Thomas O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology,
   A Community School
Albany City School District

 

Thomas O'Brien was born in Tipperary, Ireland in 1853.  He immigrated in 1872 when he was a second year student at University College, Dublin, studying to be a teacher during the year of the great Fenian uprising.  He arrived in the United States with his wife Margaret and taught kindergarten in New York City for a few years.  Then he moved his family to Troy, NY where he opened a school for boys considered unteachable in the public schools.  Mr. O'Brien then moved to Albany and entered the public school system.  He was a Professor and long time Principal of P.S. 24 (which is now Thomas O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology); School 24 was built in 1954.  Thomas O'Brien was also a Principal at School's 5, 12 and 13 in Albany.  At the time that Thomas O'Brien was principal here, it was a school devoted to training teachers in the Albany City School District. He was also the Dean of Principals in Albany and Head of the Teacher's Training Class of Albany, which later became the NY State College for Teachers. He was the principal of schools and at his death in 1921 at the age of 72 he was the head of the Teacher's Training School or Normal School, which later became the State College for Teachers and, eventually the University of the State of New York. He served as the chairman of the first draft board in Albany during World War I.  He had two daughters Madge and Mary and four sons Thomas, Vincent, John and Joseph.

When School 24 became a magnet school in 1990, it was named after Mr. O'Brien.  

We were honored to have Mr. O'Brien's great granddaughter Katie visit and speak to our 5th graders during their moving up ceremony in June, 2011.  She donated the picture of Mr. O'Brien and his family which was taken in 1894.