Friday Feature: Bishop Grimes Announces Plans for Nancy J. Toscano Learning Center
In memoriam of the passing of longtime educator and integral part of the Bishop Grimes community, Nancy J. Toscano earlier this year, Bishop Grimes would like to announce plans for a newly dedicated learning and tutoring center in her name. A generous lead gift made by her husband of 43 years, Anthony Toscano, and daughter Kristen Toscano has provided Bishop Grimes with the initial funding to begin this project.

Anthony Toscano shared his thoughts on the new Learning Center, “Learning doesn't end when you leave the classroom. The education students receive is a giant step towards success, and every day thereafter provides opportunity to expand one's knowledge.”

The Nancy J. Toscano Learning Center will service Bishop Grimes students, faculty and staff for years to come and will allow for both professional and peer-to-peer tutoring. Renovation plans include modern, collaborative furniture, creative learning spaces, signage, and painting of the school's current library and adjacent computer lab. The space will include cutting edge technology, to further accentuate the new 1:1 Apple platform throughout the school, aligning with the Bishop Grimes Vision. In addition, a newly created student lounge will be added to the second floor, adjacent to the BGTV studio.

Principal Allyson Headd shared, “Mrs. Toscano was a favorite teacher of mine, and many other students she taught at Bishop Grimes and at the other diocesan schools she served. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to know and learn from a woman like her. She was more than an educator; she was a coach, mentor, administrator, and avid supporter of her students outside of her classroom. We are so grateful for her family for making this gift to our school. This learning center will only further accent her legacy in continued support of the Bishop Grimes students and community she loved so much.”

Nancy dedicated nearly 25 years of service to the Bishop Grimes community as a Global Studies and AP History teacher. She was an avid follower of the Bishop Grimes boys and girls basketball teams and the Music and Arts programs. She retired after 45 years with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. For many years, she enjoyed her travels to Russia, France, Great Britain and Germany with her husband, relatives, friends and faculty from Bishop Grimes.

Bishop Grimes seeks to match the generous donation made by Anthony and Kristen Toscano and an appeal page has been created on the Bishop Grimes website. If you, or anyone you know would like to make a contribution in memoriam of Nancy Toscano in support of The Nancy J. Toscano Learning Center click here.