These Westchester Students Earned Prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarships These Westchester Students Earned Prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarships These Westchester Students Earned Prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarships
These Westchester Students Earned Prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarships More than two dozen students from Westchester County have been named winners of prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, awarded to some of the nation’s top graduating high school seniors.  The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the winners this week, naming 2,500 students nationwide who were selected from more than 15,000 finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.  According to NMSC, winners were chosen based on academic achievement, PSAT/NMSQT scores, leadership, extracurricular involvement, essays, and recommendations from school officials. …
‘Prolific Serial Pedophile’ Hidden In Plain Sight As Bay Shore Teacher Learns His Fate: DA ‘Prolific Serial Pedophile’ Hidden In Plain Sight As Bay Shore Teacher Learns His Fate: DA ‘Prolific Serial Pedophile’ Hidden In Plain Sight As Bay Shore Teacher Learns His Fate: DA
‘Prolific Serial Pedophile’ Hidden In Plain Sight As Bay Shore Teacher Learns His Fate: DA A Long Island teacher convicted of sexually abusing little boys during a decades-long career in education was sentenced Wednesday, May 13 to a lengthy prison term. Thomas Bernagozzi, 77, got 33 to 50 years behind bars, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said. He will not be eligible for parole until he is nearly 110 years old. Bernagozzi, of Babylon, taught in the Bay Shore School District from 1970 to 2000, and two victims identified by police attended Gardiner Manor Elementary School and Mary G. Clarkson Elementary School in the district, investigators said. Cops later identif…
Man Indicted For Murder In Hammer Killing Of NYC Schools Employee In Mount Vernon (UPDATE) Man Indicted For Murder In Hammer Killing Of NYC Schools Employee In Mount Vernon (UPDATE) Man Indicted For Murder In Hammer Killing Of NYC Schools Employee In Mount Vernon (UPDATE)
Man Indicted For Murder In Hammer Killing Of NYC Schools Employee In Mount Vernon (Update) A man accused of killing his girlfriend, a New York City schools employee, in Westchester County has now been indicted on a murder charge, prosecutors said.  Mount Vernon resident Joveair Brice, 28, was arraigned on an indictment charging him with second-degree murder, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday, May 1.  He appeared before Judge George Fufidio and remains held at the Westchester County Jail. The charge stems from the death of 33-year-old Lisa Grier, also of Mount Vernon. Prosecutors allege that between March 20 and March 21, 2026, …
Norwich Teacher, Wrestling Coach Placed On Leave After Arrest On Child Injury, Assault Charges Norwich Teacher, Wrestling Coach Placed On Leave After Arrest On Child Injury, Assault Charges Norwich Teacher, Wrestling Coach Placed On Leave After Arrest On Child Injury, Assault Charges
Norwich Teacher, Wrestling Coach Placed On Leave After Arrest On Child Injury, Assault Charges A teacher and wrestling coach at Norwich Free Academy has been placed on administrative leave following serious criminal charges, school officials said. Steve Nelson, a math teacher and head wrestling coach at NFA, was arrested on April 16, according to police and the state’s judicial website. He is charged with risk of injury to a child and third-degree assault. The alleged incident happened on Dec. 30.  The school and police would not provide details on what allegedly happened as the warrant is sealed.  School officials acted quickly after learning of the allegations. NFA notif…
School’s In Again: West Side Elementary School Reopens One Month After Fire School’s In Again: West Side Elementary School Reopens One Month After Fire School’s In Again: West Side Elementary School Reopens One Month After Fire
School’s In Again: West Side Elementary School Reopens One Month After Fire Just over one month after a devastating fire ripped through a Long Island elementary school, the school reopened for classes on Monday, April 13. West Side Elementary in Laurel Hollow was severely damaged by the March 10 blaze, which started in the library. Students were shipped to three other schools in the Cold Spring Harbor district in the intervening months, according to WABC. But on Monday, the kids and teachers returned with smiles on their faces, excited to reunite with friends and staffers. “It was wonderful to be back HOME at West Side School!” Principal John Barnes said. “Thank y…
WATCH: Niskayuna Children Bamboozled By Outdated School Technology In Viral Video WATCH: Niskayuna Children Bamboozled By Outdated School Technology In Viral Video WATCH: Niskayuna Children Bamboozled By Outdated School Technology In Viral Video
Watch: Niskayuna Children Bamboozled By Outdated School Technology In Viral Video A New York school district’s video of middle school children being bewildered by outdated technology has gone viral. In the clip, which racked up more than 2 million views on Instagram, various children at a Niskayuna Central school approach an overhead projector and attempt to guess what it is. A couple students even try to see something in the bulb or on the (empty) projector’s surface. View this post on Instagram “I do not know what this is,” the first student in the video says. “Looks very old.” “Is it an X-ray machine?” one guesses. “I …
