At Newton North High School’s graduation ceremony on June 2, vice principal Amy Winston announced the creation of a new staff award known as the Henry J. Turner Award for Excellence and Equity, in honor of outgoing principal Henry Turner’s contributions to the school in the last decade. 

The award is intended to honor Turner’s legacy of championing diversity and inclusion by promoting both equity and excellence for all students. The first award will be presented in Spring 2027 to a Newton North staff member with strong student relationships, who has encouraged students to expand their academic, civic and extracurricular pursuits.

Turner is leaving for a superintendent position at Reading Public Schools. At Newton’s Juneteenth celebration last Friday, he told the Newton Beacon that Newton has “felt like home as an educator,” in part because the city’s values match his own. 

“I’m really overjoyed and excited about the award because I do believe that it’s an opportunity to recognize someone who can be a teacher or someone else in the building who has really made a difference in the kids’ lives,” he said. 

Turner added that he and his family have made a financial contribution to the award so that it can continue for the long term. Donations can be made at this link.