global field experiences and community-based action that inspire students to drive solutions and create community impact. 

• Tawana Vasquez and Domonique Glover from Riverdale Avenue Community School for engaging community partners and to activate their play yard and Open Street and model the long-term work of building sustainable, healthy spaces. 

• Teresa Hooks from M.S. 246 Walt Whitman for inspiring their community through their garden, food pantry, and joyful spirit.

• Yanel Leroux from P.S. 112 Dutch Kills for leading their Green Team, tree stewardship, and waste reduction projects while empowering students to share their work at the D30 STEAM Fair. 

We are celebrating these Garden Guardians for championing green space in and around their schools: 

• Amy Goldstein from J168 at P.S. Q255 for making sustainability accessible by creating a student-driven butterfly garden, fostering civic science, community mapping, data collection, and collaborative partnerships.  

• Dr. Stephanie Kadison from Bard High School Early College Queens for their commitment to street tree care, teaching students civic engagement and construction skills while enhancing the urban canopy. 

• Joslyn Matthews and Julie-Ann Fallon from The Riverview School at Q485 Grover Cleveland HS for their dedication to the Riverview Farmstand, where students lead a vocational sustainability program growing produce, caring for chickens, and running a community-supported market. 

• Margaret Small from P.S. 217 Colonel David Marcus School for their energizing commitment to their school garden, consistently seeking out grant funding, restoring the greenhouse after it was damaged in a storm, and passing the baton to the next cohort of school gardeners. 

• Marion Howard from P.S. 233 Langston Hughes for being a shining light for gardening and community engagement by teaching students planting, cooking, waste practices and hosting a vegetable sale for all the neighbors around the school. 

• Michael Watts from P.S. X811 for their inspiring work in the hydroponics lab, bringing fresh, organic produce to students and families in their community. 

• Mindy Anichich from P.S. 68Q Cambridge School for creating a welcoming school garden that engages the entire school through hands-on learning, healthy food, and cooking. 

• Robert Dodd from I.S. 061 William A Morris for his relentless commitment to outdoor learning and classroom garden projects, connecting faculty, facilities staff, administrators, partner organizations, students, and families to make it happen. 

• William Petrowitz, Ellyn Kerr, Kim Velez, Joseph Shimonov, Ebony Russell, Tyler Donnelly, Katherine Marte, and Sarah McDowell from PS 77K For integrating sustainability into school culture through urban agriculture, building skills in learning, career skills, and environmental stewardship, and even caring for baby chicks. 

Classroom Changemakers are educators who integrated climate and sustainability education into their curriculum and schools

• Adam Zaid from Queens School of Inquiry for empowering students to lead data-driven sustainability initiatives, fostering a culture of inquiry, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving that integrates math, science, and environmental stewardship. 

• Ebony Phaire from Millennium Art Academy for helping teachers across subjects incorporate sustainability into their classes and for creatively engaging students in waste reduction 

• Jessica Chi from Archer Elementary School for helping others incorporate conservation and hands-on science into their classrooms through our Climate Education Leadership Team and via Wildlife Conservation Society's District 12 partnership. 

• Jonathan Pellerin from P.S. 396 for their work over two decades seamlessly embedding sustainability into the creative arts and leading high-impact, inclusive projects in community food access, green space, waste reduction, and Climate Action Weeks. 

• Lynn Tiede from Columbia Secondary School for her 30 years of teaching and for advocating for climate education through our Climate Education Leadership Team and via National Wildlife Federation's Climate and Resilience Education Task Force. 

• Novelette Foote Samuels from Belmont Prep High School for establishing the school's hydroponic lab, harvesting and sharing over 100lbs of food to her community, and championing student research on pollution and sea level rise. 

• Rob Markuske from the New York Harbor School for creating hands-on, real-world learning experiences across the city for his students, exposing them to new career pathways and extending learning beyond the classroom. 

• Zachary Itzkowitz from Pelham Preparatory Academy for creating unique and consistent climate action opportunities at his school, inspiring his students and the broader community. 

This category recognizes those who excelled in waste-related initiatives.

• Amy Melnik from Harvest Collegiate for their unwavering dedication to improving waste reduction and recycling, leading waste audits, ensuring proper receptacles are set up throughout the school, and composting in the teachers' lounge. 

