Points of Pride

In Baldwin Union Free School District, we are proud of our people and the unique and outstanding initiatives taking place. Our Points of Pride highlights just some of the past years' most amazing accomplishments, demonstrating how we are one innovative, inclusive, and involved New York school district!

Please note that this list does not include every initiative taking place in the district. Additional information can be found under each office's web page, past board meeting presentations, as well as the district news section.

Fast Facts

% of Baldwin High School Regents Diploma Recipients = 97%

% of Advanced Regents Diploma Recipients = 75%

# of Students Enrolled in Award-Winning Academic Academies = >600

# of AP Scholars = 147

# of Students Taking *Dual Enrollment (College-Level) Courses = More than 1/3 of Baldwin High School students

# of AP Exams Taken in 2022 = 972

U.S. News and World Report State Ranking = #340 out of 1,352 high schools in New York State

*"Dual Enrollment" equates to college-level courses through the district's partnerships with various colleges and universities. Dual enrollment does not include AP courses (this number is separate). Dual enrollment allows high school students to take college classes while they are still enrolled in high school. These classes count as both high school and college credit. By taking dual enrollment and AP courses, the overall cost of higher education can be greatly reduced.

Points of Pride by School Year

2021-2022
- 97% graduation rate
- 75% Advanced Regents Diploma recipients
- 0% achievement gap – Equity across the entire student body
- Baldwin High School among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools for 2022” – 3rd Consecutive Year
- Baldwin UFSD 1 of 4 winners and the only K-12 school district to receive the New York Business Council’s inaugural P-12 Workforce Innovation Award’
- The New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) recognized Baldwin UFSD with “Champion of Change” Award
- Baldwin UFSD 1 of 13 districts nationwide to be named a “Lighthouse Demonstration School System” by AASA (The National School Superintendents Association)
2021-22 Curriculum Highlights

• The Nassau County Community College (NCC) partnership officially launched, where Baldwin High School seniors can now take community college courses directly on the NCC campus – a first for any Long Island school district
• “College Civics and News Literacy,” course made its debut in partnership with Stony Brook University
• District upgraded the senior math course into a new dual enrollment (dual credit) course with Molloy University called “Introduction to College Math”

Music and Fine Arts

• NYSSMA designated Baldwin High School student “All-State”
• Three Baldwin High School students featured in the Art League of Long Island’s 15th Annual Go APE Exhibition
• Baldwin High School student won the “Award of Excellence” in annual GO APE Exhibit
• Three Baldwin High School students accepted into the New York State Band Director’s Association (NYSBDA) Honor Band
• Thirty-six students’ artwork selected for Art Supervisors Association (ASA) All-County Art Exhibit
• Baldwin High School art student received the ASA Scholarship Award
• Five Baldwin High School art students accepted into the Adelphi University 10-week art intensive, “For the Love of Art”
• At the NYSMMA Major Organization Festival, Baldwin High School Concert Band and Chamber Orchestra received “Gold Rating,” while the Symphony Band and Wind Symphony rated “Gold with Distinction”
• Baldwin High School Pep Band performed at Northwell Health’s Nurses Week Celebration
• Students’ artwork donated to Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Hospital during annual Calming Murals Ceremony
• The NAMM Foundation recognized Baldwin as “Best Community for Music Education”
• Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation awarded a grant to district
• Department of Fine & Performing Arts hosted inaugural district-wide Art Exhibition in conjunction with Baldwin Illuminated – a projection mapping event featuring student work (a first of its kind to take place in any school district)