Gun Found In Student’s Backpack Triggers Lockdown At Middletown High School Gun Found In Student’s Backpack Triggers Lockdown At Middletown High School Gun Found In Student’s Backpack Triggers Lockdown At Middletown High School
Gun Found In Student’s Backpack Triggers Lockdown At Middletown High School Authorities briefly locked down a high school in Connecticut after police found an unloaded gun in a student’s backpack. Police responded to Middletown High School at about 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, after receiving reports of a possible weapon on campus, authorities said. Administrators had already issued a shelter-in-place order. Middletown police searched and found the firearm inside an unnamed student’s backpack. No one was injured, and classes resumed shortly after the investigation, authorities said. It’s unclear why the student brought the gun to school, but Middletown police said …
Northeast Grad Schools Among Nation's Best Programs In New Rankings Northeast Grad Schools Among Nation's Best Programs In New Rankings Northeast Grad Schools Among Nation's Best Programs In New Rankings
Northeast Grad Schools Among Nation's Best Programs In New Rankings Graduate programs across the Northeast are being recognized among the best in the nation, according to a new report. U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings on Tuesday, April 7. The list evaluates programs in several fields, including business, law, medicine, engineering, education, and nursing. The media outlet said it compared grad programs based on factors like research performance and career outcomes. "We know a graduate degree is a major commitment," said LaMont Jones, managing editor of education at U.S. News. "That is why we are dedica…
Substitute Teacher Faces New Sex Assault Charges In Branford After Hamden Arrest: Police Substitute Teacher Faces New Sex Assault Charges In Branford After Hamden Arrest: Police Substitute Teacher Faces New Sex Assault Charges In Branford After Hamden Arrest: Police
Substitute Teacher Faces New Sex Assault Charges In Branford After Hamden Arrest: Police A Connecticut substitute teacher is facing additional charges after authorities said he sexually assaulted multiple students across two school districts. Jack N. Gill, 24, of New Haven, was arrested by Branford police this week following a months-long investigation, officials said. Officers said the assault occurred at Mary T. Murphy Elementary School, where he was working as an outsourced substitute teacher on Jan. 20. Gill was arrested Thursday, April 2, and charged with risk of injury to a minor and fourth-degree sexual assault, Branford police said. Gill was released after posting $75,…
Substitute Teacher Sexually Assaulted Hamden Student; Probe Expands To Branford School: Cops Substitute Teacher Sexually Assaulted Hamden Student; Probe Expands To Branford School: Cops Substitute Teacher Sexually Assaulted Hamden Student; Probe Expands To Branford School: Cops
Substitute Teacher Sexually Assaulted Hamden Student; Probe Expands To Branford School: Cops A Connecticut substitute teacher is accused of sexually assaulting an elementary school student in a classroom, authorities said. Jack Gill, 24, of New Haven, is accused of assaulting a second-grade student while working at Shepherd Glen Elementary School in Hamden, according to police. The investigation came to light in late January after officials learned of the alleged incident in December 2025. Police arrested Gill and charged him with fourth-degree sexual assault and illegal sexual contact with a victim under 16, authorities said. Gill is accused of touching the student inappropriatel…
Cohoes Mayor's Son-In-Law Raped Teen Student: Officials Cohoes Mayor's Son-In-Law Raped Teen Student: Officials Cohoes Mayor's Son-In-Law Raped Teen Student: Officials
Cohoes Mayor's Son-In-Law Raped Teen Student: Officials A New York high school teacher raped a teenage student multiple times last year, authorities said Thursday, April 2. Drake Galarneau, an English teacher at Cohoes High School and son-in-law of Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler, was arraigned Thursday on eight counts of third-degree rape and one count of child endangerment, the Albany County District Attorney’s office said. He pleaded not guilty to all nine charges. Galarneau, 36, began a relationship with a student under age 17 at the school in January 2025, and the relationship included sexual encounters from May 2025 through October 2025, prosecut…
MA Ranked No. 2 For Innovation In US, New Study Finds: Here's Why MA Ranked No. 2 For Innovation In US, New Study Finds: Here's Why MA Ranked No. 2 For Innovation In US, New Study Finds: Here's Why
MA Ranked No. 2 For Innovation In US, New Study Finds: Here's Why The nation's capital and several Northeast states are driving research, innovation, and business growth, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2026 list of Most & Least Innovative States on Wednesday, March 18. The report evaluated all 50 states and Washington, DC, using 25 indicators tied to innovation. The metrics include the share of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workers, research and development spending, and tech industry presence. Washington, DC, retained its place as the nation's innovation leader, according to WalletHub. The District sto…