Every year, Blake recognizes a faculty member who has taken the time to give of themself to students in a special way—as mentor, confidant, tutor or friend—and a staff member who has gone above and beyond in their role at Blake. 

The 2026 Juliet Nelson Award goes to Joe Druskin, Lower School engineering and programming specialist. In her announcement of this recognition, Associate Head of School Anne Gomez shared:

“When you are in the ELC and you see Joe Druskin, you quickly notice something: he's almost always carrying a project. A 3D-printed gadget for a student who's fascinated by space. A model inspired by a child's love of bats. A prototype, a tool, a creation—something built because Joe noticed what mattered to a student and decided to turn that interest into learning.

“Joe has an extraordinary gift for making students feel seen. If a kindergartener becomes interested in theater, they suddenly find themselves engineering a working pulley system for a stage curtain. If they're curious about how something works, Joe finds a way to put it in their hands. He specializes in emergence. To Joe, creativity, curiosity, and joy aren't extras—they're the curriculum. 

“What amazes most is that after decades in education, Joe still approaches teaching with the enthusiasm of someone who just discovered his calling. He is constantly inventing, experimenting, and dreaming up new ways to make learning meaningful and fun. Joe reminds us that great teaching isn't just about what students learn—it's about helping them discover what they love. We are incredibly fortunate to have him at Blake.”

The 2026 Staff Recognition Award goes to Amanuel Bekele, Upper School security officer.  In her announcement of the award Gomez said:  

“Amanuel Bekele is one of those rare people who make a community feel both safer and more human at the same time. 

“For many of us, he is the first face we see in the morning. He greets students, faculty, staff and families with genuine warmth, asks how we're doing, and then actually listens to the answer. He has a remarkable ability to make people feel seen, and he is unwavering in his kindness and support of our Upper School community. 

“Amanuel builds relationships across every age group at Blake. Whether it's Upper School students, younger children waiting for the bus or faculty arriving for the day, he treats everyone with dignity, respect and kindness. Younger students look forward to saying hello to him, and if you stand at the west lot doors for long enough, you will see him greet every single person, mostly by name.  

“What stands out most is that Amanuel leads through service. He notices what people need and quietly steps in to help, often before anyone asks. His steady presence, compassionate spirit and unwavering dedication make Blake a better place every single day.”

Congratulations, Joe and Amanuel!