Boston-based Eastern Bank last night honored Jeffrey C. Riley, superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools, with the 26th annual Wainwright Social Justice Award.
The Social Justice Award recognizes nonprofits or individuals who have achieved outstanding success in addressing social justice issues. Riley directed the $25,000 donation he received from the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation for winning the award to the Lawrence High School Scholarship Fund.
"I’m humbled by Eastern Bank’s honoring me with this award, but what I have to emphasize is the hard work being done on the ground in Lawrence by its amazing teachers, children and families," Riley said in a statement at the reception in downtown Boston. "Tonight is really about them, about what they have always been capable of and what can happen next with a school district that finally believes in and supports them."
Eastern Bank also honored 226 Massachusetts organizations working to help schoolchildren with more than $1.5 million in grants at the reception attended by 600 people.
Riley became superintendent and receiver of the Lawrence Public Schools in January 2012. Since then, the city has seen a significant increase in student MCAS test scores; English growth is at its highest in district history and math growth is among the highest of any urban district in Massachusetts, while proficiency levels have risen in both categories. Lawrence High School’s graduation rate improved to 61.3 percent in 2013 from 52.3 percent in 2011 and the dropout rate declined to 5.8 percent in 2013 from 8.6 percent in 2011.
Riley has also partnered with 20 local agencies in an effort to expand family support programs. These partnerships led to the creation of a Family Resource Center, which ensures that students and families have greater access to programs that address social, academic, health and economic challenges.
Riley previously served as academic superintendent for middle and K-8 schools and chief innovation officer of the Boston Public Schools. He started his career as a special education teacher through the Teach For America program in the Baltimore City Public Schools.
