Meet Our Staff:
Read about some of the individuals
who are making a difference at P.S. 8
Edited by:
Maryanne Buechner, Pre-K Parent
Anna Leier Pre-K and 1st grade parent
Photos by: Nathalie Schueller, Pre-K Parent
Blake Amos
Parent Coordinator
Parent Room
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Where he lives: Bedford Stuyvesant
At P.S.8 since 2008
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"I enjoy working with kids," says Blake Amos, "they are so honest and that's refreshing! As educators, we have the opportunity to give children the guidance and direction they need -- it's so rewarding to contribute to a kid's growth." The father of a 16 year old, Blake's enthusiasm for his work and his warmth are palpable. He feels that the rewards of being a Parent Coordinator are many, including solving problems, answering questions, mediating when necessary and bringing people together to a shared understanding.
Blake Amos hails from New Orleans, where he studied culture and anthropology at the University of New Orleans. A trained musician and arts educator, he has been passionate about percussion and guitar since his high school days, especially Brazilian samba and bossa nova. At 20, he took his first trip to Brazil and stayed for a year and became fluent in Portuguese.
Blake was able to draw from his passion for music and his first career as a performing musician and bandleader to launch his second career -- arts education. He developed a music and movement program for preschoolers that incorporated musical instruments such as the Brazilian berimbau and cuica and the Bolivian charango. Next at the Orff Center of New Orleans and The University of North Texas, Mr. Amos studied the Orff Method, an experiential method that uses body percussion, xylophones, circle games, and songs to introduce children to music.
Mr. Amos' travels also took him to Thailand, where he worked in a refugee camp helping Cambodian refugees. Here he taught music, movement, and ESL to toddlers who were relocating to the United States. Enchanted with Thailand's musical instruments, Blake added to his collection and brought back an instrument called the kahn, which looks like a huge pan pipe but sounds like a harmonica. Unfortunately, the kahn was lost in one of the many floods that have plagued New Orleans over the years.
As a performance artist, Blake was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to return to Brazil to study Brazilian history and folklore and create a performance for New Orleans public school students. His resulting performance, "SalvadOrleans" illustrates a cultural parallel between New Orleans and Salvador, Bahia (Brazil's first capital) as two port cities whose colonial foundations produced two vastly influential cities of the African Diaspora. As a result he was invited to teach arts electives at the New Orleans Charter Middle School. For four years, Mr. Amos taught courses that included songwriting and production and he also created a samba drum and dance group that performed in the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Blake's journey brought him to New York City in 2002 where he continued working as an arts educator at several public schools and after school programs, when he took on his first job as parent coordinator in 2006. Before coming to P.S. 8, Mr. Amos was parent coordinator at M.S. 158 in the Bronx and M.S. 301 in Bedford Stuyvesant. On Blake's first visit to P.S.8, he immediately noticed the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school. He says: "I am excited about being needed at P.S.8, and I hope to become an effective and useful liaison between P.S. 8 parents, teachers and Principal Phillips."
Stop by and welcome Blake to P.S. 8! His office is at the back of the Parent Room on the first floor and his email is bamos@schools.nyc.gov. You can also get a glimpse of his "other" career as a songwriter and musician here.
Posted on: September 7, 2008.
Ann Barretta
Pre-K
Rm. 109
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Where she lives: Cobble Hill
Teaching since: 2004
At P.S. 8 since: 2006
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Ms. Barretta moved to Brooklyn from Albany in summer 2006, a few weeks before joining the P.S. 8 faculty as one of the pre-kindergarten teachers. She has experience teaching kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades, but says that her "absolute favorite" is teaching pre-k: "My classroom is a very child-centered environment, and I am passionate about providing authentic learning experiences for my students," Ms. Barretta says. "I feel that this enables pre-k children to take ownership of their learning." The only thing she loves more than watching her students learn, she says, is listening to them share their thoughts and ideas with parents, teachers and friends. "Their excitement for learning drives me to be the best teacher that I can be." Ms. Barretta says that the support she has received from P.S. 8 parents has been "above and beyond my expectations," and that the P.S. 8 staff "feels like family." Ms. Barretta studied elementary education at SUNY Plattsburgh and earned her master's degree in teaching from The College of Saint Rose in Albany. In her free time she enjoys reading, running, cooking and visiting with family and friends.
Posted on: January 24, 2007.
Karen Block
1st Grade
1-210
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Where she lives: Manhattan
Teaching since: 2005
At P.S. 8 since: 2006
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After years of working in public relations, Mrs. Block decided it was time to do something more meaningful. She knew she enjoyed working with children--she had been a Big Sister to a 9-year-old girl while she was an undergraduate majoring in communications at the University of Rhoda Island, and had taught a children's yoga class--and so decided her new career should involve working with them full time. In 2005 Mrs. Block became a New York City Teaching Fellow; she taught first grade in Far Rockaway, Queens, before coming to P.S. 8 in 2006. Mrs. Block teaches with Ms. Levy in the first-grade Collaborative Team Teaching (CTT) classroom while working toward her master's degree from Pace University and a dual-certification in childhood and special education.
Mrs. Block says she loves teaching first graders because they are always excited to learn. "Many people don't give a five or six-year-old enough credit for knowing things, but they actually know so much," she says. "What they don't know, they're eager to learn. A child can amaze and inspire you with their abilities, ideas and stories." Mrs. Block says her favorite moments are when children interrupt lessons to share an idea or make a suggestion. Often "it's something that is unexpected and definitely not planned, but it turns out to be better than anything you could have imagined," she says. "That child has just brought a whole new dimension to the lesson." At P.S. 8, Mrs. Block observes, everyone is there for the children. "The staff works hard to ensure that the kids learn in an enjoyable and memorable way," she says. "Everyone is always sharing ideas." P.S. 8, she adds, "is a school that I look forward to sending my children to...when I have some!"
Posted on: November 22, 2006.
Melissa Browning
3rd grade
Rm. 305
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Where she lives: Fort Greene
Teaching since: 2005
At P.S. 8 since: 2005
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Melissa Browning attended P.S. 8 from Kindergarten through 7th grade and arrived here again in 2005 to teach third grade. "I'm thrilled to be back and to see the school thriving," she says. "You just have a feeling that good things are happening. It's a strong community with lots of exciting curricular opportunities too."
