April 23, 2026<\/p>\n
Friends of the St. John\u2019s University<\/a> community joined together on April 16 for the 15th Annual Leaders in Education Awards Dinner (LEAD), which celebrates distinguished alumni and faculty from The School of Education<\/a> (SOE).<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re always thrilled to have the LEAD event where we can honor our alumni<\/a>, faculty<\/a>, and other friends of The School of Education,\u201d said James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D.<\/a>, Dean, The School of Education.\u00a0\u201cJust three years ago, we had 15 people at the LEAD event. Tonight, we have 120 guests, so we\u2019re really pleased to have everyone here.\u201d<\/p>\n This year\u2019s dinner commemorated the careers of five accomplished SOE alumni, as well as four SOE faculty members, including Xiaojun (June) Chen, Ph.D.<\/a>, Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction<\/a>, St. John\u2019s University.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is incredibly humbling to be recognized alongside these outstanding SOE faculty and alumni,\u201d Dr. Chen explained. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see that the work we do is making an impact with our students and out in the community. New York City is such a vibrant place, so the fact that we can influence so many people is remarkable.\u201d<\/p>\n Leaders in Education honoree Brenda Almendarez-De Bello \u201906M.S.Ed., \u201919Ed.D.<\/a> is a first-generation college graduate who enrolled in the School through the New York City Teaching Fellows Math Immersion Program after working in the corporate world for five years.<\/p>\n \u201cI do what I do because I love what I do, and this honor validates all the effort I\u2019ve put into my own personal growth and education,\u201d said the Principal of Tamarac Elementary School<\/a> in Holtsville, NY. \u201cMy St. John\u2019s professors kept encouraging me to achieve my goals throughout the years. I am where I am because of what The School of Education did for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Her gratitude for the support and encouragement she received at St. John\u2019s was a sentiment shared by many of the evening\u2019s honorees. \u201cIt\u2019s a tremendous honor and it really gives you an appreciation for the blessing of being an educator,\u201d said honoree Darius Penikas \u201908M.S.Ed., \u201919Ed.D.<\/a>, Principal of Archbishop Molloy High School<\/a>.<\/p>\n Molloy is among St. John\u2019s top feeder schools for first-year students, a reflection not only of its strong academic preparation, but also of the shared Catholic values and mission that naturally connect the two institutions. \u201cArchbishop Molloy High School is a Marist school, where evangelization is central to everything we do,\u201d Dr. Penikas explained. \u201cI see that same spirit at St. John\u2019s through its Vincentian mission<\/a>\u2014it\u2019s a powerful charism that really grounds you. At both institutions, everything flows from a strong Catholic identity that shapes how you live, work, and serve others.\u201d<\/p>\n Fellow honoree Christopher E. Fisher, Psy.D. \u201914M.S.Ed.<\/a>, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Director of Behavioral Health at Zucker Hillside Hospital<\/a>, credited St. John\u2019s with shaping his approach to supporting others through challenging moments. \u201cAt St. John\u2019s, I learned the importance of helping people recognize their own strengths\u2014especially in difficult moments\u2014and guiding them back to those strengths so they can move forward,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lesson that has stayed with me throughout my career.\u201d<\/p>\n LEAD Honorees<\/p>\n Brenda Almendarez-De Bello \u201906M.S.Ed., \u201919Ed.D., Principal, Tamarac Elementary School<\/p>\n Alicia Calabrese \u201994SJC<\/a>, Principal, Floral Park Memorial High School<\/p>\n Christopher E. Fisher, Psy.D. \u201914M.S.Ed., Licensed Clinical Psychologist and \u00a0Director, Behavioral Health Zucker Hillside Hospital<\/p>\n Darius Penikas \u201908M.S.Ed., \u201919Ed.D., Principal, Archbishop Molloy High School<\/p>\n Victor Visconti \u201968ED<\/a>, Retired Educator<\/p>\n Outstanding Faculty Honoree Leaders<\/p>\n Xiaojun (June) Chen, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, St. John\u2019s University<\/p>\n Seokhee Cho, Ph.D.<\/a>, Professor, Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership, St. John\u2019s University<\/p>\n