Principal Kevin Coyne has been nominated as a Hometown Hero in Education by the Daily News for his work at Our Lady’s Catholic Academy, which is thriving and growing as enrollment declines at many other Catholic schools.

Coyne had about 260 students when the academy opened five years ago. By September, the school in Ozone Park, Queens, will have more than 700 kids from 68 countries. Coyne credits his success to an individual approach to students.

“I tell every parent when they register that every child is an individual creation of God,” Coyne told the Daily News. “And we meet them where they are. It’s our job as educators to learn what their needs, and strengths are.”

To read more about Coyne and Our Lady’s Catholic Academy, see the full article in the Daily News.