Celebrate the great things happening in Newport’s public schools and honor the recipients of the Noreen Stonor Drexel Education Awards during the annual An Evening for Education. This year’s event will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, June 1 at the Edward King House, located at 35 King St. in Newport.
All proceeds will support the Newport Public Education Foundation’s enrichment and community grants, which provide educational experiences that directly and positively impact the students of Newport’s public schools. During the 2017-2018 academic year, the Newport Public Education Foundation has awarded more than $25,000 in grants to classroom teachers and community partners.
Noreen Stonor Drexel Education Awards
The Noreen Stonor Drexel Education Awards recognize individuals and organizations that significantly contribute to the students of Newport’s public schools. Currently, the Newport Public Education Foundation bestows three awards: Friend of Education, Partner in Education and Unsung Hero in Education. The awards are named for the late Noreen Stonor Drexel in recognition of her 22 years of service as a special advisor to the foundation.
Friends of Education: Peter and Melinda Gerard. The Gerards established the Loti Falk Gaffney Pell Elementary School Music Empowerment Trust, also known as the Pell Inspiration Program, to introduce Pell students to inspired musicians through an annual artists-in-residence program. Using music as the medium, a typical engagement is a multi-day program in which the artists perform in a variety of settings.
Partner in Education: Sail Newport. Since its founding in 1983, Sail Newport has been making significant contributions to the children of Newport. Visits to the educational exploration center at the Volvo Ocean Race’s race village and the implementation of a learn-to-sail program for Pell fourth-graders have greatly enriched the lives of students in the Newport Public Schools.
Unsung Heroes in Education: Mitchell and Jennifer Jackson. The Jacksons have revitalized the Thompson Middle School PTO, which supports programs that are focused on building school spirit and enhancing the education of Thompson students. The Jacksons also served as facilitators in the recent Community Conversation series and are vocal proponents of adequate education funding and equal opportunities for all students.