Melissa feels fortunate to work at a school where she can bring her own strengths and interests to the curriculum. For example, throughout the school year, 3rd grade students have focused their social studies lessons on answering the following essential question: How do people use the environment to meet their needs? Students looked how Native American in New York used the environment in the past and how people today use the environment. Environmental sustainability is one of Melissa's interests and she is excited to bring this passion to the classroom. Her students have been discussing the importance of "Being Green" all year long and are now completing a class environmentalist handbook, which covers issues such as global warming, energy efficiency and recycling. Students conduct research, write articles, poems, and letters, and create their own works of art to document their new-found knowledge and understanding. To bring the curriculum to life, Melissa always aims to connect reading, writing, social studies, science and the arts.
"Cross-curricular activities are great because you draw on so many of the students' strengths by fusing social studies with writing, research, and art," she says. "By dealing with real issues you are giving students responsibility. You're upping the expectations and they respond to it because it's real and they love to be the bearers of information. When you let them, they really find their niche. Some gravitate to social studies, some to geography, others to art."
Ms. Browning grew up in Brooklyn Heights, immersed in the art world--her parents run the World Music Institute--and she now lives in Fort Greene. She earned her master's degree in Childhood Education from Hunter College and her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Bard College where she also studied printmaking and Italian, and was a competitive figure skater. (She still teaches skating after school.) In her spare time, Melissa loves to cook and travel. "It took me three years to refine my recipe for pizza dough," she says with a laugh. "I even grilled pizza once." In recent years Melissa has made trips to Italy, England, Scotland, Ireland, Puerto Rico and the Pacific Northwest. This summer, she will be spending a month in Alaska hoping to fill her days with hiking, kayaking, visits to nearby glaciers, and wildlife viewing.
Posted on: November 22, 2006.
Megan Davis
Kindergarten
Rm. 102
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Where she lives: Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
At P.S. 8 since: 2006
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Ms. Davis, who teaches in the Collaborative Team Teaching (CTT) classroom with Ms. Patterson, comes to P.S. 8 all the way from Charlotte, North Carolina, where she taught third grade and kindergarten. Yet her actual hometown is Clover, South Carolina, a place she describes as "a very small town. We had one stop light, one high school, and being the mayor was a part time job." Although she's a long way from home, and New York has been an adjustment, P.S. 8 finds her dedication to teaching well at home. "I absolutely love teaching kindergarten," she says. "When kids are excited about school and what they are learning, they will likely put forth their best effort and try something they normally might not." Like most devoted teachers, Ms. Davis acknowledges the rewards of teaching: "It is so wonderful when the children are reading and writing at the end of the year, and I really enjoy watching them grow." Ms. Davis lives in Dyker Heights and loves spending time with her pets, a cat and a Jack Russell terrier that she rescued from a shelter three years ago.
Posted on: November 22, 2006.
Ms. Douglas
2nd grade
Room 203
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At P.S. 8 since: 1988
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If you are ever in the 2nd floor corridor, listen for the sound of singing. The chances are it will be coming from Ms. Douglas' room; she loves to use song and rhyme to teach the kids. When asked how long she has been teaching, Ms. Douglas' response, with a wry smile, is "all my life."
Ms. Douglas has been at PS8 for 20 years. Don't be fooled into thinking that her teaching methods are old-fashioned. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Ms. Douglas is a lifelong student and spends much of her spare time reading about the latest research and thinking on the best ways to educate children. After so many years she still loves what she does, especially watching her young charges soak up information "like sponges." She also says they continually surprise her with their creativity. In her spare time, Ms. Douglas likes to sew.
Posted on: April 6, 2008.
Officer Cynthia Dyke
School Safety Agent since: 1996
Assigned to P.S. 8 since: 2003
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Anyone who walks the halls of P.S. 8 knows Officer Dyke. She is the friendly lady in the blue uniform greeting children and grownups with a cheerful "Good morning!" and "How ya doin'?" from her desk by the school's front entrance or while standing guard by the side door. Her chief responsibilities as school safety agent, she says, are simple: to keep her eyes and ears open as kids and grownups come and go, and to make sure that all is as it should be. She's worked at other schools, including Pacific High School on Schermerhorn Street, but says she prefers being at an elementary school. "It's the little kids," she explains with a smile. "I love them."
Officer Dyke completed her training at the New York City Police Academy in 1996--she is certified for Special Patrol--and keeps her skills fresh by attending monthly seminars offered by the NYPD on such topics as how to spot abuse and alcoholism. She has a very busy life outside of school too: a prayer leader and active member of the Berean Seventh Day Adventist Church in Crown Heights, she writes letters to prison inmates and volunteers at two nursing homes.
Posted on: November 28, 2006.
Mrs. Aleah Forrest
1st grade
Rm. 207
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Where she lives: Brooklyn Heights
Teaching since: 2003
At P.S. 8 since: 2007
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When Aleah Forrest's husband was relocated to Brooklyn Heights last year, the Texan couple fell in love with the area immediately. One day while apartment-hunting, Mrs. Forrest walked by P.S. 8, where she bumped into Ms. Saffady and Ms. Levy. She asked them about the school, and one thing led to another. She says, "I call it faith; one year later I had become their colleague and friend, lucking into this amazing job at P.S. 8."
Mrs. Forrest is a devoted teacher, saying she'd wanted to become an educator since she was herself was in kindergarten. She has a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Texas State/San Marcos. After college, she taught 3rd grade for three years in an elementary school in Houston, which was similar to P.S. 8. "Their parent participation was just as amazing," she says admiringly.
Switching to 1st grade at P.S. 8 was an easy task, says Mrs. Forrest. She is thrilled with her students' progress at reading and writing. "I love how they come up to me and say, 'Hey, look, a short vowel A!' And I taught them that a week ago. It is so rewarding!"
For Mrs. Forrest one absolute plus about teaching in a New York public school is the proximity to Columbia University, because P.S. 8 places a strong emphasis on professional development and follows the progressive Columbia University Teacher's College Curriculum. She says the curriculum is highly beneficial to the kids. "We are helping the children learn to think like readers and writers every day, on their own improving level. It is state-of-the-art, and it works," she adds enthusiastically.
Mrs. Forrest and her husband have a border collie, Chester, who on weekends accompanies them to Central Park, where they love to hang out in between shopping sprees at Bloomingdales.
Posted on: January 25, 2008.
Ms. Dianne Galashaw
4th grade
Room 306
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Where she lives: Flushing, Queens
Teaching since: 1976
At P.S.8 since 1981
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"I am colleagues with my former students Ms. Browning and Ms. Martha, and even one of my student's mothers was instructed by me 30 years ago!", Ms. Galashaw exclaims. "I am getting towards the end of my career, that's obvious," she adds with a wink. That she might be anywhere near the end of her teaching career you would not believe if you saw Ms. Galashaw acting in the classroom, as full of creative energy as she was on day one 32 years ago. But should she retire from P.S.8 she will not stop working: "I have two careers: in the evening I go to my private practice in Manhattan, where I work as a pastoral psychotherapist."
