The National Association of African-American Administrators honored eight leaders for their contributions to education and the community at its 18th annual Gladys Hillman-Jones Scholarship and Leadership Awards Breakfast.
The recipient of the president's award was Stephen N. Adubato, the founder of The North Ward Center and The Robert Treat Academy, a Blue Ribbon, K-8 charter school in with two campuses in Newark. The association also awarded 12 scholarships to graduates of each of Newark's public high schools.
The event, which attracted more than 425 people to the Sheraton Newark Liberty Airport Hotel, was attended by state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler and former Newark Superintendent Marion Bolden.
"Today we recognized a diverse group of courageous leaders who have made monumental strides in demonstrating quality leadership for children and within the community," said Deborah Terrell, the president of the association and the principal of Harriett Tubman elementary school in Newark.
Terrell, who said she has known Adubato for only a year, recalled the day when he phoned her to say he would like to meet her.
"He said, 'Great, I'll be there in 10 minutes'," Terrell said. "He's spontaneous, he's a visionary, he loves children and believes in equal opportunity for all children. He says what he means and means what he says."
Terrell said she saw a softer side of Adubato when he came to visit Harriet Tubman and cried during a tour of the school's restaging of the Underground Railroad.
Adubato, who shares space on billboards touting the Robert Treat Academy and Harriet Tubman as two examples of excellent schools in Newark, said the children at Harriet Tubman gave him the best American history lesson in his life.
"The kids at Harriet Tubman are inspired," he said. "We see what our kids can do. We can't forget why we are here. We are here for the children."
The community service award went to the Rev. Ronald Christian, the pastor of Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington, who received the award for his diligence and dedication in addressing civic, community and educational concerns throughout Essex County.
Receiving exemplary service awards were Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver of East Orange; Donald Bernard, the chairperson of the African American Heritage Parade and Maxine Johnson, a member of the Orange Board of Education and a retired principal.
Receiving Educational Leadership Awards were Gladys M. Calhoun, principal of Garfield Jackson Sr. Academy in East Orange , Winston Jackson, the principal of George Washington Carver in Newark; and Nancy E. Rivera, the director of early childhood education in Newark Public Schools.
Terrell said the purpose of the event is to raise money for scholarships for graduates of Newark high schools.
The student scholarship winners, all seniors at their respective schools, were: Takiyah Gooden of American History, Keyona Leake of Arts, Ashley Hall of Barringer, Samantha Delice of Central, Muniat Adenihun of East Side, Donald Jackson of Malcolm X. Shabazz, Ashlee Wright of Newark Vocational, Tanisha Driver of Science Park, Shanna Griffith of Technology, Candace Moses of University High, Sharon Grimsley of Weequahic and Ebony Solomon of West Side.
"Every person who has been honored is so deserving," said Bolden, the former superintendent. "All the folks here are educators. Until you are in the trenches, you can't begin to understand what we do. It takes special people to do what we do."
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