• Charles Mazzotta from P.S. 14Q for their work promoting stronger sorting systems, food waste reduction programs, and stewardship of green spaces and trees. 

• Chrisula Sartzetakis, Pablita Nicholson, and Doris WIlliams from P.S./M.S. 188 for going above and beyond to create a welcoming, supportive cafeteria environment where students feel empowered to make informed decisions about nutrition, waste reduction, and mindful consumption. 

• Jan Gerard Bacayo from P.S. 038 The Pacific for their proactive, collaborative approach to waste management, ensuring sustainability from sorting through pickup. 

• Matthew Digiacomo and Ryan Mitchell from P.S. 184 Newport for championing sustainable waste management and empowering students to lead their school’s efforts. 

• Paul Arguelles from High School for Health Professions and Human Services for leading waste reduction and recycling initiatives while inspiring their school community to continually improve. 

• Paul Magliocco, Diana Lennon, Richard Capozzi, Chen S, Vanuzia Coyle, Gustave Trombetta, and Jordan Negus for outstanding collaboration to expand classroom recycling and reduce contamination, establish food donation, and improve waste management at our largest school in the city with nearly 6,000 students. 

• Scott Rittenhouse from K001 for their commitment to excellent waste management, curbing illegal dumping, and keeping waste storage areas clean and organized; his efforts inspired a pilot project within our office to curb illegal dumping! 

• Stephanie Blumenstock from the District 2 Pre-K Center for their creative leadership in educating Pre-K students about textile waste diversion. 

• Tereze Prozhmi from In-Tech Academy for their amazing work implementing Offer vs Serve, a share table, and proper waste sorting in your cafeteria. 

• Yori Scarlett from the Office of Food & Nutrition Services for their effective and collaborative leadership in your kitchens, championing sustainability initiatives such as proper waste separation and Mindful Choice Meals. 

We are celebrating teams who collaborated across their school community to make sustainability successful.

• Andrew Margon, Jenn Rodriguez, and Heather DeFlorio from the High School for Environmental Studies for sharing best practices with other schools on how they prepare students for green careers through daily sustainability work, from the Chicken Tenders coop and rooftop garden to their care closet. 

• Cynthia Turnquest-Jones and Anthony Smith from P.S. 46 Arthur Tappan for cultivating student agency in civic action initiatives, documenting and sharing student-led efforts via video to engage families and the broader school community. 

• Hanaa Butcher, Andy Zimmerman, and Lynn Shon from P.S. 676 The Harbor Middle School for their combined efforts to bring sustainability into the classroom through creative, interdisciplinary learning, from saltwater aquaponics to oyster reed restoration. 

• Jeremy Amar, Raina Panagiotopoulos, and Jilian Ingberg from Corona Arts & Sciences Academy and The Riverview School for working across two schools and numerous community organizations to empower students through projects like bioswale stewardship, soil testing, and air quality monitoring. 

• Karli Woods and the Green Team from University Heights Secondary School for excellent environmental leadership through waste audits, tree care stewardship, and strong turnout at our Youth Climate Summit. 

• Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, Sylvanus Ribi, Tristan Wright, and the Green Team from P.S. 028 Wright Brothers for enthusiastically advancing sustainability in their school community with indoor and outdoor gardening, grants, and waste reduction. 

• Marie Suchan and the Green Team from The Hector Figueroa School for launching an inspiring new Green Team, conducting research on environmental justice and presenting it to the district, and a growing culture of sustainability in their school community. 

• Maura Flanagan and Brenton Be from Brooklyn Transition Center for their Climate Action Fair and through hands-on experiences in gardens, landscaping, and nature. 

• Melissa Browning and the Green Team from P.S. 8 The Emily Warren Roebling School for leading Climate Action Days, Plastic Free Lunch Days, energy conservation, food waste reduction, and empowering students through the Green Team. 

• Ross Lefebvre, Kerry Walsh-King, and the Green Team from P.S. 094 Kings College School for fantastic collaboration to improve waste sorting and create outdoor learning opportunities, including showcasing the benefits of composting and resource recovery. 

• Shah-Parvez Jamal and the Green Team from the Academy for Software Engineering for leading an active Green Team with projects that inspire their school community and sharing resources to strengthen sustainable action across their building. 