Ms. Galashaw has seen P.S.8's ups and downs over the last 25 years, a view mainly form the basement, where she taught Physical Education for 20 years. She loved including play into the children's curriculum, but "since I am leaving soon, I want to leave a more lasting mark, and have more significant impact on them," she says. In order to do this, she took over her first 4th grade in 2006. She loves getting to know the children of her own class inside out over the course of the year, enjoying the consistency of the group and their routines in the weekly schedule. She combines traditional and modern teaching methods in her class, being one of the few teachers with decades of experience.
Ms. Galashaw received her undergrad at Cortland State University, then went on to City College from which she graduated as a Special Ed. teacher. If her two jobs grant her some spare time, she loves to travel to the Caribbean: Aruba and Bermuda are her favorites.
Posted on: April 28, 2008.
Jonathan Garbar
Intervention Specialist
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Where he lives: Manhattan
Teaching since: 2001
At P.S. 8 since: 2004
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"What I love about P.S.8 is its diversity," says Jonathan Garbar, "but this same diversity also causes tensions sometimes, especially in the upper grades, where we see curiosity about race, gender and culture. In our conflict resolution workshop we try to answer questions and to teach tolerance and acceptance." Once a week he and drama teacher Ms. Gentile work with students from grades 3 to 5 to prepare them for life in a multi-faceted community. Since Mr. Garbar's position of intervention specialist was created just this school year, he sometimes feels his work is "like applying band-aids." In the future, he wishes to go into the younger grades as well, to help them understanding diversity from an early age.
As the intervention specialist, Mr. Garbar, "Mr. G" to his students, not only troubleshoots in conflict situations but also can work with single students or small groups who need help - socially or academically. His work ranges from math tutoring to teaching about leadership skills. He uses unusual approaches to build self-esteem and confidence: a filmmaking project, for example, includes script writing, filming, acting, and editing. "I want to teach the kids to feel more comfortable about asking questions and expressing their feelings."
Mr. Garbar meets with students from every upper grade class twice a week, in the process forming strong relationships. But his social counseling goes beyond regular school hours. A group of boys who are being raised without male role models are being helped in his "Big Brother Program." On Sundays a group of 4th and 5th graders meets with students from the Benjamin Banneker High School, where Mr. G. coaches the soccer team. The boys are doing homework together, playing, and talking. "It is really important for the little ones to have a male mentor to look up to," explains Mr. G.
Jonathan Garbar started at P.S. 8 teaching phys-ed and Spanish. In 2005-2006 he taught 2nd grade in the Collaborative Team Teaching classroom with Ms. Gentile, the next year moving up with this same class and co-teacher to 3rd grade.
Mr. G completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Delaware and earned his master's degree in special education/bilingual studies at Pace University. On weekends, he enjoys going to jazz clubs and poetry lounges and visiting with family in New Jersey, where he grew up. Born in Colombia, he tries to spend all his free time with his remote family in South America. "That's where my roots are," he says.
Posted on: February 12, 2008.
Marybeth E. Gazlay
5th Grade
Rm. 302
Union Representative
for P.S. 8
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Where she lives: Carroll Gardens
Teaching since: 2003
At P.S. 8 since: 2005
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Mrs. Gazlay, a former substitute teacher at P.S. 261 and P.S. 58, took over the Science program at P.S. 8 in the fall of 2005. But for space reasons the science room turned into a classroom and she became a 5th grade class teacher in 2007.
She embraces her new job and her new students: "I love to see my 23 kids improve and succeed -- and help them when they don’t."
Fifth grade is a testing grade, and Mrs. Gazlay has to include a lot of test prep components. But she manages to include a lot of fun too, combining the curriculum with real life: "We are going on the graduation trip to Washington, where we will see for real what we have studied in the social study unit: U.S. government, "project citizen," being part of a democracy. We will tour the White House and see all the memorials." In a big group effort the class is trying to raise the funds for the trip, organizing bake and book sales, movie nights and quiz events. This taught them a lot about teamwork and pursuing a common goal.
When the kids leave P.S. 8 they are ready for middle school. They have learned to support their community, and they are confident and equipped with the tools to be successful middle school students. "They are at a very social and mature age now - at a very different place in their lives compared to the moment when they entered P.S. 8," says Mrs. Gazlay proudly.
A graduate of SUNY Albany, Mrs. Gazlay majored in teaching and minored in business. Her previous jobs include teaching sign language and independent living skills to developmentally disabled adults, serving as a program director at a Boys and Girls Club on Long Island, and working as a corporate recruiter. Mrs. Gazlay graduated from Long Island University in January 2006 with a master's degree in childhood education. "I love to play and coach sports, especially soccer, basketball, softball and tennis," she says. Mrs. Gazlay also loves to travel, and has sailed to the British Virgin Islands. She has also visited Sicily, Paris, and London; Edinburgh, Scotland; Rio de Janeiro; Jamaica; Turks and Caicos and Mexico.
Posted on: December 19, 2005.
Noelle Gentile
Drama Teacher
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Where she lives: Park Slope
Teaching since: 2000
At P.S. 8 since: 2004
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"Being the Drama teacher at P.S.8 lets me meld two different passions," says Noelle Gentile, who created the position together with the principal in 2007. Ms. Gentile has studied at the New York State Theatre Institute and with Suny Fredonia's BFA Musical Theatre Program. While working as a teaching artist for the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, she developed a passion for educating young children.
Ms. Gentile sees 1st - 5th graders once a week, incorporating the performing art of theatre into their classroom curricula, while strongly cooperating with the classroom teachers to support social growth. "Drama is an art form that allows you to express yourself," she says, speaking of the importance of her work. "The kids learn to form community and find their independent voice simultaneously."
Depending on the grade level, Ms. Gentile builds the children's enthusiasm with improvisation and dramatic interpretation of text, putting poetry into movement as well as scene study. In the lower grades she does a lot of voice and body exercises to increase body awareness. They read simple poems by poets like Shel Silverstein, which they interpret as a group, deciding who should play which role, who should direct, and so forth. Another example are the fourth graders, with whom she reads authentic Native American poetry (a part of the curriculum). She then has them interpret the text and create a performance piece from the work. This way they develop creativity and imagination, with a strong emphasis on teamwork.
As part of the Drama programs the 4th graders went on a field trip to a Broadway show, allowing them to get a behind-the-scenes-view of the Lion King. In the spring Ms. Gentile plans on producing a play in an after-school initiative that brings together children of all grades. "We are following the philosophy of Renzulli, where the focus is on special individual talents that are explored in extracurricular activities. Imagine a team of costume designers, set designers, actors and directors working together," she explains.
