Congratulations to the recipients of our 2005 GLSEN Hudson Valley Leadership Awards
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Diane Gonzalez
"Diane has been involved in the safe schools ideology for most of her teaching career.. She has
offered workshops at the teacher's center dealing with GLBTQ for many years. She trains high school students to go into middle schools to promote tolerance. As a union negotiator, she
represents the GLBT staff in pushing for equal rights and was instrumental in changing the
district's anti-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation. Diane also has the courage to be out at school and sets a positive example of a secure and happy life."
Barbara Ann Levine
"Dr. Levine is dedicated, passionate and outspoken for the inclusion and acceptance of GLBT
students at Fox Lane High School. She prominently displays GLSEN's "Everyone Welcome Here" poster and a rainbow flag in her classroom and constantly addresses homophobia in the classroom and hallways. Dr. Levine developed a Day of Silence lesson plan that became a model for the
Hudson Valley. She also created and funds the Tolerance and Respect school scholarship, which is awarded to the student most committed to fighting for GLBT rights, combating homophobia and making schools safer for all.."
Donny Nordlicht
"A core member of Center Lane for three years and a trailblazer for gay rights at Rye HS.
He is President of his school's GSA,, a vibrant, active club that he started two years ago. He
effectively lobbied his principal and superintendent to include "sexual orientation" in the district's anti-discrimination policy. He's done presentations in Rye Middle School; twenty-five middle school students and staff from Rye attended last year's Healing the Hurt conference, and that school is now forming its own GSA."
Linda Prendergast
John Klemme, Principal of Scarsdale High School, writes, "In my seven years working with Linda,
I can think of no other individual who has more passionately argued for the fair treatment of students who are LGBT. Linda's leadership here in Scarsdale broke new ground at a time when the 'movement' was on a less sound footing. A superb educator, a woman of principle, Linda deserves this accolade like no other."
Robin Schamberg
"The Assistant Principal at Fox Lane HS, she has been an amazing support to all our GSA
activities. Via our annual Wellness Day, she has made the issues facing our LGBT youth very
visible through school workshops and inspirational speakers like GLSEN's Kevin Jennings.."
Adam Yuro
"Adam is a foreign language teacher at Fox Lane HS who has been a strong ally to our GSA. He's attended Healing the Hurt. He's the Vice-President of our teachers' union and has taken the issues of LGBT youth to the floor of the state government. He lobbies with the union to attain legislation to effectively help our students."