Port Jervis Administrator Honored with State Award

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Anthony Lazzaro

ALBANY, NY (04/28/2021) (readMedia)-- ALBANY, NY – Anthony Lazzaro, assistant principal at Port Jervis Middle School in the Port Jervis City School District, has been selected as the 2021 New York State Secondary School Assistant Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). This award is given annually by SAANYS and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to a middle or high school assistant principal who has set the pace, character, and quality of education for the students in his or her school. Nominees are administrators who are committed to students, parents, and the community and have shown exceptional contributions to the educational process.

Lazzaro has been serving as assistant principal of Port Jervis Middle School for the last seven years. He began his tenure as assistant principal with the belief that developing relationships is the foundation of community building. To that end, he implemented an open-door policy extended to the entire learning community – including students, parents, faculty, and staff. He can often be found working on his laptop in the cafeteria during lunch times in order to encourage interaction with students. Commented Matt Curreri, detective in charge of the Juvenile Aid Bureau, "I observed his overwhelming passion and concern for each and every student. Anthony always makes sure the safety of the staff and students is a top priority. Anthony is a wonderful man with high moral, ethical, and family values. This translates to his students, which in

turn defines all of his decisions within the school."

In 2015, Lazzaro developed a character education program – Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe – as the core behavioral focus at the middle school. This effort has been supported by the district Character Education Program that encourages student engagement by providing weekly instruction on themes such as perseverance, responsibility, and compassion. Lazzaro helped to organize after school events celebrating student effort, participation, and citizenship. As a result, there has been a 34 percent decrease in referrals and a notable decrease in classroom disruptions. Commented teacher Joseph Becker, "Lazzaro created a culture where any staff member could lean on him for advice. The amount of time he takes to get to know the students and staff is something that we, Port Jervis School District, are extremely fortunate for. Anthony acts as a role model and communicates with everyone on a day-to-day basis, making sure everyone has the tools and resources needed to be productive in the day-to-day learning process."

Principal Jean Lain noted, "Mr. Lazzaro is an exemplar of life-long learning. He attends the teachers' professional learning sessions, offers books and articles to support instruction and student needs, and is an active participant in all meetings, calls, and professional learning events. Mr. Lazzaro remains keenly aware of the world outside our walls and often provides suggestions, information, and creative options that spark curiosity in our students. His conversations with students, whether in his office, outside on the fields, or in the cafeteria often include engaging questions which allow for students to verbalize their hopes for the future and the plans s/he has and steps needed to attain their goals."

Lazzaro received a master's degree in British and American Literature from New York University and a Certificate of Educational Leadership from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

As the NYS Secondary School Assistant Principal of the Year, Lazzaro is now a candidate for the award of National Assistant Principal of the Year, an award sponsored by NASSP.

SAANYS represents nearly 8,000 school administrators, supervisors, and coordinators. As a professional association, SAANYS is committed to providing direction, service, and support to the membership in their efforts to improve the quality of education and leadership in New York State schools. SAANYS is affiliated with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

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