Ms. Gentile is very proud of her contribution to the development of the whole child at P.S.8: She says, "Together we are building confidence and creating public speakers!"
Ms. Gentile taught in the 3rd grade Collaborative Team Teaching classroom with Jonathan Garbar before she took on the Drama Position. She taught social studies through drama at P.S. 115 before coming to P.S. 8 in the fall of 2004 to student-teach in Ms. Jerry's class.
Posted on: December 19, 2005.
Amanda Green
Librarian
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Where she lives: Fort Greene
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"Working with children makes me hopeful," says Amanda Green. Ms. Green, who received her degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, came to P.S. 8 in September 2007, the first full-time librarian to work in the P.S. 8 library. Previously, the library had been entirely staffed by volunteer parents. "The parents did an amazing job, and what I love about my job now is that the library has a solid base that I can improve professionally. I can now focus on developing technical tools to make the students familiar with the process of research." With funds from the PTA, Ms. Green has been able to purchase a scanner and speakers, so students will be learning with educational resources available through the Internet. "There are 9,000 books in the P.S. 8 library, which is great," says Ms. Green, "but a lot of updating needs to be done, especially in the science and reference department: Many of our encyclopedias, dictionaries, and atlases are outdated."
Ms. Green is very happy about the donations she has received, and she has established a wish list at Amazon.com, with 61 books thankfully received thus far.
Ms. Green's first professional stop after receiving her degree was at Queens Public Libraries, then she taught at P.S. 32 in the Bronx for three years. About P.S. 8, she says, "I am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm that P.S. 8 students show towards reading. There is such a great spirit for learning at the school." She was especially impressed by last fall's Read-a-thon, when P.S. 8 students read over 250,000 minutes and raised over $30,000 for the school. Of this money, $1,400 went to the library to purchase new books.
With the Read-a-thon money, Ms. Green has focused on young readers in particular. She has established a section for new readers in the library, with easy-to-read books that use controlled vocabulary, such as Frog and Toad and Amelia Bedelia, to help young readers build their stamina, comprehension, and confidence.
In her spare time, Ms. Green loves to cook. Her favorite vacation spot is the Caribbean, especially Trinidad. When she needs a break from it all at home, she cooks Creole fish made with the recipes she has collected while traveling.
Posted on: January 16, 2008.
Brandie Hayes
3rd grade
Rm. 307
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Where she lives: Bedford-Stuyvesant
Teaching since: 2004
At P.S. 8 since: 2004
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Ms. Hayes says she decided she wanted to become a teacher when she was in high school. "That's when I realized that kids need to have strong, positive role models to move them forward," she says. "Everyone deserves teacher support, not just the star students." Her first teaching job was at P.S. 10, where she filled in for a 4th grade teacher on maternity leave. Ms. Hayes started teaching 3rd grade at P.S. 8 in fall 2005. "I love 3rd grade," she says, "because the kids are at an age when they can truly begin to be independent and reflective about their behavior and academics." Working at P.S. 8 is "fantastic," she adds, "because the staff is so warm and friendly. The parents are involved and supportive, and the kids are genuinely good kids who try to succeed." Ms. Hayes earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Vassar College and a master's degree in literacy and special education from New York University. She enjoys biking, reading and traveling, and she also loves animals: "If I hadn't gotten into teaching," she quips, "I might have been an animal trainer."
Posted on: January 24, 2007.
Mr. David Jansen
3rd grade
Room 310
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Where he lives: Midwood
Teaching since: 2006
At P.S.8 since 2006
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With most of his family being teachers, including his mother, sister and two brothers, teaching children is definitely in Mr. Jansen's genes. He finished his graduate studies in Early Childhood Education and Psychology at Queens College, and one week after his Diploma was handed out in 2006, he started teaching at P.S.8.
He cheerfully guided the entire student body through his first P.S.8 year as a gym teacher, until he took over the 3rd grade CTT class in 2007, co-teaching with Special Ed. teacher Mrs. Tolhurst. Always smiling and joking, he lets his very alive inner child run free, which makes him one of the most popular teachers in school. It doesn't hurt that he is a Star Wars Fan and a passionate video gamer: "That way I totally bond with my kids." But he is also very passionate about the curriculum, especially the writing that takes place in third grade. He enjoys the blend of cute innocence of the nine-year-olds -- and their simultaneously developing intellectual and academical skills. "I enjoy the science unit in third grade, where we talk about sound and vibration. It is hands on and at the same time very professional, we all feel like little scientists, using sophisticated terminology while experimenting," Mr. Jansen says proudly.
"What do I like about P.S.8? Better ask me what I do NOT like about P.S.8! The staff is so supportive, not competitive at all, and after school we even go out together. We are more friends than co-workers," he adds.
Posted on: June 11, 2008.
Kristen Rea Jennings
2nd grade
Rm. 202
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Where she lives: Kensington
Teaching since: 2006
At P.S. 8 since: 2006
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Ms. Jennings started teaching children how to swim when she was 16. After a decade working with kids at summer camps and pools, she decided she loved it so much she wanted to make teaching her career. What's great about 2nd graders, she says, is that while they are a bit more settled into the routines and expectations of school, they are still excited about being there and are "ready to be challenged." Her favorite part of the 2nd-grade curriculum is reading workshop: "I love books--they open minds to so many things." Ms. Jennings attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, majoring in psychology and geography. She earned her master's degree in teaching from Medaille College in Buffalo. Her hobbies include scrapbooking and running, and on weekends she likes to explore different parts of the city. What's most rewarding about teaching at P.S. 8, she says, is the enthusiasm and support from the families. "I love my job," she says, "and can't imagine doing anything else."
Posted on: January 24, 2007.
Monique L. Jerry
2nd grade
Rm. 202
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Where she lives: Clinton Hill
Teaching since: 1997
At P.S. 8 since: 2002
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Ms. Jerry likes to teach her students to make how-to books, which they write, illustrate, "publish" and then share with classmates. "They can be about anything--such as, how to wash a car or how to brush your teeth--and they really have a great time with it," Ms. Jerry says. Her goal is to have all her students reading chapter books by the end of the year, so that they are prepared for 3rd grade. Ms. Jerry loves to read herself, especially historical fiction; she recommends Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl. She also enjoys going to the movies. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter, where she earned her master's degree in Elementary Education. She loves teaching second grade, she says, "because the kids are so enthusiastic about learning. They are like sponges at this age, and so eager to please the teacher, which is great."
Posted on: May 19, 2005.
