May 5, 2009
BROOKLYN’S MADELEINE BRENNAN NAMED
“EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR” BY STATE BAR ASSOCIATION’S LAW,
YOUTH & CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM
Veteran educator honored for more than half a
century of outstanding service as teacher and principal of Dyker Heights
Junior High School
ALBANY—The New York State Bar Association’s Law, Youth
& Citizenship Program today announced that Madeleine D. Brennan,
principal of Dyker Heights Junior High School (IS 201) in Brooklyn, has
been named Educator of the Year. Ms. Brennan has served the New
York City school system with distinction for 63 years – 46 as
principal of Dyker Heights. The award is presented on New York
Teacher’s Day annually by the State Bar Association to an educator
who has made an outstanding contribution to law-related and civic
education.
“For 63 years, Madeleine Brennan has been a dynamic leader,
bringing out the best in her faculty and students. Her life-long
dedication to educating students and inspiring future leaders have led
many of her former students to pursue education as a vocation,”
said State Bar President Bernice K. Leber of New York (Arent Fox
LLP). “It is an honor to recognize Ms. Brennan’s truly
exemplary career as an educator.”
"Madeleine D. Brennan is a model of excellence for citizenship
education, which is one of the most important parts of educating our
children and future leaders. Without good citizenship education
programs, we cannot sustain the benefits of our democratic
society,” said Past State Bar President and committee member A.
Thomas Levin of Garden City (Meyer Suozzi English & Klein PC).
“The Law, Youth & Citizenship Committee is pleased to
acknowledge Ms. Brennan's outstanding work and dedication."
The 22nd recipient of the award, Brennan is the longest serving
principal in the New York City Department of Education. A graduate
of St. John’s University, she began her career as a teacher in
1946. She was appointed principal of Dyker Heights Junior High
School in 1963 after serving as an assistant principal in Queens
Village.
Cited for her strong character and integrity, Brennan has been
involved with numerous professional, civic and community organizations,
such as the New York Academy of Public Education, the Middle School
Principal’s Association, the National Council of Administrative
Women in Education, the Dyker Heights Civic Association, the Bay Ridge
Community Council and the Emerald Society. She has been
chairperson of the Friends of Music of New York City for 35 years.
Brennan has received numerous awards from the Emerald Society, Middle
School Principal’s Association, St. John’s School University
of Education Alumni and was selected the New York City Principal of the
Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in
1999. Over the years, she has received many commendations from the
Brooklyn Borough President, Mayor of the City of New York, Governor of
the State of New York, and President of the United States of
America.
The Educator of the Year Award is presented to an educator who has
made an outstanding contribution to law-related and civic education and
whose voluntary service has fostered understanding of the values of our
legal and judicial systems; informed and educated students; stimulated a
deeper sense of individual responsibility by helping students recognize
their duties, as well as their rights; encouraged effective law-related
education programs in their communities and in their schools; and
increased communication and understanding among students, educators and
those involved professionally in the legal system.
The 76,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest
voluntary state bar association in the nation. Founded in 1876,
the Association’s programs and activities have continuously served
the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.
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