Freeport One of Only Three Districts in State to Receive Innovation Award

The Freeport Public School District was one of just three school districts in the state to be honored with the “Be the Change for Kids” Innovation Award by the New York State School Boards Association and SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

The district received a $5,000 prize during an awards ceremony in Albany for “Introducing Nanotechnology into the K-12 Science Curriculum,” and was recognized for continuing to promote innovative approaches to programs related to science, technology, engineering and math. Along with district administrators and staff, students attended the ceremony and received a tour of the science research labs at SUNY Poly.

NYSSBA and SUNY Poly recognized Freeport as a leader in advanced science studies after it became the first school district on Long Island to have its proposal for the nanotechnology program approved by the Center of Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Among several benefits that will be realized as a result of this program are that students will be better prepared for the 21st-century workforce because they will have been introduced to nano-enabled lab activities. These activities will enable them to synthesize nanoparticles and observe their teacher and BNL scientists characterize them through internet-facilitated teleconferencing tools.

“Freeport Public Schools is proud to have earned the ‘Be the Change for Kids’ Innovation Award,” said Superintendent Dr. Kishore Kuncham. “The partnership with Brookhaven National Laboratory will provide our students with real-world experiences in the growing field of nanotechnology, and enable them to explore college and career paths in areas of advanced science research beyond the typical high school classroom.”

Photos: Freeport School District