Some of the unsung heroes of September 11th were the teachers near Ground Zero who had to first protect and then evacuate their students during the first frantic hours of the terrorist attack. To honor those New York City teachers, Carnegie Corporation supported the building of a professional development library where teachers can come to brush up their teaching techniques, challenge their pedagogy and renew their spirits.

Ed Sermier, Carnegie Corporation vice president and chief administrative officer and corporate secretary, along with Rookaya Bawa, program officer overseeing library work at the Corporation, joined Moises Romanowsky, assistant to the superintendent in Region 9 (which includes lower Manhattan), where the library is located. The plaque in the library will read in part: “..to honor the teachers of this region who work daily to plant the seeds of educational excellence and who, on September 11, 2001, were challenged to both protect and educate their students about life…”