BFS Duo Honored with National Awards

T hroughout the 2021–2022 school year, the phrase We Are Brooklyn Friends School will be repeated over and over throughout Downtown Brooklyn. While the five-word statement is seemingly a simple one, We Are Brooklyn Friends is actually quite complex and full of nuance. In the end, it refers to overall excellence—in and out of the classrooms—guided by the Quaker belief that there is a Divine Light in everyone.

Frank Cabrera, Director of College Counseling

People are apparently noticing, as since the start of this young school year two members of the Brooklyn Friends colleague community have been honored with prestigious, national awards. Frank Cabrera, who is in his first year as BFS’ Director of College Counseling, was recently honored by the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) with the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Champion Award. Meanwhile, Vlad Malukoff—who has taught history at Brooklyn Friends for the past 23 years— was named as an Outstanding Educator by the prestigious University of Chicago.

The fact that Cabrera was honored by his peers just days into his first school year comes as no surprise at Brooklyn Friends.

“We feel blessed to have Frank within our community,” said Brooklyn Friends Head of School Crissy Cáceres. “In his interview process, Frank named in various ways the core nature of social justice work in his life. He had concrete examples of his immersion in DEI work both within the world of college counseling and beyond. As such, this well-deserved award makes all the sense in the world.”

The DE&I Champion Award is presented to an ACCIS member with more than five years of college counseling experience who have engaged in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives in their school community and beyond the institutional level. They must demonstrate a deep understanding of and commitment to DE&I work as an educator.

“I was in total shock,” Cabrera said about finding out he had received the DE&I Champion Award. “I am on the DE&I committee for ACCIS and one of our new initiatives is to recognize both newer and seasoned college counselors who have demonstrated a deep commitment to DE&I work. I was really excited to shine the spotlight on the incredible work so many within our membership are engaged in. … So when I heard my name as one of the two honorees, I was floored.”

Vlad Malukoff, Upper School History Teacher

Meanwhile, 785 miles away from Brooklyn, Malukoff was nominated as an Outstanding Educator by a Brooklyn Friends grad who is a member of the University of Chicago’s Class of 2025. He was one of thousands of educators nominated for positively impacting students’ lives. The Outstanding Educator Award has existed for more than three decades—Vlad is the third Brooklyn Friends teacher to receive the honor—and is an accurate representation of the type of teacher Malukoff has been throughout his time at Brooklyn Friends.

He is a legend in the eyes of his students. He teaches with his whole heart. He is a gem.

“I heard students present, as well as alumni, talk about Vlad and the impact he had had on them long before I met him,” said Brooklyn Friends Head of Upper School Kamaya Prince Thompson “ ‘He is a legend,’ one student said. What I noticed the first time I met him was how his energy, love, and belief in the potential and ability of each student. This is why he is a legend in the eyes of his students. He teaches with his whole heart. He is a gem.”

For Vlad, the past 23 years have been special.

“I can’t believe it, but I have been here since 1998 and I started here the same week that I got married for the second time, so it’s easy to remember both dates,” he said with a laugh. “I have even more passion now for teaching in a way because I’m more confident. I’ve been very fortunate. … When you see a student who develops an interest in what you are teaching, that’s the most rewarding thing.”

Vlad was honored via a Zoom celebration on Oct. 25th.