Roosevelt School District Earns the NSBA 2025 Magna Award

The Roosevelt School District is excited to announce that it has been named a National School Boards Association (NSBA) 2025 Magna Award winner. Roosevelt is one of 15 winners across the country and is receiving the silver award in the under- 5,000 enrollment category for the District’s submission, which highlights its Black and Hispanic History 365 (BH365) and Latin History 365 (LH365) Social Studies Program. The District’s submission described the steps the Board of Education and District officials took to launch these reverent cross-cultural history courses where students could see themselves represented in the leaders, movements and historical events which they are studying.

“The Board of Education is deeply honored to receive the prestigious National School Board Association’s Silver Magna Award for the second consecutive year. It is a profound testament to the shared vision, tireless dedication, innovative creativity, and fervent passion of our Board of Education, Superintendent, educators, students, and invaluable community partners,” said Board of Education President Rose Gietschier.

The Magna Awards, sponsored by NSBA’s flagship magazine American School Board Journal, has a long history of honoring exemplary school districts and school boards that solve a challenge with creativity and out-of-the-box strategies. The 2025 awards program recognizes district programs that solved a challenge with creativity and out-of-the-box strategies. Members of the NSBA Board of Directors Awards Committee selected the winners from district submissions.

“This esteemed recognition resonates deeply within our entire Roosevelt Union Free School District Family and underscores our district's unwavering commitment to providing culturally responsive and impactful educational experiences through our innovative Black History and Latinx programs. The hope is that we cultivate inclusive and equitable learning environments where all students, from our youngest learners, age three, to our graduating seniors, can not only see themselves reflected in the curriculum but also feel deeply empowered to achieve their full potential and aspirations.”

The Roosevelt School District and Board of Education were chosen for the award for executing a successful initiative that breaks down barriers to educational equity and represents innovative solutions to challenges facing the District and its students. The initiative addresses the challenge through hands-on, creative solutions supported by school administration.

"We equip students to live authentically and with integrity by actively cultivating a classroom where honest exploration of our diverse history is central,” said Ms. Gietschier. “This process, while sometimes challenging, empowers them to connect deeply with their own cultures and build the strength to navigate the world with confidence. As our own civil rights activist and Board Trustee, Dr. Emily Moore would say, ‘Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win.’ ”

The BH365 and LH365 Social Studies Program incorporates a comprehensive curriculum that seeks to fill the missing pages of American history by incorporating the contributions of African and Latin Americans into American history. In advocating for the implementation of the program, Ms. Gietschier said the Board of Education saw a disconnect between students and their culture. By launching BH365 and LH365, they sought to engage students in their cultures and increase their knowledge of their community, ancestors and history.

“We are so proud of our Board of Education for their unwavering support and staunch advocacy in ensuring our students are successful, confident and immersed in their education,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn Wightman. “We have seen firsthand the tremendous impact that BH365 and LH365 has had on our students, who continue to inspire us with their progress and active engagement in the program.”

“The Magna Awards celebrate the incredible innovation and leadership of school districts that are finding creative solutions to complex challenges,” said NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs. “This year’s winners demonstrate the profound impact that visionary school boards and educators can have on their communities, from expanding mental health services to promoting college access and supporting students with autism. We are honored to showcase their outstanding work and hope they inspire others to think boldly in support of student success."

The District and its Board of Education will be honored at the NSBA’s annual conference in New Orleans this April and will be featured in the April edition of the American School Board Journal.

To learn more about the Roosevelt Union Free School District, please visit the District's website at https://www.rooseveltufsd.org. Happenings in the District can also be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RooseveltUFSD.