Born in the South Bronx to parents who were “determined that their kids would make something of themselves,” Edward Summers flirted with the idea of being a doctor as a middle school student at the Paul Robeson Medical Magnet School in the Bronx. Instead turning to law and public policy, he organized the first student government at Washington Irving HS and went on to earn his Ph.D. in Urban and Public Policy at the New School for Management and Urban Policy. Now, as the director of the Kelly Adirondack Research Center at Union College, Summers drives the research agenda for the study of the Adirondack Park, examining the “tension between conservation and economic development.” Summers credits his success to his experience in New York City public schools, including a 2nd-grade teacher who rewarded her class with a pizza party to a high school history teacher who engaged his students with classroom debates.

I grew up in a family of 12, and we were all public school kids. We all went through the New York City school system. Growing up in the ’80s in the South Bronx was an interesting experience. It was a low-income, ethnically diverse community, but it was a community in the true sense of a community. A lot of the elderly folks were the watchdogs of the neighborhood, making sure kids were in school when their parents were working. It was a community that acted as an extended family, despite the economic issues people faced.

I was one of the little nerdy kids. I enjoyed school immensely. I was always a curious kid who enjoyed learning. I liked being in an environment where there were other kids around my age and we could trade notes and discuss the world and our community and our families.

I had fantastic teachers. I grew up in an era when our teachers were very strict. I enjoyed the tough teachers, particularly those who taught discipline and respect. My 2nd-grade teacher was Mrs. Doctorie. She was a very gentle lady, but very stern. She didn’t tolerate bad behavior, and I remember her being very committed to us as students. She would stay late after school to ensure that we got whatever we were working on. She cared a lot. She rewarded good work by giving us incentives like a pizza party as a class if we accomplished everything we wanted for the year.

Phyllis Montgomery, my 5th-grade teacher at PS 65, took over during a very difficult transition. We had one teacher before her who just couldn’t hack it, and Ms. Montgomery took a class that was not doing well and turned it into one of the best classes in the 5th grade. There were challenges in our class, discipline problems, and she met them head-on. She didn’t back away. It wasn’t about fear, but students respected her. She quickly established herself as someone who was knowledgeable and was not going to treat us like we were in kindergarten. She tried to be as innovative and creative as possible. She would incorporate analyzing movies and conducting mini debates. Ms. Montgomery turned around kids who were not engaged with academics and really convinced them of the value of a good education.

In middle school, Mrs. Lampster was this great English teacher. I thought I was a decent writer, but she made me even better. She laid the foundation for my writing skills. I went on to write a dissertation so I think they’re decent! She challenged us and challenged us and challenged us. She taught us not only how to write well, but about respect. She didn’t let anyone slide. People respected her because of her tough love.

Mr. York was my moot court advisor in high school. I liked his class because he brought the law alive and he was excited about the law. At the time, Rudy Giuliani was the mayor and Mr. York looked just like Rudy Giuliani, so it was a fun experience having a teacher who looked like the mayor. He spent countless hours before school and after school advising us on how to be successful and craft good legal arguments.

The most important thing is to find your passion through education. Education is a powerful tool that no one can take away from you. Find what you like and what you’re good at and pursue it. It’s through education that we learn and grow and develop.

—as told to reporter Rachel Nobel