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LYC Educator of the Year
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, N.Y. – 5/5/09) —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.
Brandon Vogel
Media Writer
New York State Bar Association
One Elk Street
Albany, NY 12207
Phone (518) 487-5535
Fax (518) 463-4276
LYC 2007 Award Winners .
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Edward Pangburn
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LYC Director Eileen Gerrish and Judge
James Hudson
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Law, Youth & Citizenship Distinguished Service Awards
Awardees honored for excellence in law-related and civic education
By Brandon J. Vogel
In recognition of their demonstrated excellence in law-related and
civic education, the Association’s Law, Youth & Citizenship
program awarded Hon. James C. Hudson of Southold (Acting Suffolk County
Supreme Court Justice) and Edward C. Pangburn of Duanesburg with the
2007 Distinguished Service Awards. Judge Hudson received the
Distinguished Attorney/Justice Award at a June 12 ceremony, and Mr.
Pangburn received the Emil Zullo Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award
on June 7.
Distinguished Attorney/Justice
Honored for his long history of contributions to law-related and civic
education, Judge Hudson is the 17th dedicated legal professional to
receive the Distinguished Attorney/Justice Award since 1990. He has
served as a mock trial coach at Patchogue-Medford High School, lectured
in the Children in the Courts Program, guest lectured at SUNY Stony
Brook, volunteered as a judge for Forensics Science competitions and Law
Day activities, and has been a major contributor to the Shiloh Moot
Court Competitions involving area elementary schools. He is a board
member at the Suffolk County Historical Society and is an assistant
adjunct professor at Dowling College, Oakdale, NY.
“Judge Hudson’s eloquence and dynamic passion for engaging
young people in learning about law, history and their rights and
responsibilities as citizens under the United States Constitution, have
inspired countless others to follow his leadership and superb example in
our field,” said David Scott, coordinator of Project PATCH,
Participatory Awareness Through Community Help, at Northport-East
Northport School District.
Distinguished Teacher
The 21st educator to receive the Distinguished Teacher Award,
Mr. Pangburn recently retired as a classroom teacher at Fort Plain High
School. He also taught American History at Fulton Montgomery Community
College, and has contributed in various ways as a test consultant for
the NYS Education Department and the College Board. After 15 years as a
Congressional District Coordinator for our “We the People”
Program, he inspired his class to participate in the New York We the
People hearings this past March. He was the 2005 recipient of the
Capital District Council for the Social Studies of New York’s
prestigious Robert J. Neiderberger Award.
About the Awards
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an outstanding attorney
or judge and the Emil Zullo Award is presented to an educator –
each who have 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.
Vogel is NYSBA’s Media Writer.
Related Files
Contest flier (Adobe PDF File)
mini-grant application (Adobe PDF File)
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