• Vincent Bianco and John Zembrycki from the New York City Public Schools’ Environmental Study Center For inspiring work at the Center, from managing complex composting operations to mentoring youth and building meaningful relationships. 

This category recognizes those who excelled in energy related initiatives

• Anna Fung from P.S. 297 Abraham Stockton for taking initiative to participate in extra energy courses and capstone projects that help advance sustainability through energy-saving practices, building efficiency, and strong waste management. 

• Chris Yulfo from Building R049 for going above and beyond to advance energy efficiency and sustainability through proactive building maintenance, Green Team collaboration, and stellar participation in the City's Demand Response program. 

• Dr. Grecian Harrison, Gillian Beckford, Stephen Hudson, and Ricardo Garcia from Boys and Girls High School for embedding climate education and energy efficiency into their curriculum with NYC Public Schools’ first-ever Passive House Training Center, creating hands-on pathways to green careers. 

• Robert Keener from Building Q135 for their skill in sustainable building operations, maintaining high standards of cleanliness and properly maintaining all mechanical, HVAC and electrical fixtures. 

• Letty Hernandez from Building X150 for their essential role in prioritizing the health and well-being of their building occupants, working harmoniously with our team on energy upgrades like steam trap replacement, boiler upgrades, and LED lighting upgrades. 

• Louis Granato from Buildings K580 and K287 for proactively advancing energy efficiency in their buildings, including through LED and hot water equipment upgrades, while making necessary adjustments for culinary and athletic programs. 

• Milosz Balcerzak from Building Q088 for consistently championing energy conservation through demand response participation and energy-efficient initiatives throughout their school. 

• Pierre Moise from Richmond Hill High School for inspiring students while teaching about solar panels and HVAC/AC units, creating a joyful learning environment, and preparing future sustainability professionals. 

• Sam Goldberg from the School Construction Authority for their instrumental work coordinating SCA solar installation projects and creatively finding solutions. 

• William P. Carroll from Buildings K564 and K437 for their dedication to education, skill-building, and service in refrigeration, empowering community members to become skilled professionals. 

• Ramesh Narayan from the Division of School Facilities for his unique blend of technical skill, institutional knowledge, and problem-solving to empower our Energy Team to take on building improvements that reduce emissions and improve school communities. 

This year we are honoring the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)'s Robin Sanchez with our first ever Partner of the Year Award for going above and beyond in her support of cross-agency climate action initiatives.

Robin has expanded the reach and impact of climate education and stewardship efforts across New York City through her long-standing commitment and collaboration, creativity, and willingness to represent DEP in meaningfully engaging schools. 

From creating a pioneering climate education module to delivering thoughtful, hands-on workshops at many of our events, Robin has contributed so much to sustainability in NYC schools and communities. 

Last year alone, she supported street tree care and catch basin clean up efforts at numerous schools, led many exciting workshops that underscored the importance and relevance of stewardship and resilience, provided rain barrels to 31 grateful schools, engaged schools around multiple Climate Action Days, and even debuted DEP's new mascot, Drippy, at a Water Climate Action Day event.

We could not do this work without her, and we are so grateful to her and DEP for the partnership and support!

We are thrilled to be celebrating our amazing Youth Leadership Council core. These six are the leaders of a group of 30 high school students who help lead climate action initiatives throughout the school year, including our Youth Climate Summit, hosted each spring. 

• Ayah T, The Young Women's Leadership School of Astoria​

• Emilio C, Stuyvesant High School​

• Juniper W, LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts​

• Kevin C, The Brooklyn Latin School​

• Krish W, Townsend Harris High School​

• Matylda M, The Brooklyn Latin School​

Our Climate Education Leadership Team is a great example of the educators in NYC Public Schools who are going above and beyond for climate action and climate education. This group crafts resources and trainings for New York City's teachers to integrate climate and sustainability into their classes and schools. This year we are awarding the CELT Co-Chairs, who lead this committee.

• Jackie Davis, Marie Curie School for Medicine, Nursing, and Health Professions​

• Sean McFadden, Eagle Academy for Boys II​

• Deborah Reich, World View High School​

• Sarah Slack, Montauk School​

• Shakira Provasoli, Manhattan School for Children​

• Jonathan Schulman, Leadership through Multimedia And The Arts Magnet School​