Precious Jones-Walker
District 13 Family Advocate
NYC Department of Ed
Office for Family Engagement and Advocacy
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(718)636-3234
(347)563-5334
pjoneswalker
@schools.nyc.gov
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The District Family Advocate gives voice to the concerns of families and parent leaders at the District Office, supports the work of the District President's Council and the Community Education Council, and works closely with school based Parent Coordinators. Under the direction of the Borough Director and the Local Superintendent the District Family Advocate will identify and respond to concerns and work with Principals and school based Parent Coordinators to ensure that each concern is addressed in a timely manner.
Precious was Parent Coordinator for P.S. 8 from 2003 - Spring of 2007.
Posted on: June 14, 2006.
Teresa Kravitz
Art
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Where she lives: Brooklyn Heights
At P.S. 8 since: 1998
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Ms. Kravitz taught fifth grade at P.S. 8 for six years before becoming the art teacher in the fall 2004. She meets with each class once or twice a week in her art room on the third floor, except for the two pre-k classes, which receive instruction in their own classrooms on the first floor. Ms. Kravitz says she typically has the younger students work on projects that let them practice fine-motor skills, such as cutting, tracing, pasting and sculpting with clay. Older students also work with clay, doing both flat relief and three-dimensional forms; they draw perspectives and portraits and are introduced to inks and watercolor washes. Students in 2nd through 5th grade study children's book illustrators, discuss the various techniques and then illustrate their own books. At the start of the 2005 school year, Ms. Kravitz started integrating what students were learning in social studies and science into the art curriculum; when pre-k and kindergarten students are learning about aquatic animals, for example, she instructs the students to draw or sculpt those types of creatures. "Wherever I can integrate social studies and science, I'm doing it," she says. Ms. Kravitz earned her master's degree in education at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. On weekends she likes to listen to live music and attend creative workshops in painting and drawing.
Posted on: June 16, 2005.
Ms. Kate Labenski
4th grade
Room 309
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Where she lives: Park Slope
Teaching since: 2004
At P.S. 8 since: 2007
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Ms. Labenski graduated from Syracuse University in 2004 with a major in Inclusive and Elementary Education. Her master's degree in Special Education comes from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Her first teaching job at a public school was at P.S.94 in Sunset Park, where she taught 1st, 3rd, and 4th grade. When P.S.8 offered her a position as a 4th grade teacher in 2007, Mrs. Labenski happily accepted.
"I love the small community feeling at P.S.8," says Ms. Labenski. "Everyone is passionate and helpful, from parents to colleagues."
Ms. Labenski is especially impressed by the special skills that P.S.8 students gain through all the different art-based enrichment classes."The students know how to express themselves well and clearly, due to the drama classes in particular," she says. "They are definitely above grade level in that respect."
Ms. Labenski's favorite subject to teach is writing, especially realistic fiction. "The stories the kids come up with are imaginative, emotional, even sometimes heartbreaking."
In her spare time Kate Labenski swims four times a week. She spends the summer at Cape Cod or at her brother's home in Arizona, where she goes hiking in the mountains.
Posted on: May 23, 2008.
Ms. Mariann Levkulic
Pre-K
Rm. 110
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Where she lives: Bensonhurst
Teaching since: 2000
At P.S. 8 since: 2006
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"Working with children is such an amazing feeling that I cannot find the words to describe it," says 32-year-old Manhattan native Mariann Levkulic. She sums up her passion for teaching, saying, "It is more than a profession; I guess it is a calling." When she was younger, she tried hard to fight this, earning her college degree in Psychology at Baruch College before she finally gave in to her main interest and got her master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College. Her first teaching job was at a daycare center in lower Manhattan, but after September 11, she felt it was time to move on--to Brooklyn. Four years at the privately run Open House Nursery School in Cobble hill prepared her to take the big step towards public school.
Ms. Levkulic became a member of the P.S. 8 family in 2006, when she started as a Pre-K teacher. She loved it right away. "I received such a warm welcome, from staff, parents, and kids, that I could not help but love the school instantly," she says.
Since there is no strict curriculum for Pre-K classes, Ms. Levkulic creates her own. She feels it is important to develop the social and emotional skills of the children in her class, as well as a strong home-school connection, saying "It is my goal to make them feel safe at school, so they want to come here every day." She loves the 4-year-old age group, especially the way they bring so much passion into the classroom through cuddling and hugging. Her favorite part of the school year is the butterfly unit, where live caterpillars develop into beautiful butterflies right before the children’s eyes. "When they fly away, it is such an emotional moment. It reminds me of the way we see our kids go on to kindergarten as colorful and independent individuals."
After a long one-hour commute to Bensonhurst, where Ms. Levkulic shares an apartment with her sister, she loves to get lost in a good romantic novel or go rollerblading along the Belt Parkway.
Posted on: January 25, 2008.
Jessica Levy
1st Grade
1-210
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Where she lives: Brooklyn Heights
Teaching since: 2002
At P.S. 8 since: 2005
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Ms. Levy co-teaches first-graders in a Collaborative Team Teaching (CTT) classroom with Karen Ruiz. A Brooklyn Heights native, Ms. Levy earned a degree in communications at Boston University, then worked in advertising and marketing before deciding that she wanted a more rewarding career. "I have always related well with children," she says. So she returned to school to study literacy. While pursuing her master's at Brooklyn College, she was a student teacher at The Packer Collegiate Institute, a private school in Brooklyn Heights. She joined the P.S. 8 faculty in 2002. Ms. Levy particularly enjoys teaching the first grade: "It is a crucial year when most children learn to read. It's so exciting to watch it 'click' for a child, and so much fun getting the kids excited to learn." Ms. Levy says she loves the warmth of the P.S. 8 community, and enjoys living in Brooklyn Heights, in part because it reminds her that the relationships she forms with her students are likely to continue even after they leave her classroom. (While out and about in the neighborhood, she often bumps into kids from school, and they invariably run up to give her a hug.) In her free time, she enjoys live music, the theater and movies, and spending time with friends and family on Long Island's North Fork.
Posted on: November 22, 2006.
Matthew S. Levy
1st grade
Rm. 209
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Teaching since: 1995
At P.S. 8 since: 2004
Where he lives: Manhattan
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Mr. Levy grew up in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn and attended Oberlin College in Ohio, where he majored in history. He holds a master's degree from Bank Street College of Education in New York. His first full-time teaching job was at P.S. 35 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where he taught 1st grade for eight years. Since coming to P.S. 8 in 2004, Mr. Levy says, "I've seen the school really come together as a community, to really coalesce as a learning environment. The kids are excited to learn, and I'm excited to be here." Mr.Levy says his favorite part of the first-grade curriculum is the non-fiction writing unit. Over the course of two months, each student writes a "How To" book; they choose topics--cats, for example, or skiing--and then write what they know about them. After they've completed that, each student then writes an "All About" book, which requires more research. "I try to teach my students to take risks as authors," he says, "to put themselves out there--which is hard for a 6-year-old, but important to learn how to do." In his spare time, Mr. Levy enjoys hiking and reading; he particularly likes the works of Eugene O'Neill. He is a member of the School Leadership Team, which meets once a month to discuss school policies and procedures.
