Alumna Danielle Keane 鈥�04 was awarded the prestigious Sloan Public Service Award in New York City on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The award known as the 鈥淣obel Prize of Public Service鈥� honors six civil servants each year who exhibit an extraordinary level of commitment to the public.
Keane is the Principal of PS/MS 5 Port Morris School of Community Leadership in the South Bronx.聽 Her innovative and creative methods have been transformational for the students in her school.聽 Keane says making her students feel loved and supported is her top priority.
In a video produced by the Fund for the City of New York, Keane said, 鈥淚 always felt as a teacher that I was staring outside of the classroom, knowing that I could do more and being an administrator gave me that that opportunity to see beyond the four walls of a classroom鈥︹�� As an administrator, Keane started the 鈥淲alking School Bus鈥� where she walks with a a few staff members through the neighborhood to help students travel safely to school and to encourage students to attend class. Under Keane鈥檚 leadership, chronic absenteeism decreased from 44% to 23.7%, and the number of students meeting state standards in English and math has doubled.
蘑菇APP Director of Graduate Programs in Education Mike Kelly, Ph.D., said his former student continues to pay it forward, 鈥淒anielle was awarded the Badami Outstanding Alumna Award four years ago and has been instrumental in mentoring and hiring our Teacher Ed students for her South Bronx school. She represents the epitome of commitment to the profession of teaching and brings together her teachers, students, staff, families, and the community where she works.鈥�
Sloan Public Service Award winners are selected by a distinguished panel and receive a $10,000 prize, a commemorative video, and a portrait.