Nassau BOCES honors Baldwin admin

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Barbara Riess, Science Chairperson for the Baldwin School District, was honored by more than 400 of Long Island’s most ardent public education supporters last month. Riess was one of 13 honorees to receive the 2015 Nassau BOCES Education Partner Award at the Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation’s ninth annual gala. The distinction is bestowed on those individuals or organizations that have made a substantial impact on public education in Nassau County.

Barbara Riess, an educator in Baldwin for nearly 40 years, is the driving force behind the district’s four-tiered Career Academy, which serves as a model to other schools in the region. The academy is so successful that it has attracted the attention of the New York State STEM Learning Network, as well as the director of the national STEM X organization. The academy has expanded to include studies in engineering and healthcare, and gives students the opportunity to gain work experience, to network with leaders in their chosen field, and to work alongside business professionals.

In her role as science chairperson, Riess has helped Baldwin Schools to provide a rigorous academic program to students at every performance level. Her efforts to connect the curriculum to real-world experiences in both industry and higher education have made learning more engaging and relevant to students. Riess has acquired resources to enhance educational opportunities to better prepare students for college and careers.

“Barbara Riess is an outstanding educator and an exceptional leader,” said Nassau BOCES Board Trustee Robert “B.A.” Schoen. “She is a devoted advocate and an outstanding spokesperson for effective teaching.”

“This is about our school and our community,” Riess said of the work she’s done in Baldwin Schools. “It’s a culmination of everybody’s participation. If something is worth doing for kids, it’s supported one hundred percent. That support comes from the Board of Education and administration, straight through to the community. Everyone gets on board.”

A strategic education partner with school districts since 1967, Nassau BOCES created the awards program to recognize those who share its mission of ensuring a successful, challenging, caring and safe environment that enables students of all ages and abilities to achieve their maximum potential. These outstanding individuals and organizations have made strides to accomplishing key educational goals embraced by Nassau BOCES, such as ensuring student success. The Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that raises funds for innovative educational programs that fall outside of the agency’s budget.