feature stories
Thanks, Teach!
Feb 14, 2008 9:43 AM
UFT President Randi Weingarten (at podium, left) congratulates the honorees at a Jan. 10 ceremony at Department of Education headquarters.
More than 200 current students and graduates who had submitted essays praising teachers for inspiring them to personal and academic excellence heard UFT President Randi Weingarten, Chancellor Joel Klein, City Councilman Robert Jackson and Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott recount some revelatory anecdotes from their own student days. Some of the tales were amusing, but all carried a serious message about the vital role that teachers play in nurturing youth.
“This is the time for us to come together, take a deep breath, and say ‘thank you’ as kids have been doing since 1635, when America’s first public school was opened in Boston,” Weingarten said.
Referring to the time-honored tradition of giving an apple to the teacher (which may have had its roots in the poor economic status of teachers at the time), she exclaimed, “Hey, if I were alive in 1635, I would’ve had a lot to say about that!”
The autobiographical vignettes of the dignitaries were engaging, but most engrossing were the hundreds of testimonies from graduates, current students, and parents that were collected in binders on display for all to savor.
Roxanne Diaz, whose son attends PS 94 in Brooklyn, wrote: “From day one, my son was enthralled with his teachers. They are compassionate educators who clearly love every child in their room.”
Barbara Pryor, a 1990 alumna of IS 183 in the Bronx, called Betty Scott Collins, her 7th-grade dance and homeroom teacher, “the wind beneath my wings.”
“Sharon Farley McCourt, my 5th-grade teacher at PS 124 in Queens, always carried herself with elegance, but wouldn’t let us run over her. We were blessed to have her,” affirmed Shalewa Smith.
Annette Lesniewski, of MS 172 in Queens, said: “The hardest part of graduating was leaving teachers like Thomas Carty behind.”
“In my community,” noted Khadijah Abdullah, “when children are asked about Avis Clark, the guidance counselor at IS 51 on Staten Island, their eyes light up.”
Shanna Delancy, a 7-year-old who attends PS 130 in the Bronx, credited her 3rd-grade teacher, Tina Maria Desa, for “teaching the class how to stop being scared of our fears.”
Echoing this precocious insight, another student recognized her teacher as “someone who finally cared not only about me as I am now, but also about the person I would become.”
The Thank-a-Teacher Campaign was funded by the Broad Foundation. Contributions can be viewed at http://schools.nyc.gov. Click on Students, then go to the Thank-a-Teacher box and click on “what others have said.”
Manhattan
Luz Minaya, IS 528
Ms. Minaya is one of the busiest teachers in our school, because she teaches Spanish and technology. She is the teacher in charge of [the] Mouse Squad, a group of students who are trained to fix computers in our school. We had to attend Saturday classes and Ms. Minaya [was] with us on the two Saturdays. She has motivated many students who normally would be in trouble to be part of this squad. ... She means a lot to me because she made me realize that if I want something in life I have to work hard for it. She taught me to never give up on life, because life will always have its ups and downs. You have to do your best to live with it and get through it.
— Jennipher Blanco, student
Bronwyn Ryan, MS 243, Manhattan
When I asked my assembled family members at our Thanksgiving dinner table what they were thankful for, my son led off with an enthusiastic and heartfelt explanation of why he was thankful that he had Ms. Ryan. ... What more could you want: a child who still loves going to school, and who leads off his list of things he is thankful for with a dedication to his math teacher. I am thankful for Ms. Ryan for keeping him interested and for challenging him and for making learning something that he describes as fun. Go Ms. Ryan: You rock!
—Jane Bedell, parent
Judy Gutierrez, PS 176, Manhattan
I had an IEP and I was definitely behind the other students. She showed me how to use my strengths in math and worked with me on my writing and drafting of stories. During this time she was the ultimate professional. After taking the state ELA and math tests in 4th-grade, my scores went up due to her hard work with me.
— Jimmie Kelleher, former student
Phyllis Graham Anderson, A. Phillip Randolph Campus HS, Manhattan
Almost 23 years later, I still remember the day she called me and another student, Erica, to her office. Erica and I were extremely competitive with one another and we let it get in the way of our friendship. Ms. Anderson asked us to define friendship and then asked us to evaluate our friendship. We did some soul searching that afternoon, facilitated by Ms. Anderson, and I am proud to say that today, Erica is still my closest friend and we are fortunate to live 20 minutes away from each other in Georgia. Erica is my daughter’s godmother, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We were so blessed that Ms. Anderson saw the potential in our friendship and helped us overcome our challenges.
— Qualena Odom-Royes, former student
Brooklyn
Audrey Grodsitsky, PS 128
My son Matthew ... was a transfer from another school [where he was labeled] ... learning disabled. He came to 128 without any confidence, he could not read, and wanted to quit school at 6 years old. That is until he met this incredible angel named Mrs. Grodsitsky! The love and support, both professionally and emotionally, that she has shown my son over the years, goes beyond any measure of any teacher I have ever encountered. Matthew is now in 5th grade, and academically, has soared beyond my wildest imagination. Mrs. Grodsitsky has not only taught my son a foundation for reading and writing skills, but the confidence she has given him is through the roof. ... Mrs. Grodsitsky is one of those teachers who goes that extra mile and just calls it “doing her job.” I do not even think she realizes the impact she has had on both Matthew and myself. However, we love her immensely. I will be forever grateful to her. God bless Mrs. Grodsitsky. I knew He blessed us from the day we met her.
