I have very fond memories as a middle school student at I.S. 111K in Bushwick, Brooklyn. As a middle school student I had trouble focusing on my classes and was hanging out with the wrong crowd. Many teachers gave up on me until I developed relationships with two teachers, J.C. Brizard, my Science teacher and Ms. Marotta, my English teacher. Working with these two teachers I learned what it means to care about students. Mr. Brizard taught me responsibility and how to persevere when things became rough. I still remember how we actually saw the process of chicks being born. We had to feed them and take care of them to help them survive in an unnatural environment. This experience was very enlightening and he always took the extra steps needed to teach us the content and skills we needed to learn, but equally as important he taught us the skills we needed to achieve in the future.
In middle school I had never thought of writing as a form of expression. Ms. Marotta showed me that I had a lot of potential and that I can be a great writer. Through my writing Ms. Marotta showed me how I can express myself. We developed a relationship of trust and understanding. She believed in me and I began to truly believe in myself. I share my story with the teachers I work with today.
J.C. Brizard and Ms. Marotta changed my behavior by having conversations with me that really inspired me to work hard and concentrate on my strengths. Ms. Marotta entered me in different writing contests and the more I won, the more I believed that I can achieve all of my dreams by working hard. Some of my other teachers told me that I wouldn’t achieve anything and that would hurt my feelings, but these two had a way of keeping me focused. I still see J.C. Brizard and Ms. Marotta at times because they are still working as educators. Ms. Marotta actually still works in the school I attended, but now it is call I.S. 347.
As an educator myself, I learned from them and have given to my students the same things these teachers have given to me. Today I am the principal of my own school. Wow! Who would have thought that teachers can help to shape who you are as an adult. Of course my mom had a lot to do with it as well. She is also a teacher at I.S. 347K.
Well that is my story and I will ask the staff to share their’s as well.
-Sadie Silver
Principal, PS 28K