Its founder and former principal, Maxine Nodel, a graduate of Cooper Union, former student of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, and children's author who has written educational material for the Children's Television Workshop, was named one of New York City's top principals when she was awarded a Cahn Fellowship Award for Distinguished Principals at Columbia Teacher's College in 2005.
The school's founder and previous head, Maxine Nodel, a Cooper Union graduate and former student of poet Allen Ginsberg, as well as an author of children's literature, had written educational content for the Children's Television Workshop. She was recognized as one of New York City's top principals in 2005 after receiving the Cahn Fellowship Award at Columbia Teacher's College.