CEI-PEA President, Seymour Fliegel, received the New York Public Library’s prestigious Brooke Russell Astor Award at their Spring Gala on June 4, 2012. The ceremony took place in the beautiful Celeste Bartos Forum in the Library’s main building on Fifth Avenue and Forty-Second Street. The award, presented to Sy by Anthony Marks, the Library’s President, honors an ‘unsung hero’ who has made substantial contributions to New York City. Sy was cited for his tireless dedication and outstanding contribution to public education in New York City — an issue that was of paramount importance to Mrs. Astor.

Sy began his career as an elementary school teacher in Harlem and spent most of his career in East Harlem as a teacher, assistant principal, Director of Alternative Schools and then as Deputy Superintendent. He revolutionized education in New York City by creating a network of small schools as an alternative to traditional schools. As the result of his work, the East Harlem School District competed with many far wealthier districts in its levels of student achievement.

The movement that Sy began in East Harlem has spread across the country as the value of small schools has become recognized far and wide. His work established the foundation for the many small school options available to students in NYC today.

Congratulations Sy, and may your search for excellence never stop!