Making the Grade: LI schools receive Advanced Placement Computer Science Female Diversity Awards
St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington was among 11 Long Island high schools recently recognized for achieving high female representation in Advanced Placement computer science classes. Credit: Christina Buehler
Eleven Long Island high schools have been recognized for expanding computer science education access among female students.
The schools recently received the College Board’s Advanced Placement Computer Science Female Diversity Awards for achieving high female representation in AP computer science classes. They are among 1,127 recipients nationwide.
The recipients were: Baldwin High School; Massapequa High School; Mattituck High School; Mineola High School; North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck; Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset; Riverhead High School; Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead; Schechter School of Long Island in Williston Park; St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington and William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach.
“We’re so proud to provide these opportunities, particularly to our female students, who are historically underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and math fields,” said St. Anthony’s math department chairman, William Quinn. “This award highlights the hard work of so many people, and we will continue to work to meet this high standard.”
To earn the designation, the schools’ percentage of females taking an AP computer science exam had to meet or exceed that of their female populations during the 2022-23 school year, or at least half of the students in either AP Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science A had to be female.
“The district has made a strong commitment to promoting and supporting careers in STEM, especially among women,” said Baldwin schools Superintendent Shari Camhi.
GLEN HEAD
Interim principal
Alane Dugan has been named interim principal of Glen Head Elementary School in the North Shore school district. She replaced Peter Rufa, who is now assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the Floral Park-Bellerose School District.
Dugan previously served 17 years as principal of Sylvan Avenue Elementary School in Bayport, and before that was assistant principal of Oyster Bay High School from 2004 to 2007.
“Interim Principal Dugan is a student-centered instructional leader who has successfully built relationships with faculty, staff and families over the last two decades in a school community very similar to North Shore,” said North Shore schools superintendent Christopher Zublionis.
NASSAU COUNTY
Esthetics program
Nassau BOCES GT Tech career and technical education high school in Levittown has developed a new esthetics program in response to an increased enrollment in cosmetology courses. The inaugural course is being taught by licensed esthetician Veronica Korologos, who is the owner of Essential Skin Care and Acne Treatment in Massapequa.
ISLANDWIDE
Presidential scholar nominees
Four Long Island students — Kylie Drakos of Cold Spring Harbor Jr./Sr. High School; Calvin Nguyen of Deer Park High School; Ariana Watson of Lawrence High School; and Lucy Reardon of South Side High School in Rockville Centre — were among 25 statewide nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program by the state Education Department.
The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects students annually based on factors such as academic success, artistic excellence and community service. Application is by invitation only and selected scholars will receive a medallion in June.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
'No one wants to pay more taxes than they need to' Nearly 20,000 Long Islanders work in town and city government. A Newsday investigation found a growing number of them are making more than $200,000 a year. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.
'No one wants to pay more taxes than they need to' Nearly 20,000 Long Islanders work in town and city government. A Newsday investigation found a growing number of them are making more than $200,000 a year. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.
