Westchester Reporter

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, in conjunction with Yonkers Board of Education President Dr. Rosalba Corrado Del Vecchio and Superintendent of Schools Aníbal Soler, Jr., recently presented his School Spotlight Award to Yonkers Middle High School. The award recognized the school's administration, faculty, staff, parents and students for their outstanding contributions.

Under the leadership of Principal Dr. Sandy Hattar, Yonkers Middle High School has been acknowledged for its distinguished ranking in the U.S. News and World Report, the successful establishment of a My Sister’s Keeper (MSK) chapter, and an impressive record of college acceptances.

“Yonkers Middle High School has emerged as a shining example of academic distinction. The school’s remarkable transformation, driven by its commitment to academic excellence is indeed commendable and noteworthy,” said Mayor Spano. “I extend my praise to Principal Dr. Sandy Hattar and her team at Yonkers Middle High School for their relentless dedication and resilience.”

Dr. Sandy Hattar and her team have worked diligently over the past year to meet the needs of their learning community. Their efforts have resulted in significant improvements in the school’s performance.

The initiatives that contributed to the school's success include:

- Achieving recognition for its impressive academic achievements, particularly its ranking in the U.S. News and World Report where it was ranked 406th out of 17,000 schools nationwide.

- Successfully launching a My Sister’s Keeper (MSK) chapter which engages girls in grades 6-8 in community service activities.

- Maintaining an exceptional college acceptance record including two students accepted into Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one into University of Pennsylvania (an Ivy League institution), and 38 into top-tier colleges.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, I extend our heartfelt thanks to Mayor Spano for honoring Yonkers Middle High School with this prestigious award. Principal Hattar's leadership, coupled with our students' academic and personal achievements, highlights the vibrant spirit and commitment of our school community," said Dr. Rosalba Corrado Del Vecchio.

Superintendent Soler added, “We are grateful to Mayor Spano for recognizing Yonkers Middle High School with the School Spotlight Award. Under the exceptional leadership of Dr. Sandy Hattar, our school community has not only achieved impressive national rankings and college acceptances but also set the benchmark in academic and community engagement."

The City of Yonkers is the third largest city in New York State and Westchester County’s largest city. It serves as the gateway to the Hudson Valley with more than 40 vibrant and diverse suburban neighborhoods.