This article originally appeared May 22, 2009 on nj.com
Michele Adubato, the deputy executive director of the North Ward Center, was honored by the Benedetto Croce Educational Society with a distinguished leadership award for her years of dedication as teacher and administrator in the Newark public school system.
Adubato worked as vice principal at New Jersey Regional Day School in Newark, a school for children with autism spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental delays, before joining the North Ward Center in September.
"She is not only unique, but she is one of the most creative and innovative educators I have met," Manzella said.
Adubato was responsible for developing some of the important programs in the school, Manzella said, including the school to work transition program that gives students the tools they need to be successful in life after they leave the school when they turn 21.
"These students need to have something to do when they leave here so they can become functioning citizens," he said. "The program she designed achieves exactly that."
Manzella said Adubato also created the school's annual extravaganza after realizing that most of the students at the school never received a trophy, medal or ribbon.
"To the upper grades, it's the biggest event," Manzella said. "It's like receiving the gold medal at the Olympics. The kids look forward to the day when they get to walk up on stage and get a trophy."
Adubato has many years experience working with children with special needs, as a classroom instructor, social worker and administrator. In the early 1980s, Adubato worked with juveniles in need of supervision in Essex County for six years. She began her educational career in the Newark Public School System in 1992 as a special education teacher at Camden Elementary school in Newark.
In 1997, she Regional Day School, where she developed and administered educational initiatives that helped students with special needs transition from school to adulthood. The transition program was recognized by the State Department of Education as a model program for students with disabilities.
Adubato became the vice principal of Regional Day School in September 2004, where she held extensive responsibilities, including supervision, curriculum leadership, school finance, parent and community affairs and continued to expand the transition program.
Adubato holds two masters degrees, one in social work from Rutgers University-Newark and another in Educational Administration from Caldwell College.
The Benedetto Croce Educational Society was established in 1931 to promote a greater awareness and appreciation of Italian Heritage and its contributions to civilization through the improvement of education.
The Distinguished Leadership Award Gala honors educational and civic leaders who perpetuate educational improvement.
The 2009 Distinguished Leadership Award Recipients are a group of people who have dedicated so much to the children of Newark and the city of Newark, they serve as examples for all of us to follow each and every day," said Joseph Amabile, president of the society.
Also honored this year were: Jill Annesi, a first grade teacher at Wilson Avenue School, Jacquelyn Blamo-Hawthorne, the principal of the Alexander Street School, Sam Galvez, a parent coordinator in the school system, Phyllis Ann Miceli, a supervisor of educational media services in the school system, and retired teacher Pat Gerardo.