Posted on: June 2, 2006.
William Maxcy
Physical Education
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Where he lives: Bradley Beach, New Jersey
Teaching since: 1998
At P.S. 8 since: 2000
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"I am a sports guy," says P.E. teacher Mr. Maxcy, and one doesn't doubt it, looking at his football player's figure. Mr. Maxcy's whistle blows in the P.S. 8 gym all day – except when the room, which is painted in magical Dr. Seuss colors, is converted into a cafeteria during the lunch hours. Every class at P.S. 8 has one period of physical education a week.
"The students here are city kids, so I am introducing new sports that they might not have tried out before," says Mr. Maxcy. "They are getting fit while training their coordination skills."
Depending on grade and level, he focuses on a special unit for a few weeks: this semester he has introduced older students to kickball and basketball; meanwhile, the younger children enjoy using scooters on obstacle courses as well as bowling. In the warm weather months Mr. Maxcy uses the outside court, where he introduces hockey and soccer this year.
Mr. Maxcy taught computers and technology at P.S. 8 during the 2003-2004 school year before turning his attention to matters of the magnet grant, funds awarded to P.S. 8 in 2004 to support its new mission: to offer opportunities for research, exploration, and design. The 2007-2008 school year is his first as the physical education teacher.
Mr. Maxcy's interest in sports is natural, and it extends well beyond P.S. 8. This Yankee fan has been a full-fledged coach for his son's Little League baseball team as well as at a mini basketball team at a Recreation Center in New Jersey, where he lives just a block from the beach.
Posted on: February 13, 2008.
Melissa Merriam
Kindergarten
Rm. 103
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Where she lives: Manhattan
Teaching since: 1998
At P.S. 8 since: 2005
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Ms. Merriam taught as a substitute for K-8 while earning her master's degree in education at Hunter College (something she accomplished in just 18 months) before becoming a full-time kindergarten teacher in 1998. For three years she taught 4- and 5-year-olds at Plymouth Church School, a private nursery school in Brooklyn Heights. A strong part of the kindergarten curriculum at P.S. 8, she says, is the Breakthrough to Literacy program, an introduction to reading that uses "shared reading" books--enlarged-text picture books designed for group reading exercises--computer activities and take-home books to familiarize kids with words and sentence structure. Ms. I is also excited about the regular "publishing parties" that she and the other kindergarten teachers have been hosting and plan to continue throughout the year. These special events, to which parents are invited, give children the opportunity to share their drawings and the stories they have composed to go with them. (Students start by jotting down the first letter of each word of their story; gradually they learn to sound out, and write down, complete words and, in time, complete sentences as captions to the drawings.) When Ms. I isn't teaching, she is often at her second job as a fitness instructor at New York Health & Racquet Club, teaching Pilates, sculpt and spinning classes and working as a personal trainer.
Posted on: December 6, 2005.
Mr. Robert Mikos
Assistant Principal
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Where he lives: Manhattan
Teaching since: 1996
At P.S. 8 since: 2006
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Mr. Mikos is P.S. 8's troubleshooter, and he loves to work to solve tough problems. His history suggests why: He has a track record of 10 years of social counseling and administrative challenges within the Department of Education.
A true New Yorker, Mr. Mikos, who lives in Manhattan with his French Bulldog Casey, started his career as a paralegal for the Manhattan District Attorney, but he soon decided that law school was not for him. He earned a masters degree in multicultural education at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, New York, which was followed by several positions in various middle and high schools. There he worked as an administrator for the drug and violence prevention team and as an attendance teacher, keeping track of children who were at risk of dropping out.
Still, Mr. Mikos missed sharing a positive day-to-day experience with students, which is why he loves being at P.S. 8, where he is with children every day. "For the first time in my career, I am truly happy and satisfied," he says. "I know 95% of the children by name."
Mr. Mikos's first encounter with P.S. 8 was in 2003, when he started helping Mr. Phillips as a counselor. His first impression, he says, was that the school needed work. "I sat down with crying parents, who were trying to get their children away from P.S. 8. And look at us now--people are begging to get in!"
This extraordinary development is sure to be credited in part to Mr. Mikos, who, together with Mr. Phillips, had a vision of a school that goes well beyond the basic reading and writing curriculum. "P.S. 8 is a model for the city; we are not all about test prep. Our philosophy is to explore all the talents of every child, to look at the child as a multifaceted individual."
The focus on art at P.S. 8 is exceptional, and Mr. Mikos is responsible for all the enrichment programs that make the school so special, including the cluster and navigators programs as well as residencies such as the Guggenheim, Marquis Studios, Studio in a School, Bargemusic, Chess for Children, and the Rotunda Gallery.
"What the kids like about me is that I am fair, and I'm still a big kid at heart," Mr. Mikos says proudly, and this pays off when he's working with the troublemakers. But luckily, the tough cases are rare at P.S. 8, and sometimes, you'll find the assistant principal behind the counter in the office or stamping books in the library.
Posted on: February 6, 2008.
Stephanie Parsons
Literacy Coach
K-5th grade
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Stephanie has been running parent workshops at P.S. 8 since 2004, offering ideas on how to get kids excited about reading and writing, and continues to offer these strategy sessions once every couple of months. But in 2006 she took on a greater role as P.S. 8's literacy coach, upping her presence at the school to three days a week and hopping from classroom to classroom. Her job, essentially, is to teach teachers--that is, help them help their students improve their reading skills and their reading comprehension. During a typical classroom visit, Stephanie will conduct a group lesson then work with students one-on-one. "The work the teachers do here is really good," she says. "I'd like to bring top-drawer, cutting-edge methods to their practice." It's important to get kids to engage in a story, she explains, because "comprehension isn't just about remembering what happened--it's also about interpretation and analysis, which are two big words, but which can happen even at a young age."
Stephanie is originally from California. She studied art, photography and sculpture in college, then moved to New York to study acting at David Mamet's school. She later went back to school to get her master's in elementary education at Columbia Teacher's College. She taught 1st grade for four years at P.S. 321. From 2002 to 2006, Stephanie worked as a staff developer for the CTC's Reading and Writing Project. She is the co-author of Poetry: Powerful Thoughts in Tiny Packages (2003) and the author of First Grade Writers: Units of Study to Help Children Plan, Organize, and Structure Their Ideas (2005). She is now working on a book for 2nd-grade teachers. On days when she is not at P.S. 8, she is often traveling to do private consulting work at other school districts in Houston, Portland, Ore., and other cities across the U.S.
