Stephen N. Adubato, the founder of The North Ward Center and the Robert Treat Academy charter school, was honored by two organizations in April for his ongoing contributions to education and social justice.
Adubato was among five leaders honored by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund at its Awards of Excellence dinner March 18. Two days later, he was given the President's Award by the National Association of African-American Administrators at their 18th annual Gladys Hillman-Jones Scholarship and Leadership Awards Breakfast.
"As I reflect on the contribution of Thurgood Marshall to struggle for civil rights in America, it is truly humbling to have received an award in his name," said Adubato. "Being honored by the National Association of African-American Administrators is a testament to our work at creating superior educational institutions in Newark."
The North Ward Center runs a preschool in Newark that serves 680 three- and four-year olds and founded Robert Treat in 1997, which was named a Blue Ribbon school in 2008. The school, which has the highest test scores in urban New Jersey, has two campuses in Newark's North and Central wards.
In addition to Adubato, those receiving the Thurgood Marshall award at Nanina's in the Park in Belleville were Newark Mayor Cory Booker, state Attorney General Paula T. Dow, John J. Farmer, the dean of the Rutgers School of Law-Newark, and U.S. District Court Judge Susan D. Wigenton.
The awards were distributed by John Marshall, son of the late U.S. Supreme Court justice. Marshall was the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court. He also served as Chief Counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, winning several landmark cases, including Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.
The Thurgood Marshall Fund is a national organization that provides merit-based scholarships and programmatic support to students attending the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities. For more information, visit www.thurgoodmarshallfund.net.
The National Association of African-American Administrators, held the Sheraton Newark Liberty Airport Hotel, honored seven other leaders. In addition to Adubato, those honored were 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 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.
The event attracted more than 425 people, including state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler and former Newark Superintendent Marion Bolden.
"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."
Read the full stories on nj.com and localtalknews.
Five Leaders Honored at Thurgood Marshall College Fund Dinner
African-American Administrators Honors Eight Education and Community Leaders
