2022: Humanities Chair Sydney Chaffee has been selected as one of seven educators nationwide as a School Ambassador Fellow with the US Department of Education. In January, she was officially sworn in by Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. In addition to teaching at Codman next year, Sydney will be working on a capstone project with the support of the DOE that will increase student literacy rates and improve students’ self-confidence as readers.
2020: AP Environmental Science and Biology Honors Teacher Ed Yoo was named a Green Difference Award Honoree by Project Green Schools. He was recognized for spearheading our new AP Environmental Science course, collaborating with partners to fund sustainability projects at our school, and ongoing integration of coral reef studies into teaching.
2019: Head of School Thabiti Brown was named a Barr Foundation Fellow in recognition of his leadership and impact at Codman for the last 18 years and in the greater Codman community. The Barr Fellowship celebrates exceptional leadership, investing in them and their organizations, and cultivating a network of civic leaders committed to Greater Boston.
2019: K1-8 Studio Art Teacher Katie Frieburger received the Fund for Teachers Fellow award by EL Education. Katie will “learn skills from artists in Grenada, West Indies who represent students’ Caribbean heritage to create a trauma-informed curriculum that awakens middle school students’ desire to create arts as a means of expression and healing.”
2018: Operations Manager Shalaun Brown awarded the Light of Dawnn Award by the Highland Street Foundation, John Hancock Financial, the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, and the West End House Boys and Girls Club.
2018: Grade 11/12 Science Teacher Ed Yoo received the Fund for Teachers Fellow award by EL Education. The fellowship empowers teachers to explore new ideas, new cultures, and new ways to make a difference. Ed used the fellowship to enhance his science course curriculum by establishing a permanent educational partnership with the Utila Dive Center (UDC) and Whaleshark and Oceanic Research Center (WSORC) in Utila, Honduras and receive training to lead “Discover Scuba” Classes through the Dorchester YMCA
2017: Humanities 9 Teacher Sydney Chaffee named National Teacher of the Year, the first teacher from Massachusetts.
2017: Dance Teacher Kaleisha Chance earned an Official Citation from the State Senate of Massachusetts for her unwavering commitment and dedication to youth and the art of dance.
2016: A recipient of the Accessible Design Award for the Lithgow Building renovation from The Massachusetts Architectural Access Board and the Boston Society of Architects/AIA.
2016: Humanities 9 Teacher Sydney Chaffee named Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, the first charter school teacher to win the award.
2016: Grade 10 Physics Teacher Maggie Sachs Mahmood awarded the Golden Shoe Award from Walk Boston for improving pedestrian safety in Codman Square, but also for training her students to become advocates for walkable environments.
2015: Named as an EL Education Network Credentialed School by EL Education
2015: Featured in a chapter in Chris Lehmann and Zac Chase’s “Building School 2.0” (Chapter 30 – Be Silly)
2015: National Board Certification: 9th Grade Humanities teacher, Sydney Chaffee, is awarded the National Board Certification in the field of English Learning Arts, the highest professional certification available in education.
2015: U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools: Awarded with a Bronze Medal
2014: Silverberg Leadership Award given to Principal Thabiti Brown. The Silverberg Leadership Award is given to a school leader who has successfully impacted student achievement outcomes through a deep implementation of EL Education practices, inspiring teachers, administrative staff, and students to embrace EL Education culture and to lead students to a superior education, enhanced character development, and sense of civic responsibility.
2014: Hidden Heroes Award given to Executive Director Meg Campbell and Principal Thabiti Brown. The Hidden Heroes and Sheroes Community Event recognizes individuals in the Codman Square community who have demonstrated leadership, initiative and commitment to improving the quality of life in our neighborhood.
2014: Ten Outstanding Young Leaders (TOYL) awarded to Principal Thabiti Brown from the Boston Chamber of Commerce. The TOYL Awards are presented annually by City Awake, a program of the Chamber aimed at connecting, engaging and celebrating next generation leaders. The awards celebrate the contributions of current and emerging young Greater Boston leaders who have demonstrated professional, personal and civic commitment to improving the quality of life within our region.
2014: U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools: Awarded with a Bronze Medal
2013: Lewis Changing People’s Lives Award: Executive Director Meg Campbell was chosen for this award by Grand Circle Travel Foundation. This award, the foundation’s highest, is presented to an individual who has “achieved outstanding results, despite overcoming extraordinary obstacles, and has significantly impacted the lives of others through risk-taking, entrepreneurial spirit, and leadership.”
2012: Margaret Addis Memorial Scholar Program: The fund, awarded to Dean of Enrichment Nora Dowley, enables secondary school counselors from underrepresented areas to attend the New England Association for College Admission Counseling Annual Meeting and Conference.
2012: Wellness Director Mbakwe Okafor was awarded the Globe 100 Award by the Boston Globe for his work on nutrition at Codman Academy, including the introduction of the Junk-Food Free Policy.
2012: Lisa Graustein received the Service Learning Teacher Award from the Community Service-Learning (CSL) Advisory Council to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as part of the Annual Massachusetts Service-Learning Leader Awards Program. The CSL Advisory Council presented up to five awards honoring Massachusetts teachers fostering CSL as a strategy for deepening students’ learning and engagement in both school and in their communities. Lisa received the award for her work with our student internship program, her initiatives around the library club and the Winter Farmer’s Market, and her overall leadership in promoting community service and service learning at Codman.
2012: Awarded the EPIC National Charter School Consortium Award for our high ranking in value-added analysis conducted by Mathematica Policy Research.
2011: Selected to be an Expeditionary Learning Mentor School in recognition of student achievement and implementation of Expeditionary Learning Schools design.
2010: Codman Square Health Center received the first Mayoral Prize in Health Care Innovation for their ground-breaking partnership working with Codman Academy Charter Public School. All Codman Academy students complete on-site two week internships in the health center; we have a comprehensive approach to mental and physical health, nutrition and fitness.
2010: Codman Academy was the highest scoring school state-wide, receiving the Gold-Level Massachusetts School Wellness Award from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The award noted Codman Academy’s high level of student involvement in the wellness program, coordination with the Codman Square Health Center, and Codman Academy’s exemplary whole school approach to fostering wellness.
2010: “Counselor Who Changes Lives Award” was presented to Nora Dowley, Dean of Enrichment, given by Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL), a national non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process.
2009: Codman Academy received the Commonwealth Award, the state’s highest award in arts and culture from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for our partnership with The Huntington Theatre Company. Codman Academy is the first public school to receive this award.
2009: The Barr Foundation Fellowship was awarded to Director of Strategy and Innovation Meg Campbell in recognition of her “deep commitment and contribution to the Boston area.”
