NORA L. TONEY

Nora was born and raised in Roxbury, Massachusetts.  She attended the Boston Public Schools through grade nine, and then attended Needham High School, through the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) Program.  After high school she attended Salem State College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education (Cum Laude), and an M.ED in Educational Administration and Supervision from Suffolk University.  Nora has also taken numerous graduate courses on current research in the field of education, which focuses on learning processes, as well as Culturally Responsive Professional Development.

Nora began her teaching career in the Boston Public Schools (BPS) in1978 as a teacher, and later became an assistant principal.   Nora has been the principal of the Dr. Catherine Ellison-Rosa Parks Early Education School since May 1998.  Nora is currently the President of the Black Educators’ Alliance of Massachusetts (BEAM).  During Nora’s tenure as the president of BEAM she has consistently advocated for all children to have access to a quality education, and has lead BEAM’s concerted efforts to eliminate the achievement gap between Black and Latino students and their peers.  Further, under her leadership BEAM has been a staunch advocate for the development and adoption of the Boston Public Schools Eliminating the Achievement Gap Policy Statement and Goals.  Nora served as the North East Regional Affiliate President Chair for the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) from 1998 to 2004, and she is a life member of NABSE.

Nora began her teaching career in the Boston Public Schools (BPS) in1978 as a teacher, and later became an assistant principal.   Nora has been the principal of the Dr. Catherine Ellison-Rosa Parks Early Education School since May 1998.  Nora is currently the President of the Black Educators’ Alliance of Massachusetts (BEAM).  During Nora’s tenure as the president of BEAM she has consistently advocated for all children to have access to a quality education, and has lead BEAM’s concerted efforts to eliminate the achievement gap between Black and Latino students and their peers.  Further, under her leadership BEAM has been a staunch advocate for the development and adoption of the Boston Public Schools Eliminating the Achievement Gap Policy Statement and Goals.  Nora served as the North East Regional Affiliate President Chair for the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) from 1998 to 2004, and she is a life member of NABSE.

From 1991 to 2000 she studied the inquiry approach for learning and teaching mathematics.  She participated in several collaborative research projects offered by the Educational Development Center (EDC), SummerMath for Teachers, and TERC sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF).  Many of the projects, Teaching to the Big Ideas, Developing Mathematical Ideas, and Mathematics Writing Project produced professional development curriculums for teachers.  One such curriculum entitled, Developing Mathematical Ideas, Building a System of Ten (BST) and Making Meaning of Operations (MMO) is widely used in the Boston Public Schools elementary mathematics implementation plan.   Further, Ms. Toney has facilitated and co-facilitated numerous mathematics courses and seminars for teachers statewide and nationally.  She has written an article entitled, Facing Racism in Mathematics Education, published in the book What's Happening in Math Class by Deborah Schifter (1996).

Ms. Toney's motto and guiding principle is simply,

"To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Required”

She is recipient of numerous awards:

Principal Fellow - 2007-2008 Schott Fellowship
Educational Award – 2006 Black Ministerial Alliance (Boston)
Educational Contributions Award -1994 Black Educators Alliance of Massachusetts
Intercultural Affairs Award -1990 Suffolk University
Golden Apple Award - 1989   Boston Public Schools