Academics

• 129 AP Scholars
• 64 “President’s Award” winners
• Baldwin High School Law Academy students won 1st place Medical Marvels competition for 2nd consecutive year
• Baldwin High School placed 2nd in Northwell Health’s annual Spark! Challenge
• Northwell Health invited last year’s Medical Marvels Competition winners from Baldwin High School to participate in their 4th Annual Gun Violence Prevention Forum
• Baldwin High School student named semifinalist in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program and a “Commended Student” in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program
• Junior Achievement appointed a Baldwin High School senior Student Ambassador and named another student “JA Student of the Year” with a $10,000 college scholarship
• Two Baldwin High School seniors received the “High School Scholars NY Mets Jim Plummer Memorial Scholarship”
• Baldwin High School@Shubert student earned a carpentry apprenticeship at T. J. Architectural Woodwork, Inc. through theHarbor Freight Fellows Initiative, received a $1000 scholarship for completing the program, and was bestowed the prestigious George Farber Outstanding Student Award

Other Baldwin High School accolades included:

Other Baldwin High School accolades included: Nassau Community College “Excellence in Student Activities” Award; The Nassau County Comptroller’s Math, Accounting
and Finance Award; Assemblywoman Judy Griffin’s “Student Standout Award”; Freeport Police Department’s “Making a Difference Award”; three recipients of the 2022 “Students Building Bridges Award” from the Jewish Community Relations Council – Long Island (JCRC-LI) and Nassau County’s State Senate Delegation; two LIASEA (Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators) award-winners; 2nd place in the SAAWA (South Asian American Women’s Alliance essay contest; Newsday’s “Extraordinary Seniors”

Athletics

• The Boys and Girls Basketball teams both won the Long Island Championship title – a first for any Long Island high school to have two winning LI Champs. Girls Basketball Team also advanced as a “New York State Finalist”
• Boys Varsity Soccer Team designated “Conference I Champions”
• Girls Indoor Track 4x200 Relay placed 2nd in New York State Championships
• Boys Indoor Track and Field player earned All-County Indoor Track 300 Meters
• Baldwin High School wrestler won 1st place in Nassau County Championships (189lbs), Nassau County Tournament “Most Outstanding Wrestler” Award, and “Champion of Champions” Award, and was named Newsday’s Athlete of the Week
• Baldwin High School basketball player named 2022 Nassau County “Player of the Year”
• NYS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance recognized two Baldwin High School students as “Outstanding Physical Education Students of the Year”
• Baldwin High School student among Newsday’s top 50 field hockey players on Long Island
• Baldwin High School senior named News 12 LI Scholar Athlete
• Darius Burton, Tom Catapano, Peter Buckley, Adango Longjohn, Mike Palumbo Designated “Coach of the Year” by their Nassau Coaches Associations

Virtual Enterprise (VE) National Competitions

SuppLI (Student Company #1)
• Elevator Pitch: Top 25%
• Website: Honorable Mention
• Newsletter: Top 10%
• Business Plan Competition: Top 40

OneWorld (Student Company #2)
• Elevator Pitch: Top 25%
• Company Branding: Honorable Mention
• Newsletter: Top 25%
• Business Plan Competition: Top 40

