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National School Climate Center Marks 30 Years, Honors Key Partners With Dinner in New York City

  • National School Climate Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: September 30, 2026

National School Climate Center Marks 30 Years,
Honors Key Partners With Dinner in New York City

NEW YORK, NY — The National School Climate Center (NSCC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping schools become safer, more equitable, and more supportive places to learn, will celebrate its 30th anniversary at a benefit dinner on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 6:00 PM EST, at the Harvard Club of New York City, 35 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036.

Founded on the belief that schools should be places where students feel safe, respected, supported, and ready to learn, NSCC has spent three decades working with educators, administrators, students, and families across the country to improve school climate. Through research and measurement tools, professional development, leadership training, and policy consultation, NSCC has become one of the nation’s leading organizations in school climate reform.

The in-person benefit dinner will bring together supporters, educators, and partners to celebrate the organization’s past, reflect on its present work, and look ahead to its future. Proceeds from the event will support NSCC’s ongoing mission to make schools safer and more equitable for every student.

At the dinner, NSCC will present two honors recognizing outstanding contributions to school climate improvement. The School Climate Vanguard Award will go to Andrea Cahn, Senior Vice President of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, in recognition of her longstanding leadership and commitment to inclusion. A champion for students with disabilities, she has been a visionary in recognizing that meaningful inclusion is not only essential for students with disabilities, but critical to creating positive school climates in which all students can feel valued, supported, and able to thrive.

The School Climate Catalyst Award will honor Lake Forest Schools of Lake Forest, Illinois, a longtime NSCC partner district recognized for its leadership, innovation, and measurable impact in building safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments. Since 2015, Lake Forest Schools has used NSCC’s Comprehensive School Climate Inventory (CSCI) to gauge student, staff, and family perceptions of the learning environment and guide ongoing improvements, making the district a model for others across Illinois and beyond.

The evening will also feature “Treasuring Our Home Climate,” an interactive presentation exploring how the everyday environments we create, whether at school or at home, contribute to our wellbeing and connection. Television personalities and art and cultural experts Lark E. Mason, Jr. and Helen Kippax will appraise historic and sentimental items submitted in advance by NSCC supporters, live on stage, in a lighthearted look at how generational change shapes the things we treasure.

Event Details

  • What: National School Climate Center 30th Anniversary Benefit Dinner
  • When: Thursday, November 19, 2026, 6:00 PM EST
  • Where: Harvard Club of New York City, 35 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
  • Tickets/Donations: schoolclimate.org/2026benefit

About the National School Climate Center (NSCC)

The National School Climate Center is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 13-3974819) a nonprofit organization that promotes safe, supportive learning environments that nurture social and emotional, civic, and academic growth for all students. NSCC was founded in 1996, and has been a leading voice in school improvement, research, and advocacy. Learn more at schoolclimate.org.

Media Contact:
Adam Jacobs
ajacobs@schoolclimate.org | 212-707-8799

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E Tsang, Director of Operations, National School Climate Center

E Tsang

Director of Operations

As the Director of Operations for NSCC, E Tsang helps make the finances, HR, and organizational functions of NSCC run smoothly.
Adam St. Bernard Jacobs(he/him), Co-Executive Director, National School Climate Center

Adam St. Bernard Jacobs (he/him)

Co-Executive Director

Adam is a peace educator and nonprofit leader. Adam was previously the organization’s Director of Development. Prior to joining NSCC, Adam was the co-founder and Executive Director of Kids Creative, an arts education organization in NYC. He was also a member of the team that founded a community elementary school in The Bronx. He has worked on issues of equity, anti-racism, arts education, and conflict resolution. He has written articles and led workshops in conflict resolution and the arts, giving talks and workshops at Columbia University, The Peace and Justice Studies Conference, Gettysburg College, and The University of Istanbul, among others. Adam has an undergraduate degree in International Politics, a Masters degree in Peace Education, and a Certificate in Senior Nonprofit Leadership, all from Columbia University, as well as an undergraduate degree in Rabbinic Law from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He was also Mr. Clown, a lead performer in the internationally acclaimed rock group for kids, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, and was a regular on Nick Jr. and Chuck E Cheese TV. He is raising 2 fantastic children with his life partner, Tabitha.
Kori Hamilton Biagas, Director of Education, National School Climate Center

Kori Hamilton Biagas

Director of Education

Kori is an educator, connector, truth seeker, master facilitator, and the founder of Just Educators. Kori has nearly 20 years of experience in strategic planning, policy analysis and development, instruction, coaching, and technical assistance. As an Equity Specialist for the Region IV and Region IX equity assistance centers, Kori managed large-scale, racial equity driven school district transformation efforts, led district and state leaders through policy analysis, coached state leaders through school climate transformation initiatives, and provided equity-focused professional learning opportunities at all levels of education. Kori specializes in addressing and resolving inequitable policies, practices, and processes in organizations related to racial equity and social justice.
Christian Villenas, Ph.D, Co-Executive Director, National School Climate Center

Christian Villenas, Ph.D

Co-Executive Director

A sociologist by training and an applied education researcher by practice, Christian’s work examines how educational institutions shape opportunity, belonging, exclusion, and student experience. At NSCC, he helps guide the organization’s research, measurement, evaluation, partnerships, and strategic growth, with a focus on making evidence usable for schools, districts, and education partners. Before joining NSCC, Dr. Villenas held research and policy roles at GLSEN, Advocates for Children of New York, the New York City Charter School Center, the NAEP Education Statistics Services Institute, and the American Institutes for Research. Across more than two decades, his work has focused on school climate, social disparities in education, disability studies, LGBTQ student experiences, college access, education policy, program evaluation, and statistical analysis. He holds a BS from New York University, an MS from The New School, and a PhD in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University.
Amanda Weitzel, Director of School Partnerships, National School Climate Center

Amanda Weitzel

Director of School Partnerships

For over a decade at NSCC, Amanda has partnered with schools and districts across the country to support the implementation of school climate surveys and the strategic use of data to drive meaningful improvement. With a background in data analysis, customer success, and partner support, Amanda specializes in helping educators move beyond data collection to uncover actionable insights that strengthen school communities. Her work sits at the intersection of research, data, and practice, guiding school and district leaders in translating survey results into informed decisions that support student success, staff well-being, and positive learning environments. Amanda is passionate about empowering educators with the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to create safe, supportive, and engaging schools where all students can thrive.
Samantha Elleman, Associate Director of Research, National School Climate Center

Samantha Elleman

Associate Director of Research

Samantha’s primary research topics span school climate, social inclusion, and school climate improvement. Prior to joining the National School Climate Center, Samantha worked as Assistant Teacher and Research Assistant at the Barnard Toddler Center. Her research interests include early childhood education, childhood trauma and protective factors, social-emotional education, and mental wellness in schools. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Barnard College and a Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.