SUMMIT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AWARDS PRESTIGIOUS NORA RADEST AWARD TO AMY SWEENEY, LCJSMS INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITATOR

(Summit, NJ, June 11, 2025) – The Summit Educational Foundation is pleased to honor Amy Sweeney, LCJSMS Instructional Facilitator, as the 2025 recipient of SEF’s Nora Radest Award for Excellence in Education. This prestigious award has been given annually since 2013 to a teacher or administrator who has submitted grants through the SEF process and, in so doing, has greatly enriched the classroom and learning environment while serving as a role model to others in the district. Ms. Sweeney received a special certificate, $500 from SEF and her name will join the list of previous Nora Radest Award recipients on SEF's website. 

Amy Sweeney has worked in the Summit school district for 14 years and has been in her current role as Instructional Facilitator for the past 4 years. She also teaches the Independent Study course at LCJSMS and is a co-advisor of TEDx. Amy has served as a LCJSMS teacher representative on the SEF Grants committee since Fall 2017.

During her time in the district, Amy has written several SEF grants that have provided critical classroom equipment, information, support and resources for students and teachers in the Summit school district. Notably, she submitted important grants for Juno Systems at the middle school. These systems amplify teacher’s voices with a wireless microphone and paired speaker in the classroom to help increase student engagement, focus, participation and academic performance. 

Amy was also one of the main grant writers for the Panorama Student Success platform, which offers a comprehensive actionable view of every student. It tracks and streamlines student data in areas of attendance, behavior, and academic performance, facilitating targeted student support and early intervention as needed. After proving highly beneficial at the middle school as a pilot program in 2024, Amy, along with key district staff, successfully submitted a second SEF grant this spring to expand this platform district wide. 

Over the years, Amy has authored grants for a new poster printer at LCJSMS, a NoRedInk Team Trial subscription for 8th grade ELA students, a virtual dive experience with an Australian aquarium, and microscopes for science classrooms.

In her role as a middle school representative on the SEF grants committee, Amy has served as a link on many important grants that are now being utilized successfully by students and staff throughout the district. She volunteers her time to connect with grant writers to better understand the details of specific grants, and to seek answers to any questions our grants team comes up with during our vetting process. She is hardworking, detail oriented and a pleasure to work with each grant cycle. 

SEF congratulates Amy on this achievement and thanks her for all that she does to enhance the learning experiences for students and staff in the district.

MORE ABOUT AMY SWEENEY

Prior to her current role, Amy Sweeney taught science at the middle school for ten years, working as both a 7th grade life science teacher and a 6th grade integrated science teacher. She also served as co-advisor of the ECO Qualifications Club as well as a choreographer for the school's musicals. 

Amy holds a BS in Biology Education from Marist College and a Master's Degree in Conservation Biology from Miami University of Ohio. Amy spent time traveling to Mexico, Australia, and Namibia to complete conservation science work for her Master's program.