Schoen to be honored for impact on education

For nearly 30 years, Robert B.A. Schoen, has made an impact on education from serving on the Baldwin Board of Education for more than 15 years and then expanding his influence as a Nassau BOCES trustee.

Schoen will be one of 15 honorees that will receive the 2023 Nassau BOCES Education Partner Award at an April 27 dinner. The annual recognition is for people and organizations that have what BOCES officials called “a profound effect on education in Nassau County.” 

Raised in Baldwin and a graduate of the community’s high school, Schoen’s family history in Baldwin dates back more than 100 years and three generation of his family attended schools in the South Shore community.

He has served as the Board of Education president and vice president, as president of the Baldwin Foundation for Education and has been recognized for his service with the Baldwin Educational Assembly Award and the Bill St. George Humanitarian Award. 

His service includes three terms as president of Reform Education Finance Inequities Today, a consortium of school districts that banded together to help ensure that they received a fair of the available New York state education aid. Schoen was elected to the executive and serves as the group’s ex-officio.   

Not one to law fallow, his work with what is called REFIT led Schoen to become a part of the Center for Educational Equity and then to become a vital member of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity that advocates to guarantee all students a sound basic education. He is also a part of the Safeguarding Sound Basic Education Task Force, which is dedicated to achieving the policy reformed needed to get students that sound education.

“There are so many example of Robert Schoen’s impact on public education that it’s hard to narrow them down,” his award nominator wrote. “His commitment to change and growth in education is unparalleled. He is devoted to improving public education by ensuring there are education opportunities for everyone, no matter their background or abilities.” 

His leadership has also reached the state level as he was elected the Area 11 director the state’s School Boards Association. A position he continues to hold. He advocates on behalf of public education from the county to the state and federal levels. Schoen is also a member of the association’s State Legislative Network and the National School Boards Association’s National Advocacy Institute.   

As part of the Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association, Schoen has earned the group’s top honors, including the Distinguished Serve Education Partner Award. He is Nassau BOCES liaison with the Long Island Association and the Long Island Education Coalition, where he stumps for BOCES as a partner to local businesses.

Established in 1967 as a strategic partner with school districts, Nassau BOCES created this awards program to honor those who “Share its mission of ensuring a successful, challenging, caring and safe environment,” for student to achieve their fullest potential.   

Schoen and the other award winners will be feted on Thursday, April 27 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The international buffet dinner is at 6 p.m. Desert and award presentation two hours later. For tickets, go to NbEducationalFoundation.org.

–Jeffrey Bessen