Baldwin Family

• Baldwin Union Free School District (UFSD) selected to be part of the AASA (The National School Superintendents Association) “Learning 2025 Initiative”
• Baldwin High School designated “No Place for Hate” for 2nd year in a row
• Brookside Elementary School named 2022 National School of Character by Character.org
• Lenox and Plaza Elementary Schools recognized as National PTA “Schools of Excellence”
• Superintendent Dr. Shari L. Camhi elected AASA President
• Baldwin Sports Bruins Podcast and Baldwin High School principal, Dr. Neil Testa, among “Best of Long Island” winners
• Anthony Mignella, assistant superintendent for instruction, recognized by Education Drive as a "Rising Star"
• The Math Club at Baldwin Middle School ranked 1st in the state in the Euclidean Division of the Continental Mathematics League (CML) first time competing, and one of the students ranked nationally with a “Perfect” individual score
• Baldwin Middle School student among winners in Nassau Region PTA Reflections for 4th consecutive year, while a Meadow Elementary School student received a New York State PTA Reflections “Award of Merit”
• Meadow students placed 1st and 2nd in the New York State Future Problem Solving competition
2020-2021
- Starting in September, Baldwin UFSD added new courses to the high school curriculum. The courses include Introduction to Drones, which will allow students to become FAA certified in drone flying, College Coding, College Criminalistics, Introduction to Teaching, and Sports Officiating, leaving students certified to officiate games in the sport the course covers.
- Fine and Performing Arts Academy launched.
- Baldwin High School National Academy of Finance Certificate Program fully implemented.
- 98% graduation rate
- 0% achievement gap – Equity across the entire student body
- Advanced Regents Diploma recipients increased by 10%, from 60% to 70%
- Baldwin High School among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools for 2021” – 2nd year in a row, moving up 60 places in the state ranking!
- Schools remained open across the district for the entire 2020-2021 school year – learning never stopped and kept advancing!
Music and Fine Arts
- Fine & Performing Arts Academy launched
- Two musicians chosen for NYSSMA All-State Festival
- One musician selected for All-Eastern Honor Ensemble Mixed Choir
- 35 Art Supervisor Association All-County Art Exhibition artists
- Baldwin High School student won “Award of Excellence” in annual GO APE Exhibit
- Baldwin High School senior named NYSSMA All-State Performer two years in a row
- Performance by Baldwin High School Orchestra Students Featured on NBC New York and News 12 Long Island
- The NAMM Foundation recognized Baldwin as “Best Community for Music Education” for 5th Consecutive Year
- Meadow Elementary School 4th graders named winners in the National Audubon Society’s “Be a Good Egg Poster Contest”
- Virtual visits from esteemed professors and composers throughout the year at the secondary level
Academies
- Additional courses added to high school curriculum, e.g., Introduction to Drones (allows students to become FAA certified in drone flying), College Coding, College Criminalistics, Introduction to Teaching, and Sports Officiating (allows students to become certified to officiate)
- Baldwin High School National Academy of Finance Certificate Program fully implemented
- 80 AP Scholars
- 41 President Award winners
- One “Commended Student” in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program
- Baldwin High School academy students placed 1st in two categories in Northwell Health’s Annual SPARK! Challenge, winning a total prize of $4000
- Baldwin High School student won 1st prize in Stock Market Game Challenge
- Press Club of Long Island awarded 1st place to Baldwin High School’s Baldwin Bruins Sports Podcast for the 2nd year in a row
- Baldwin High School designated 2020-2021 “No Place for Hate” School – Gold Status for 1st time
- Two students received Honorable Mention in the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association Poetry Contest
- Three Baldwin UFSD students named winners in the PTA Reflections Competition – State-Level
- Baldwin High School students selected to participate in the PBS/WNET Group’s Youth Collective Summit 2021
- Two students in Baldwin High School@Shubert awarded academic scholarships from Simon Youth Foundation
- Baldwin High School senior among Newsday’s “13 Extraordinary Seniors”
- Valedictorian and Salutatorian both accepted into Ivy League schools
Northwell Heath’s Medical Marvels Competition
- Baldwin High School Government & Law Academy students placed 1st for gun violence prevention video
- So impressed, Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling and Parkland shooting victim’s father, Fred Guttenberg, met with the winning team
- The winning team also participated in a special PSA created by Northwell’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention
Virtual Enterprise (VE) National Competitions