Posted on: December 6, 2006.
Mr. Phillips was named Principal of P.S. 8 in May 2003. His mission coming in? "To build a place where people would want to send their children." At the time he arrived, enrollment had dipped down to 245 students. By 2006 it had soared to 428, and New York City Mayor Bloomberg had declared the school a success story and role model.
Mr. Phillips lives with his wife and three children in Cobble Hill, the Brooklyn neighborhood where he grew up. He graduated from Haverford College and earned his master's degree in education at Fordham University. He began his career in education as a classroom teacher in Washington Heights, teaching 1st grade for one year and then 2nd grade for eight years. "I never really planned to be an administrator," Mr. Phillips says, "but after 10 years in the classroom I needed to do something different, to learn in a different environment." He took a job as a staff developer for the Dept. of Education, which entailed visiting struggling schools throughout the city and working directly with teachers to help them to be more effective in the classroom. During that time he earned his certification in school administration.
In 2000, Mr. Phillips became assistant principal at P.S. 94 in Sunset Park. When he was appointed to take the helm at P.S. 8, the District 13 was being reorganized as part of a new Region 8, and Carmen Farina--a vocal champion of P.S. 8 whose own grandchildren were zoned for the school--was the incoming regional supervisor (she was later named Deputy Chancellor and retired in 2006). It was a heady time; prospective parents who had been accustomed to asking, "Is this school right for my kids?" started asking the tour guides at Open House, "How can I be sure that my kid will get in?" The tremendous turn-around--and, notably, the receipt of a three-year magnet grant in 2004--has garnered much media attention for the school, including several articles in the New York Times and other local newspapers, as well as featured spots on ABC's Good Morning America and in local TV news reports.
Mr. Phillips says the coverage has been great, generally speaking, because "it has been so positive" and acknowledges everybody's hard work. But the flip side, of course, is the added pressure that comes with being under a microscope. "We're seen as an example of how a school can turn around," he notes, "but that also raises expectations." All in all, Mr. Phillips says, "I think we've done a pretty good job." He hastens to add: "And I didn't do it alone."
Posted on: December 6, 2006.
Tracey A. Posluszny
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Pre-K through 5th grade
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Where she lives: Carroll Gardens
Teaching since: 2003
At P.S. 8 since: 2003
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Being a successful ESL teacher, Ms. Posluszny says, is about more than just teaching students to speak a new language. It is about helping them adjust to their school environment and feel part of the school community. "Because I am an out-of-classroom teacher, my goals are set specifically around each child," she says. Sometimes that involves in-classroom instruction, known as "push in," in addition to small group or individual work outside the classroom, called "pull out." When a classroom teacher is absent, Ms. Posluszny sometimes serves as the substitute for the day. She earned her bachelor's degree in comparative literature at Bryn Mawr College and is currently studying for her master's degree in the field of T.E.S.O.L (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Long Island University. When she has free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, running, swimming and biking, and in 2004 completed the Five Borough Bike Tour.
Posted on: May 19, 2005.
Ms. Kate Prascher
4th grade CTT
Room 308
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Where she lives: Park Slope
At P.S. 8 since: 2007
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"I love how art-centered P.S.8 is," says Ms. Prascher.
"The focus on drama, dance and music is huge, and this is very central for raising intelligent children."
Ms. Prascher did volunteer work with kids once a week while working for a management agent at a theatrical agency. She realized that that was her favorite part of the week -- and decided to change careers. Having majored in theater acting at Barnard College, she decided to continue her education, and is currently working toward a Master's degree in Teaching Students with Disabilities from Brooklyn College. She is expecting to complete this degree as part of the New York Teaching Fellows program in May 2009.
"There is so much you can do to help kids with special needs really succeed," Ms. Prascher says, calling her co-teaching with Angie Nelson a "professional marriage." "We get along so well, and this way we are a model for good cooperation and teamwork for the kids," she adds. Ms Prascher's creativity does not stop at the school; in her free time, she plays the mandolin and sings in a Tennessee bluegrass band.
Posted on: May 21, 2008.
Mrs. Alicia Rodriguez
Pre-K paraprofessional teacher's assistant
2nd grade
Rm. 101
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Where she lives: Brooklyn Heights
Teaching since: 1987
At P.S. 8 since: 1987-1989, 2000-
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"P.S. 8 is my second home," says Alicia Rodriguez. Mrs. Rodriguez came to Brooklyn Heights from Lima, Peru in 1970. She started college, but "I didn't like homework," she says with a smile, "so I never finished, and with two children of my own it was too hard at the time. I have always enjoyed being with kids, so I applied for a job at P.S. 8, and here I am, 20 years later!"
Mrs. Rodriguez has witnessed many changes at P.S. 8, but she always recalls the strong feeling of belonging to a community. Her own children went to P.S. 8, and next fall her granddaughter will start Pre-K at the school.
Mrs. Rodriguez has been working in Pre-K 110 with Ms. Mariann Levkulic since 2006, and they have formed a strong symbiosis: "We finish each other's sentences," she says. Alicia Rodriguez treats the young children in her class like her own grandchildren, and they sense the loving atmosphere she creates in the classroom. It is her job to help the teacher, easing small children into the rhythm of the school day. She loves reading to them, comforting them, and helping them with little tasks like tying shoes and properly washing their hands. While helping the children with their lunch, Mrs. Rodriguez teaches the little ones some Spanish words. She says, "I am 58 years old now, and I hope to retire from P.S. 8. I feel great; I am a happy person, and that keeps me young."
Posted on: January 24, 2008.
Mrs. Martha Roldan
Pre-K Para-professionalTeacher's Assistant
Room 109
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Where she lives: Brooklyn Heights
Teaching at P.S.8 since: 2005
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"I am a P.S.8 alumna, can you believe it? Mrs. Martin was my music teacher 20 years ago, and today I am her colleague!" says Mrs. Martha with a sparkle in her eyes. The Brooklyn-born and Brooklyn-Heights-raised mother of one now sends her own son to first grade at the school -- bowing deep for the "wonders" Mr. Phillips has achieved for the school.
Martha Roldan assists Mrs. Baretta in Pre-K 109 with all her heart. "I am learning so much from her, she is wonderful," Mrs. Martha says happily. Her focus is on emotional behavior and socialization skills. She loves to draw, and her mermaids are legendary among the Pre-K kids.