—Maryanne D'Angelo, parent
Jeff Cohen, PS 29, Brooklyn
At 6-foot-3, I thought Mr. Cohen was the tallest man in the world. But his height is far from the only thing that impressed me. He introduced us to Shakespeare, tailoring his instruction to make the works accessible to our 10-year-old brains. In math, he pushed us to learn algebra far before anyone would have suggested we were ready, and it worked. He taught me how to play chess and succeeded in getting me out in the schoolyard to play softball – something few people were able to convince my less-than- tomboy self to do. Most of all, he taught me to always ask questions and to push myself further than I thought possible.
— Katie Appel, former student
Richard Franzese, Midwood HS, Brooklyn
When it was time to take the history [Regents exam] at the end of the school year, which I dreaded from day one, Mr. Franzese stayed with me after school, day after day, to tutor me because he knew how scared I was of failing the exam. ... When he called my house, weeks after the exam, to tell me the good news — I passed with an 84 — I almost cried. I could not have done that without him.
— Carly Einstein, former student
Olivia Ellis, PS 321, Brooklyn
One day she read “A Snowy Day.” After she read the book, we all went out in the schoolyard and made snow angels in the fresh-fallen snow. When we came back to the class, we had hot chocolate with marshmallows. That is still the best hot chocolate, the best Friday afternoon, and my favorite story. Although we don’t have snowy days in Florida, I read that story to my students and tell them why I’m a teacher.
— Madeline Gore, former student
Bronx
Anca Niculescu, Bronx Latin
I have learned a lot from my teacher. She made the Incas and Egyptian history come alive for us. She sits down with us and explains what she is teaching us very patiently. She never screams when others act up in class, and gives us pizza parties when we behave and do well with our studies. ... You can easily tell she loves teaching us, and I in return love her for it. She really makes me want to learn more, and to top it all she’s very pretty.
— Sarah Perez, student
Betty Scott Collins, IS 183, the Bronx
I was a troubled teen and rarely attended school, until the school had an "adoption day" when the staff would adopt a student to look out for. Mrs. Scott picked me, which is why I call her Momma Scott to this very day. ... She was the first person who said I was beautiful and who expressed they loved me and I believed them. On this earth the one person I know helped me to be what I am today is Mrs. Scott.
— Barbara Pryor, former student
Luz Brito, DeWitt Clinton HS, The Bronx
Ms. Brito is a great person and a great teacher. She always gives us advice for us to have a better future in the United States. I loved when she shared with us her personal immigrant experience and how she learned English and went to college in this country. This gives me courage to do the same. MUCHAS GRACIAS, Ms. Brito!!
— Ginellys Santos, student
Eileen Cruz, PS/MS 3, the Bronx
Today I was thinking how lucky I am to be in Mrs. Cruz’s classroom. ... Mrs. Cruz is energetic, creative, and enthusiastic. She is always there for me, and always available to my parents. ... I will keep a scrapbook of the wonderful moments and things that I have enjoyed. Mrs. Cruz — you will always be in my heart!
— Kasey Rivera, student
Queens
Thomas Carty, MS 172, Queens
Mr. Carty was more like a friend than a teacher; he had the most wonderful personality and really brought the subject to life. Mr. Carty was my teacher, our senior advisor and the coach of the girls’ basketball team — and he was there for every one of us. The hardest part of graduating from MS 172 was leaving teachers like Mr. Carty behind.
— Annette Lesniewski, former student
Carrie Huggins, Robert F. Kennedy HS, Queens
At a time where change seemed too hard to face and constant memories of my mother were being replayed in my mind, I found a teacher, a friend, and an inspiration to help me pull through. ... She found the time to listen when desperation filled my life. She’s a hero to me, someone who I constantly look up to for encouragement and strength. She taught me that no matter where I came from or the circumstances I’ve faced, I can be successful, and I can separate myself from the ordinary by becoming extraordinary.
— Jonathan Martinez, student
Neil Leibowitz, JHS 73, Queens
It is hard to single out just one, but my junior high school algebra teacher, Neil Leibowitz, from JHS 73 does stand out in my mind. Mr. Leibowitz made algebra simpler and kinder, and as I do data analysis using pivot tables and more in my daily job, I realize he did more than just teach me algebra; he helped me learn how to solve problems. The importance of what he did for me and others will never dim.
— Joyce Whitby, former student
Staten Island
Stacey Falletta, New Dorp HS, Staten Island
Ms. Falletta, it has only been a few months having you as a teacher and I feel like I have known you my whole life. You are such an inspiration to me — not just as a teacher but as a person. You are kind, smart, tough but fair, beautiful and so much more. You have taught me to think and dream of the possibilities. ... It means so much to me that you care. ... You have affected my life in such a good and powerful way.
— Sabrina Prestia, student
Linsey Miller, Richard H. Hungerford School
She was my first classroom teacher when I was a student in 1989. She was very brilliant in educating me how to become an excellent pupil by helping me with my motivation skills and developing my self-esteem. I had a lot of improvement from her allowing me to be able communicate on my own.
Willie Washington, former student (and current colleague)
Ro Tierno, Tottenville HS, Staten Island
I would like to publicly thank Ro Tierno for being so instrumental in helping my child, Ashley Tepedino, to reach her potential. She was a struggling student in junior high school and has blossomed under Ms. T’s guidance. ... Her self-confidence is amazing. ... This teacher has taken my daughter to new heights!
— Joanne Tepedino, parent
Lisa Peccerillo, PS 23, Staten Island
It was my first year in public school. I did not know what to expect. On the first day of school, my dad told her I was new; from that moment on she took me under her wing. Mrs. Peccerillo made learning so much fun. I never wanted to miss school. She knew when to have fun with us but also made sure we learned. She liked being in school with us. ... I will always love Mrs. Peccerillo for making sure I survived my first year of public school with great memories.
— Milena Russo, student