“OneWorld” VE Team
- Ranked in the “Top 50 Firms” Nationally – first year competing
- Company Branding: Honorable Mention
- Newsletter: Honorable Mention
- Elevator Pitch: Top 25%
- Website: Top 25%
“SuppLI” VE Team
- Company Branding: Top 10%
- Newsletter: Top 10%
Athletics
- Two “Students of the Year” designated by the Association for Health, Physical Education Recreation and Dance Nassau Zone Outstanding Physical Education
- Baldwin High School athletes among Newsday’s 100 Top Basketball Players on
- Long Island
- Three Nassau County Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees: Anna Paluszek, Edward Reinisch, and Marion (Miki) Waldman DeBaise
Baldwin Family
- Superintendent of Schools, Shari L. Camhi, elected to President-Elect of National Superintendent Association (AASA)
- Baldwin High School counselor, Meghan Schlosser, elected to President-Elect of Nassau Counselors’ Association
- MENTOR New York named Pat Banhazl of Baldwin High School “Mentor of the Year”
- Pupil Services director, Sherrisse Young, among Long Islanders honored as a Nassau County COVID Hero
- LI Herald recognized Russ Randazzo, director of facilities, as a “Hometown Hero”
- Steele Elementary School teacher, Nancy Aquino, won LI Herald’s inaugural head of class award after being nominated by the community
- The Business Teachers Association of New York State (BTANYS) named Michele Leonardo, Baldwin High School teacher, 2020 Innovations Grant Award winner
- Angela Lucas named “Person of the Year” for 2020 by Baldwin Herald
2019-2020
- 97% graduation rate
- 0% achievement gap – Equity across the entire student body
- Baldwin High School among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools for 2020” based on the state assessment performances and college readiness
- Baldwin High School named New York State Recognition School (second year in a row)
Academics
- Seamlessly launched virtual learning program and curriculum during COVID-19 outbreak
- Baldwin High School’s Virtual Enterprise, SuppLI, named one of the winners in the Virtual Enterprise International (VEI) #YBSReimagined Social Media Competition
- Virtual Enterprise earned five gold plaques at the Long Island Trade Show and placed in the top 10% nationally in the VEI Newsletter Competition
- Baldwin High School’s Business Development Team placed 3rd and won $1500 in the Northwell Health Spark! Challenge
- Baldwin High School’s Future Business Leaders of America club won 1st prize in the annual Nassau County Comptroller Competition
- Two “Commended Students” in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program
- Baldwin High School student named National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) Scholar
- Walt Whitman Birthplace Association 34th Annual Student Poetry Contest winner
- Baldwin High School student represented Nassau County on the New York State Governor’s Youth Council and featured on PBS’ National Storytelling Project
- Baldwin Middle School LEGO robotics teams placed in top 10 of the Long Island First LEGO League Robotics Competition. Team Chuck Norris’ Fist also placed 1st for “Research Project” and in the “Alliance” round, and advisor/teacher, Thomas Girolamo, nominated for “Coach of the Year”
- Plaza designated a 2019-2021 PTA School of Excellence
- Lenox Elementary School named a 2020 Emerging State School of Character
- Programs at Brookside and Plaza Elementary Schools recognized as a “2020 Promising Practice”
- Meadow named winner of the Nassau County Pick-a-Reading-Partner (PARP) Award
- The Meadow Community Problem Solvers placed 2nd internationally in the Jr. Division of the International Future Problem Solver Competition
- MENTOR New York featured Plaza’s Mentoring Program at annual benefit dinner
Athletics
- Girls’ Basketball named Nassau County Champions for 6 consecutive years (9 of the last 10 years)
- Boys’ Basketball named Nassau County Champions
- Boys’ Bowling, as well as the Badminton team, both named Conference Champions
- Baldwin High School athletes among Newsday’s 100 Top Soccer Players on Long Island
- Student named “News 12 Long Island Scholar Athlete”
- Two “Students of the Year” designated by the Association for Health, Physical Education Recreation and Dance Nassau Zone Outstanding Physical Education
- Nassau County Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees: Breanne Elise Nasti, Alice Jean
Fine & Performing Arts
- Six musicians chosen for Long Island String Festival
- Two musicians chosen for NYSSMA All-State Festival
- One musician selected for All-Eastern Honor Ensemble Mixed Choir
- 33 Art Supervisor Association All-County Art Exhibition artists
- 55 students represented Baldwin at the All-County Music Festival
- The NAMM Foundation recognized Baldwin as “Best Community for Music Education” for 4th Consecutive Year
- Baldwin High School Choir performed at Carnegie Hall
- Baldwin High School students performed at the Induction of the 13th Nassau County Legislature
- Baldwin Pep Band and Chorus featured at Hofstra University
Our Baldwin Family
- Long Island Business Teacher Association named Michele Leonardo of Baldwin High School “Outstanding New Teacher of the Year”
- Renee MacDermott of Lenox Elementary School selected for the elite New York State Master Teacher Program
- Newsday named Darius Burton of Baldwin High School “Nassau Coach of the Year”
- Tom Catapano of Baldwin High School among Newsday’s Top High School Coaches of the 2010s
- Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Shari L. Camhi, one of twelve nationwide to be recognized as Education Week’s “Leaders To Learn From”
- Mary Jo O’Hagan, president of the Board of Education, won New York State School Boards Association’s highest honor—the 2019 Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service
- Two Baldwin families featured on PBS/WNET’s “Parenting Minutes”
2018-2019
- - 97% graduation rate
    
