Dr. Anael Alston

Born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn, Dr. Anael Alston is the principal of the Great Neck North Middle School. Prior to that, he was the principal of the Robert M. Finley Middle School in Glen Cove, New York, where he led a team of talented educators to move a school that was once languishing in mediocrity to receiving national recognition. Under his leadership, the school was awarded the prestigious Met Life/National Association of Secondary School Principals “Breakthrough Schools” award for their dramatic school turnaround. In May, 2011 Anael was honored as a recipient of the Nassau BOCES “Education Partner” award; also referred to as “Most Influential People for Public Education in Nassau County.” For his work as a principal, Anael has been recognized at the city, county, statewide and national levels and was named the 2011-2012 New York State Principal of the Year. In September 2012, Dr. Alston was awarded the Long Island Business News’ 50 around 50 Award – Class of 2012 for his “leadership in business, mentoring and support for the Island’s not-for-profit organizations.”

 

Community minded, Anael currently serves on the board of directors for the Energeia Partnership - a leadership academy dedicated to identifying and addressing the serious, complex and multi-dimensional issues challenging the Long Island region and serves as a trustee of the Quogue Union Free School district school board. He also runs the website Education Matters with Dr. A. Anael was a co-founder of the not-for-profit Judah Brothers Boxing Club in Brooklyn, NY. A former Golden Gloves champion, Anael competed and won the Super Heavyweight open class division while working as an Assistant Principal. For this accomplishment he was featured in Newsday and the Daily News newspapers and well as various cable television outlets. Anael also ran the 26.2 mile New York City Marathon to raise money for the Team for Kids foundation.