French Ambassador Pierre Vimont knighting New York principal Giselle Gault McGee

Four New York City public school principals were knighted today by the French Ambassador Pierre Vimont. They were honored because of the dual-language English and French programs they oversee. Vimont says the schools offer a way for the city's 300,000 French speakers from 55 countries to celebrate their heritage.

From left to right- The French Ambassador, Pierre Vimont, and the winners: Shimon Waronker from Bronx’s Jordan L. Mott School, Jean Veyr’ne Mirval, principal of PS 73 in the South Bronx, Robin Sundick, head of PS84, the Lillian Weber School in Manhattan, and Giselle Gault McGee, director of PS 58, The Carroll School in Brooklyn.

Jean Veyr'ne Mirval, principal of PS 73 says the program helped West African students go from feeling like 'outcasts to superstars.' At the ceremony today, he used a Haitian phrase, 'In unity there is strength,' to highlight the importance of teaching non-native English speakers to value their native language.

The Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms)

The educators were inducted into France's Order of Academic Palms, which was founded by Napoleon to honor educators in 1804. There is more information about one of the world's oldest civil servant awards here.