School 31 Principal Honored as Administrator of the Year
Principal Dr. Sharon Banks-Williams of Yonkers Montessori School 31 has been awarded the Administrator of the Year 2016. The Leadership in Education award program was inaugurated in 1986 by the Rotary Club of Yonkers-East Yonkers in association with the Yonkers Board of Education.
The Program recognizes the significant role of school leadership in achieving student success. The award, also known as the Administrator of the Year, is presented to an administrator who personifies the spirit, dedication and accomplishments of an outstanding instructional leader.
Dr. Banks-Williams formally accepted the award at a traditional dinner sponsored by the Rotary Club of Yonkers-East Yonkers and the Yonkers Board of Education on 25 May at the Riverview. Present at the ceremony were NYS Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, NYS Assembly Member Shelley Mayer, Yonkers Board of Education President Rev. Steve Lopez, Yonkers Schools Superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada and many members and staff of the Yonkers Schools System and members of the Rotary Club of Yonkers-East Yonkers.
Welcoming the guests to the 30th Annual ceremony, Club President-Elect Mahbub Ahmad.highlighted the involvement of the Rotary Club with the Yonkers Schools system over the year, from distributing pencils, Dictionaries and calculators to building the playground in School 9. He also announced the expansion of the Club's scholarship program for Yonkers High School seniors.
NYS Senator Andrea-Stewart-Cousins and NYS Assembly Member Shelley Mayer presented citations from New York State to Dr. Sharon Banks-Williams. Rev. Steve Lopez and Dr. Edwin Quezada thanked the Rotary Club for its involvement with the school system and for sponsoring the annual ceremony honoring a distinguished educator.
President-Elect Mahbub Ahmad presented the awards to Dr. Banks-Williams, which included a Proclamation from the Office of the Mayor of Yonkers, declaring 25 May as "Dr. Sharon Banks-Williams Day".
In her remarks, accepting the award, Dr. Banks-Williams said she felt the entire school was her family. The parents send us the best that they have and we must do our best to prepare them for a successful life, she said. She echoed the Rotary motto Service Above Self, as being one of the guiding principles she has lived by.
Dr. Banks-Williams is a compassionate, driven principal who uses her educational expertise and strong leadership style to inspire students, staff and families. Dr. Banks-Williams not only focuses on academic achievement, but rather cultivates a school community that nurtures the whole child exemplifying the attributes of this award, as well as the attributes of Montessori education as a child-centered approach to hands on education, designed to foster a child's natural inclination to learn.
Dr. Sharon Banks-Williams, twenty-five years ago, began her career with the Yonkers Public Schools as an Assistant Principal at the Enrico Fermi School. In 1995, she became Principal of School 13. Ten years later her administrative and mentoring skills were recognized and, Dr. Banks-Williams took on the central office position of Director of Elementary Education. In 2005, her passion turned towards Montessori education when she became Principal of School 11 and in 2009 in her current position at School 31.
Dr. Banks-Williams was nominated by the staff at Montessori School 31. In their words, "Dr. Sharon Banks-Williams has moral purpose – to provide all students with an excellent education. Through her positive attitude she creates consistent and high expectations for students and staff. Thus, the school community has a shared vision.