    0% achievement gap – Equity across the entire student body
    
    Baldwin High School named New York State Recognition School for the first time!
We implemented new resources and programs, including an expanded curriculum and professional development.
Academics

Regents Results
Virtual Enterprise Competitions

Baldwin High School’s Virtual Enterprise, SuppLI, replicates the entrepreneurial spirit of a real business.
Other Academic Achievements
Additional Student Accolades
Innovative Programs and Initiatives

The following programs and partnerships successfully launched this year:
Staff and District Achievements
Athletics
Fine & Performing Arts
2017-2018
Academics
- More than $2 million in scholarships awarded
- 2 students accepted into the NYU Aspire Program
- 2 students attended the 2018 Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute
- Plaza Elementary School named “National School of Character” and Meadow Elementary School received State Honorable Mention
- Team ORCHID named NYS English Council Program of Excellence and participated in Digital Education Summit with Google
- 10th grade student accepted into Harvard Summer Program
- Medical Academy Spark Challenge Competition: Clinical Labs, Honorable Mention for Presentation; Culinary, Honorable Mention for Poster Advertisement
Virtual Enterprise

National Competitions:
- Newsletter – Top 10%
- Branding – Top 25%
- Website – Top 25%
- Elevator Pitch – Honorable Mention
Regional Competitions: Silver for e-commerce website, booth design, and employee handbook - International Trade Show New York: Gold for sales material and Silver for sales pitch

