Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology Teacher Is A Finalist For Prestigious Education Honor

Dr. Davine Floy, biology teacher, is one of 10 finalists for the Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching

Dr. Davine Floy, left, and Dr. Liana Summey, NSDSIT principal.
Dr. Davine Floy, left, and Dr. Liana Summey, NSDSIT principal.

NEWARK, N.J. – Usually, when an educator has the title of doctor, it’s assumed that the educator cannot write a prescription. But that assumption would be wrong in the case of Dr. Davine Floy, a biology teacher at The Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology (NSDSIT).

Dr. Floy is a physician. She has worked in anesthesiology and critical care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in Guyana, where she was born. She has also conducted research in post-traumatic stress disorder at the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers University–Newark, under the supervision of Distinguished Professor Denis Paré.

Her latest honor, however, is not for work she has done in a hospital or laboratory but in a high school classroom. Dr. Floy has been named one of 10 finalists in New Jersey for the Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching.

“I was really speechless,” said Dr. Floy, about her reaction to the news. “I felt so honored.”

As a finalist, Dr. Floy could be named one of four New Jersey teachers to be recognized during Princeton University’s commencement exercises, a tradition the Ivy League university has kept since 1959. Each prize winner will receive $5,000, and each winner’s school will receive an additional $3,000 to purchase library books.

“She’s phenomenal,” said Dr. Liana Summey, NSDSIT principal. “Everything that Dr. Floy does is about the kids. It’s about elevating them to a standard we must hold all our students to. When you come into her classroom, you see the high expectations, but you also see the warmth, the empathy, and the belief that every student can, and will, achieve at a very high level.”

“I want to congratulate Dr. Floy on this tremendous nomination, which brings great pride to Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology and Newark Public Schools,” said Superintendent León. “We are fortunate to have someone so deeply accomplished in the fields of medicine and medical research to have the desire to be a classroom teacher. We appreciate her passion for shaping young minds and the inspiration she brings to our District every day.”

“Dr. Floy’s recognition as a finalist for this prestigious honor is an amazing achievement that reflects her dedication, expertise, and commitment to student success,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “Her journey from the medical field to the classroom is nothing short of inspiring, and her impact on the students at The Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology cannot be measured. On behalf of the Board of Education, I congratulate Dr. Floy and celebrate this well-deserved honor.”

Dr. Floy originally began teaching at East Side High School in 2016 and began teaching at NSDSIT in 2023.

She admits that a physician becoming a freshman biology teacher isn’t common. “Most people go the opposite way,” she said.

When she initially made the career change, some people – her father and her medical school mentor, to name a couple – asked if she was sure about her decision to teach high school students.

But she has no regrets now.

“Being nominated for this award really solidified that I did the right thing,” Dr. Floy said. “I’m in the right place.”

About Newark Public Schools

The Newark Public Schools is the largest school district in New Jersey and dates back to 1676.  The District currently enrolls over 40,000 students in 64 schools.  After more than two decades of state operation and upon return to local control in 2018, the District has opened ten new schools under Superintendent León’s leadership with an additional portfolio of new options to be announced in the coming months and years. The Newark Board of Education serves as a beacon of educational excellence, dedicated to nurturing the potential of every student. With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and fostering a love for learning, the District continues to shape future generations and make a positive impact within the community.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Paul Brubaker, Communications Director
Email: pbrubaker@nullnps.k12.nj.us
Phone: 973-803-6983