Press Release

#17-25 

 

P.S. 182Q MAGNET SCHOOL OF DISCOVERY AND APPLIED LEARNING IN QUEENS RECEIVES NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT’S READY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR AWARD 

P.S.182Q Magnet School of Discovery and Applied Learning, presented with the 2024 ‘Ready School of the Year’ award for its dedication to community preparedness 

  

June 25, 2025 — New York City Emergency Management is proud to announce P.S. 182Q Magnet School of Discovery and Applied Learning as the 2025 “Ready School of the Year” award recipient. Led by Principal Andrew Topol and all the staff, P.S. 182Q in Jamaica, Queens, demonstrated a commitment to emergency preparedness and resilience by integrating preparedness education into the classroom and with community-focused field trips. Over the course of six weeks during the school year, third grade students participated in an in-depth module on emergency preparedness. The students created home emergency plans, packed Go-Bags, and even participated in mock exercises to learn all aspects of the emergency response cycle.

This year marks the 16th anniversary of the award. New York City Emergency Management First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell attended the event on Wednesday, June 25, to deliver remarks at the ceremony. Each year, NYC Emergency Management and the Department of Education present the “Ready School of the Year” award to a school that demonstrates an outstanding commitment to emergency preparedness.

“We are proud to welcome P.S. 182Q Magnet School of Discovery and Applied Learning into the Ready School of the Year Award network. Their dedication to include emergency preparedness into the curriculum for the students, serves as a great first step towards family and community preparedness,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “Schools like P.S. 182Q, are guiding the next generation of future emergency management professionals and leaders, who will develop new visions and ideas to help their communities be prepared before, during and after emergencies.”

“As the Magnet School of Discovery and Applied Learning, our focus is nurturing the kids to find their passions, their strengths, and their voice, developing their agency, and then, to do something, to impact the world. The learning and work on emergency preparedness in which the children engaged this year speaks to this,” said P.S. 182Q Principal Andrew Topol. “Our children realized that they, their families, and our community needed to pay more attention to potential emergencies. They realized that most people react, but don't prepare. They realized that this blind spot was a danger. They and others are better prepared for what emergencies may come, now. Everyone is more aware and safer for it. Our kids see proof positive that they are difference makers whose voices matter.”

"I am so thrilled that P.S. 182Q Magnet School of Discovery and Applied Learning has won this year's 'Ready School of the Year' award," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "Queens has had its fair share of emergency events, so we here know the importance of being prepared for any dangerous situation that may arise. The students and faculty at P.S. 182Q have clearly taken the importance of emergency preparedness to heart, and are well deserving of this prestigious award. Let's us all follow their example and incorporate emergency preparedness into our own lives."

P.S. 182 staff brought the curriculum to life by incorporating resources from NYCEM, The American Red Cross, and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). Beyond the classroom, students visited their local fire department and met with members of the neighborhood police precinct to gain real-world perspectives. The third-grade students shared their new preparedness awareness with the fourth graders during a school assembly last December. Their presentation was then shared school-wide and posted in a video on the student and family YouTube channel.

About Ready Schools and the Ready New York for Kids Program 

In 2007, NYC Emergency Management and the Department of Education launched the Ready New York for Kids preparedness program by distributing 1.1 million Ready New York for Kids guides to the City’s public-school students along with classroom handouts for teachers. In 2009, the agencies started a pilot program in one Brooklyn school district, holding events at 14 schools and educating over 2,400 students over four months before going citywide by the end of the year. Since then, the Ready New York program has been conducting hundreds of events in schools throughout the five boroughs. 

About Ready Girl 

Ready Girl is a superhero and emergency manager who teaches kids about emergency preparedness. She is part of the Ready New York for Kids’ program, a joint initiative between NYC Emergency Management and the Department of Education that is dedicated to helping educate young students about the importance of emergency preparedness. Since she burst onto the superhero scene in October 2015, Ready Girl has taken her message all over New York City, visiting hundreds of schools, community centers and youth organizations, and dropping in on local fairs. She has trained thousands of kids throughout the five boroughs, getting every New York City kid ready for any emergency. Visit NYC.gov/readyny to learn more about the Ready New York program. 

HERricane NYC 

As part of NYC Emergency Management’s continuing effort to support young students, the agency is accepting applications for the third annual HERricane NYC program. HERricane NYC is a youth development program encouraging young women aged 16-22 to pursue careers and leadership roles in emergency management. The program is free and will take place at NYC Emergency Management headquarters from Monday, July 14 through Friday, July 18. You can find the application and more information here.

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