Our Baldwin Family
- Toni-Ann Barone, Ph.D. – 2018 Educator of Excellence by the New York State English Council
- Lauren Maywald – Empire State Excellence in Teaching
- Mary Jo O’Hagan, Board Member – Nassau County Women of Distinction Award and the Scope Award for Community Service
- Karyn Reid, Board Member – Nassau County Legislature’s 20th Annual Women’s History Trailblazer Award
- Shari L. Camhi’s representation on: American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Governing Board; Center for Digital Education; American Association of Community Colleges (AACC): Commission on College Readiness; and the NYS Education Technology Advisory Committee
Pupil Services
- Increased work-based learning sites for Life Skills students (Applebee’s, Baldwin Bowling Alley, Dollar Tree, Home Depot, Mercy Medical Center, New York Equestrian Center, Petco, Thrifty Pawz, Walgreens)
- 3rd Annual Work-Based Learning Expo highly successful
- High School Challenger Basketball Team: 4-1 record two consecutive years
- Residency Investigations – 52 non-residents excluded
Athletics
- $2,200,000 in athletic scholarships for this year’s graduating class
- 2018 Girls’ Basketball Team named New York State Federation Champions and ranked #5 nationally
- 2018 Boys’ Basketball Team – Nassau County Finalist Sportsmanship Award
- 2018 Boys’ Basketball Team – Nassau County Finalist
- 2017 Softball – Conference Champions
- 2017 Field Hockey – Nassau County Finalist
- George Craig and Steve Shippos inducted into Nassau County Athletic Hall of Fame
Fine & Performing Arts
- 3 All-State Ensemble Musicians
- 53 All-County Musicians
- 5 Long Island String Festival Musicians
- 33 Art Supervisor Association All-County Art Exhibition Artists
- 6 “Best In Show” from the Long Island Media and Art Show
- 1 Long Island’s Best: Young Artists from the Heckscher Museum Exhibition
- Baldwin Voted One of the Best Communities for Music Education
- At the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival, Wind Symphony rated Gold with Distinction; Symphony Band and Chamber Orchestra rated Gold; Concert Choir and Symphony Orchestra rated Silver
- Baldwin High School’s Wind Symphony featured at the NYS Band Directors Association Symposium
- Baldwin High School’s A Major Singing Group performed the national anthem at the NYS Democratic Convention
- Baldwin High School’s Pep Band and Chorus featured at Hofstra University
2016-2017
- Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shari L. Camhi has received the 2016 Superintendents to Watch Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) as one of 25 new superintendents nationally who use communication technology in innovative and effective ways.
- Baldwin High School and Molloy College have created a New Media “Collaboratory” that will partner high school students, Molloy undergraduates, and entrepreneurial professionals. The program, recently featured in Newsday, will encourage the advancement of digital media and literacy. The new state-of-the-art TV studio serves as the foundation for a New Media Career Academy at the high school. Additionally, Molloy College received a $300,000 state grant and will supply specialized media equipment and redesign the second floor of Shubert School into an open work space. The Collaboratory will provide internships and develop practical skills for students that will be in demand in the current and future job market.
- SUNY Vice Chancellor Jill Lansing visited Baldwin’s four-year Career/Academic Academy program this spring and was impressed by the students discussing the program, including career electives, shadow days, internships - and competitions: The Robotics team in the STEM/Engineering Academy earned a quarterfinal finish and first place in scaling in the New York City FIRST Regional Tournament. The STEM/ Engineering, Medical/Health Sciences, and Global Business/ Entrepreneurship Academies provided six of the 30 teams participating in the Northwell SPARK! Challenges, and Baldwin student Breanna Ortiz, representing the Culinary/ Nutrition team, won third place and $1,000. The Global Business/Entrepreneurship Academy also formed three teams in the Nassau County Entrepreneurial Challenge with the “Chip In” team winning second place and “Safe & Stored” receiving an honorable mention. The new Law/ Government Academy advanced to Level II of the regional competition of the New York State Mock Trial Tournament where they lost in a very close match to last year’s county winners in their first year of competition.
- New College-Level Courses Added: In addition to the variety of Advanced Placement (AP) courses available at Baldwin High School, this year students have the opportunity to choose from 13 collegecredit courses offered through Syracuse University, St. John’s University, and Molloy College. Students pay reduced tuition for the college classes that earn transferrable credit. Among these courses are College Business Management, Engineering, Sociology, and Public Affairs. Next year, there will also be a collegecredit course in Anatomy and Physiology for the Medical Career Academy sequence. By participating in Public Affairs, Baldwin student Giselle Pintada was selected to attend a state government workshop called “Students Inside Albany” to shadow legislators.
- Baldwin Middle School Launches Pre-Academies: To add an enrichment component to the ninth period and provide a better transition to the high school Career Academy program, a Pre-Academy program for eighth graders was started at Baldwin Middle School this year. The offerings ignite a love of learning, add innovation and creativity, and help guide academic choices for high school. The 12 classes revolve quarterly throughout the school year and include Robotics, design and architecture, business/stock market, journalism, public speaking, video production, sculpture, and theater improv. Thanks to a partnership with the Baldwin Civic Association and Hofstra University, there is also a Pre-Academy class in the “Raspberry Pi” coding program. In addition, the Odyssey of the Mind Pre-Academy competed in the “Stack Attack” competition and came in second place in the division in its first year of competition!
- Baldwin High School’s Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball teams both win the Nassau County Championships in the same year for the second year in a row. Boys Varsity Basketball also won the Long Island Championship this year.

Superintendent

Points of Pride

2021-2022

2020-2021

2019-2020

2018-2019

2017-2018

2016-2017