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Brooklyn principal receives national award from U.S. Department of Education

October 23, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
Principal Elisa Brown of P.S. 249 in Brooklyn, the Caton School. Photo courtesy of U.S. DOE
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Principal Elisa Brown of P.S. 249 in Brooklyn, also known as the Caton School, was one of eight school leaders across the country recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a recipient of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership. 

Named for the second U.S. Secretary of Education, Terrel H. Bell, the Bell Award honors school leaders who are committed to education as a powerful and liberating force in people’s lives.

The award is part of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Principals are nominated by their school communities during the final stages of the National Blue Ribbon Schools application process. 

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“Principal Brown is not only a transformational leader of P.S. 249 but also a pillar of the District 17 community, who leads by example each and every day through her unwavering commitment to her students, families, staff and colleagues,” said New York City Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “Congratulations on this well-deserved honor and thank you for your extraordinary efforts to lift up New York City’s children.”   

When Principal Brown first came to P.S. 249, several blocks south of Prospect Park, in 2000, she was charged with raising student performance and teacher effectiveness. Over a period of approximately 10 years, she led the school’s transformation to a high performing school, receiving an “A” rating. By 2012, 99 percent of the school’s third graders were proficient or above in mathematics.

She started by pairing experienced teachers with new teachers to analyze student data and provide professional development through a co-teaching model, according to the federal Department of Education. She promoted the vision that every student, without exception and without excuse, can experience academic success, becoming proficient or advanced in reading, writing and mathematics.

Meeting weekly and/or monthly, teams of teachers examine student work and analyze data, develop curriculum goals, and share curriculum maps so content and goals are consistent across grade levels. Then they review the uniformity of instruction.

Principal Brown also has developed trust between the school and families and promoted partnerships with community organizations. For example, the school has a partnership with the Noel Pointer Foundation to teach students violin and with another cultural arts organization to teach African dance and drumming. Recently, the school partnered with the Child Mind Institute to support parents and teachers as the school moves toward becoming a healing-centered and trauma-informed care school.

The school offers multiple ways for families to engage throughout the school year, including translation services. College awareness is a common theme throughout P.S. 249, and students develop a passion to pursue higher education as the school celebrates the value and opportunities it can bring.

“Bell awardees are truly extraordinary leaders,” Secretary Cardona said. “Being chosen for this distinction puts school leaders in special company. As a former principal, I know how much time and energy school leaders devote to caring for their school communities and preparing students for success.


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