Adrianne Davis, the co-founder of The North Ward Center, was honored by the National Organization of African American Administrators at its 19th Annual Scholarship Breakfast.
Davis, who was given the exemplary service award, was among nine education leaders who were recognized March 19 by the organization.
Deputy State Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks was given the president’s award, state Sen. Teresa Ruiz was given the community service award and former Newark Superintendent Clifford Janey was given the special recognition award.
“We pay homage to these nine dynamic individuals who have dedicated and directed much of their life’s work to the advancement of education and the development of children,” said Willie J. Thomas, the Executive Director of the NOAAA. The breakfast, held at the Sheraton in Newark, attracted more than 400 attendees.
Davis said she was humbled to be honored along with so many accomplished educators.
Kathy Brantley, a literacy coach at the 13th Avenue School who presented the award to Davis, said Davis is deserving of the award because of her lifelong commitment to education .
Though she is well known for her service as an Essex County Freeholder and as the former Clerk to the Essex County Freeholder Board, Davis said education is her true passion.
Davis began her career at West Side High School in Newark, where she taught a variety of business courses. She left the teaching profession to join the North Ward Center in 1973, where she helped build the organization into the multifaceted community development agency it is today.
Davis left The North Ward Center when she was appointed freeholder clerk in 1989. She returned to The North Ward Center in 2008 to become its executive director, a position she held until 2010. Davis still works at the center, helping to transition the next generation of leadership.
Throughout her career, Davis remained actively involved in education. In 1979, she was named to the Board of Trustees of Essex County College in Newark, eventually serving as its chair. Beginning in 1983, Adrianne began a two-year stint as an adjunct professor in the Secretarial Science Department at the County College of Morris in Randolph. She currently serves as vice president of the Robert Treat Academy Charter School Board of Trustees, vice president of the Essex County Vocational Schools Board of Education and is a board member of Christ the King Preparatory School in Newark.
Also honored with the exemplary service award were Denise Taylor, the vice president of the Montclair chapter of the Drifter’s Inc. and Walter Genuario, vice president of the City Association of Supervisors and Administrators.
Wilhelmina Holder, the President of the Secondary Parent Council, was given the community service award while the educational leadership award went to Clarence Allen, principal of South 17th Street School and Myron Hackett, principal of Park Avenue Elementary School in Orange.
The NOAAA also awarded 11 scholarships worth $500 to graduating seniors at Newark high schools who are planning on a career in education. Recipients of the Gladys Hillman-Jones Scholarship were Tiffany Moore of Arts , Cheyanne Jackson of American History, Jene Jones of Central, Sade M. Murphy of East Side, Ashley Jackson of Malcolm X Shabazz, Ja-Tonja Bailey of Newark Vocational, Leilani Bell of Science Park, Vincent Castro of Technology, Tabrikah Abdul-Latif of University, Paris Solomon of Weequahic and Kenijah Baldwin of West Side.
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