Northport HS Teacher Wins Schurz Press Freedom Teacher Award

NORTHPORT, NY — Janis Schachter, a social studies teacher at Northport High School, was recognized globally for her work in media literacy, according to the school district. She earned the silver-level Schurz Press Freedom Teacher Award from the Global Youth & News Media.

Schachter was notified of her win during a surprise Zoom meeting with Chairperson of Social Studies Sean Hurley and fellow social studies and law teacher David Scott. An international jury of 19 experts in journalism, media literacy and press freedom chose three laureates for the new Schurz Press Freedom Teacher Award, with Schachter being the silver-level award winner.

"Janis deftly helps her students learn critical media literacy skills that they can take with them throughout their lives and at the same time, through her work using Committee to Protect Journalists resources, avoids the common pitfall of also creating a hostility toward journalism," shared the jury who selected her.

Dr. Aralynn Abare McMane, the director of Global Youth & News Media, said the panel wanted to make it a point to recognize those on the front lines of education.

"Too often and in too many countries news and media literacy instruction skips the part about the need for journalism and the high personal price some pay to do that job," McMane said.

Hurley said Schachter is "incredibly gifted" and a "dedicated educator" who encourages students to seek out information and then develop informed opinions based on factual information from reliable sources.

"Not only does she foster an environment of inclusivity and self-expression, but she ensures that our students have the foundation for news literacy needed to be productive citizens in the modern world," Hurley said.