The League of Women Voters of the Rivertowns (LWVR) has presented its first-ever Civic Leadership Award to Sharon Courtney, executive director for social studies education for the Yonkers Public Schools, in recognition of her outstanding commitment to civic education and voter engagement. Since joining the district in 2024, Courtney has transformed the League’s voter registration efforts by expanding participation across all eight Yonkers high schools. She helped distribute First Vote materials to every junior and senior, coordinated school-wide registration events, and inspired teachers and students to make the drives engaging through creative displays, bulletin boards, and even custom T-shirts featuring QR codes for voter registration. That first year alone, more than 1,000 Yonkers students registered to vote through the partnership.

Courtney has continued to strengthen the collaboration with LWVR by bringing voter registration to back-to-school nights, encouraging student government participation, and partnering with the League on a 2026 student video project promoting the importance of voting. Fourteen student-created videos were submitted, including one by fourth graders, with five selected to be featured on the League’s YouTube channel and social media. A lifelong educator in New York since 1994, Courtney holds degrees from Howard University, Brooklyn College, and Mercy University, and has earned national recognition for her work teaching AP African American Studies, as well as the Blazing Torch Award for Outstanding Educators.