Interim President Hunter Rawlings issued the following statement Oct. 26:

Today, I celebrate the news that Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Superintendent Dr. Luvelle Brown has been named the 2017 New York State School Superintendent of the Year.

Dr. Brown is both a friend and a colleague, and his progressive leadership and collaborative spirit have resulted in a school district that is inclusive, successful and results-driven.

Dr. Brown has served as superintendent of ICSD since January 2011, following several years as a public school teacher, coach and administrator in Virginia. Since his arrival, the Ithaca City School District has experienced unprecedented levels of success. The district’s graduation rate has risen from 78 percent to above 90 percent while students are reaching unprecedented levels of performance. This includes an 8 percent increase in enrollment and diversity in higher-level courses, a 58 percent increase in enrollment in co-curricular programs, a 7 percent increase in number of students reading on grade level K-5, a 64 percent reduction in discipline referrals, and marked improvement in special education programs.

I am particularly grateful for the steady work of Dr. Brown and his team in developing world-class partnerships between the ICSD and Cornell University. Countless Cornell students, staff and faculty have benefited from the creative and accessible environment that is the norm at the ICSD, which educates and empowers thousands of area children every year. Leaders from Cornell’s dozens of outreach programs have found a district that embraces new opportunities to teach and learn on a daily basis.

At last year’s Town-Gown Awards, Cornell recognized Dr. Brown’s partnership with Cornell Tech in bringing coding expertise from Cornell Tech in New York City to classrooms in and around Ithaca.

Dr. Brown demonstrates his knowledge as a principal, teacher, coach, parent and committed community member when addressing our shared challenges as educators. This recognition of his success is a testament to his passion to see children thrive.

All of us at Cornell congratulate Dr. Luvelle Brown and the Ithaca City School District.