Teacher and Sloan Public Service Award winner
BY MICHAEL WURSTHORN
One of New York’s finest teachers, Verone Kennedy, was honored for his extraordinary commitment to cultivating the young minds and future leaders of this city.
Kennedy was one of six other city workers awarded The Fund for New York City 2008 Sloan Public Service Awards. The award is given to city employees who achieve exceptional results in serving the public. The St. Albans native was singled out over roughly 250,000 city workers for this honor.
“Everything I do is motivated by my love for teaching children,” said Kennedy. “I believe that every child has the right to receive a fair and equitable opportunity to learn.”
Kennedy, a 21-year veteran of the Department of Education, currently works as Network Leader in the Department of Education’s Community Learning Support Organization. In this role Kennedy supports 18 schools within Brooklyn that are under-funded or in danger of being closed.
He spearheaded programs such as “Scholars Week,” a weeklong series of seminars that allowed students to learn about things not taught in the classroom. This week gave instructors the opportunity to teach the subjects they were passionate about.
Kennedy feels that a child should not be denied the opportunity to learn just because of where they are from; every child has the potential to learn. “The more one learns, the more he or she is capable of learning,” said Kennedy.
In 1985, Kennedy was hired as seasonal park ranger at the age of 19, and he was eventually promoted to the position of provisional ranger in recognition for his passion towards teaching and nature. Telma Harper, a Brooklyn Pubic School principal, noticed Kennedy’s enthusiasm for teaching and helped push him towards what he considers “his calling.”
Kennedy has held the role of principal, staff developer, curriculum planner, teacher mentor, U.F.T. chapter leader, middle school teacher, elementary school teacher, paraprofessional, safety patrol advisor, student government advisor, newsletter advisor, chess coach, and basketball coach, just to name a few.
