New Rochelle Teacher Receives Distinguished Educator Award From Apple

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A New Rochelle High School writing and filmmaking teacher has been honored with a national award.

Anthony Stirpe, who leads the writing and filmmaking program at the high school, was chosen to receive the Apple Distinguished Educator award.

The distinction is given to a select handful of educators from across the world for setting trends and transforming the lives of students through technology, according to a district spokesman. The award also recognizes the educators for bringing positive change to the school and the wider community.

In Stirpe’s class, students use the works of classic and modern authors, along with creative writing and filmmaking, to analyze these writings in new ways. Students use Apple devices to create films around the poems, thereby democratizing the filmmaking process and learning in unique ways.

Stirpe will receive the award this July in Houston where he will present the NRHS program to Apple Educators and receive acknowledgement for the district’s innovation. He will also participate in a unique professional development experience with members of the Apple community and other educators from across the country. As a result of Stirpe’s award, classrooms in NRHS will receive Apple software and apps before they are publicly introduced.

Stirpe said it was a testament to the district's continued commitment.

“During a time when schools have had to cut back, the New Rochelle school district has made an investment in a revolutionary idea, and that idea has grown into a program that is transforming the lives of so many of our students. The fact that our students will now have the opportunity to share that innovation with schools across the country is the greatest distinction of my career,” he said.

The Apple Distinguished Educator Program began in 1994, when Apple recognized K-12 and higher education pioneers who are using a variety of Apple products to transform teaching and learning in powerful ways. It has grown into a worldwide community of over 2,500 visionary educators and innovative leaders who are doing amazing things with Apple technology in and out of the classroom.

Last year, the program taught by Stirpe was designated a 2016-17 New York State English Program of Excellence, an award given by the state English Council. In the last three years, the program has won the Content and Curriculum Achievement Award from the International Society for Technology in Education and the Center for Digital Learning, and the Pioneer award from BOCES.

Photo caption: Anthony Stirpe. Photo credit: City School District of New Rochelle.