Starting off in 2005 subbing for older grades, she finally found her place in the Pre-K classes. She loves to be with the little children. "They give you life!", she beams. She finds Pre-K very beneficial for the young kids and the school because the kids bond strongly early on. It happens frequently that first graders come back to the first floor for a quick hug with their beloved Mrs. Martha.
While working as a paraprofessional, Mrs. Martha is granted a career training scholarship from the DOE to become an elementary school teacher. She is taking undergraduate classes at NY Tech and wishes to go to St. Francis for her B.A. "When I am finally done, I will apply at P.S.8, where else?", she adds with a wink.
Posted on: February 25, 2008.
Julie Ross
2nd grade
Rm. 202
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Where she lives: Bensonhurst
Teaching since: 2003
At P.S. 8 since: 2006
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The professionalism of the P.S. 8 faculty is what Ms. Ross finds most striking about P.S. 8. "The teachers here really care about bettering themselves as teachers," she observes. "It's inspiring." Ms. Ross, who teaches in the 2nd-grade Collaborative Team Teaching classroom with Ms. Jerry, says she became a teacher because she wanted to make a difference. What makes 2nd grade special, she says, is that students at that age and stage are so excited about learning. Ms. Ross studied international business at the University of Central Florida and received her master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Her hobbies include music--she plays the piano--and reading, and on weekends she likes to go to the beach, shop and go out to eat.
Posted on: November 28, 2006.
Carolyn Saffady
1st grade
Rm. 205
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Where she lives: Carroll Gardens
Teaching since: 2004
At P.S. 8 since: 2004
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Ms. Saffady's first-grade classroom is usually teeming with living things--she's had snails, pillbugs, sowbugs and even a Madagascar Hissing Roach. When her first-graders study butterflies, Ms. Saffady has them write butterfly poetry, work butterfly-related math problems, create butterfly art and read Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons and other books. The real butterflies--brought in when they are still caterpillars--are kept in a tunnel-shaped pavilion that hangs from the ceiling lights. It's usually around February or March, Ms. Saffady says, when first-graders reach a new level of self-awareness. "That's when they began to see themselves as active learners, to understand how they learn as individuals," she says. Ms. Saffady earned an undergraduate Fine Arts degree from SUNY Albany, and a master's degree in education from Long Island University. Before she arrived at P.S. 8 as a student teacher in January 2004, she worked as a graphic designer and large-format digital printer. She has two daughters who are P.S. 8 students. "I shifted into education so that I could be with my own children during the day, and I love that they both attend the school," Ms. Saffady says. On weekends, she likes to take her girls to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or to one of New York City's many zoos. But her weekends are busy in other ways too, she adds with a chuckle: "I fold a lot a laundry."
Posted on: May 19, 2005.
Mrs. Julie Schultz
5th grade
Room 304
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Where she lives: Suffolk County, Long Island
Teaching since: 1992
Teaching at P.S.8 since: 2007
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Julie Schultz adores P.S.8 enough to commute two hours to work each way. She lives with her husband, a high school teacher, and their 2 terriers in Suffolk Country and calls the LIRR her second home. She reads and sleeps on the train and does all her prep work.
Ms. Schultz worked at P.S. 148 and P.S. 111 in Queens, before she enrolled in the Department of Education's City Hall Academy, a Lab School for Enrichment and Best Practices for Social and Literacy Studies. For three years she hosted New York city students and teachers, giving them a two-week intensive unit about civic education.
A few years ago, she met a class from P.S.8 that participated in this program. Mrs Schultz immediately felt drawn to them. "The kids were so comfortable with each other and with their teacher," she says. "Of all the schools I had worked with, P.S.8 was at the top of my list." When the City Hall Academy folded, P.S.8 was the first school she applied to. "Here I am, marveling at my luck to be part of this amazing team," she says. Ms. Shultz especially appreciates the cooperative atmosphere among the staff, praising the weekly meetings of the teachers in each grade.
Social studies are Julie Schultz' strength and joy, and this is very obvious when entering her classroom, which is wallpapered with facts about presidents, government, and being a citizen of a democracy. The 5th grade curriculum is all about U.S. government, and Ms. Schultz approaches the topic in a multi-layered way, including arts, music and math. "We even figured out how many minutes it took to write the Declaration of Independence," she says.
Ms. Schultz points out that testing is not a focus at P.S 8. "Good teaching is test prep," she says, explaining her own and Mr. Phillip's approach, adding, "Children graduating from P.S.8 have a very good chance of standing out. They are perfectly prepared for middle school."
Mrs. Schultz majored in English at Ohio State University. While working at a summer camp as an instructor, she realized that teaching was meant for her. She moved to New York in the mid-nineties and received her Masters Degree in Multicultural Education at Mt. Saint Vincent in the Bronx.
Posted on: April 13, 2008.
Kacey Scorza
Kindergarten
Room 102
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Where she lives: Brooklyn Heights
Teaching since: 1999
At P.S.8 since 2006
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![Ms.Scorza]()
Ms. Scorza moved to Brooklyn Heights from Basking Ridge, New Jersey in summer 2007. She has Dual Certification in Elementary Education and Special Education and holds a Master's Degree in Special Education. Ms. Scorza has experience teaching kindergarten, first grade and second grade. "I have a true passion and flair for teaching the younger grades, which is exceeded only by my love of children," she says. As a kindergarten CTT teacher at PS 8, Ms. Scorza believes that kindergarten is a time to experience joy, discovery and wonder. "I thoroughly enjoy the curiosity and eagerness of a young child's mind. Watching their faces light up when they grasp a new concept is what makes my job so very meaningful!"
As a "newbie" to New York City, Ms Scorza enjoys exploring the city in her spare time and trying the wonderful things that city life has to offer, especially the restaurants and all the shopping. In addition, Ms. Scorza is a real theatre buff, taking in a Broadway show whenever she can. You will often find her humming a Broadway tune while walking down the hall.
Ms. Scorza is thrilled to have joined the wonderful group of teachers and families at PS 8 and looks forward to many more successful years to come. "PS 8 is a wonderful place to learn and grow and I'm so pleased to be a part of this community," she says enthusiastically.
Posted on: June 17, 2008.
Mrs. Josette D'Ambrosi Slivinski
Dance Teacher
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Where she lives: Manhattan
Teaching since: 2003
At P.S. 8 since: 2005
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"Putting up a show teaches a lot about life: You focus, you learn teamwork, and by rehearsing you finally present a perfect result, which you get praised for." Mrs. Slivinski sums up the educational value of dance in a nutshell, adding, "The applause builds up self-confidence."
Mrs. D. (an abbreviated maiden name; the kids just never got used to Slivinski) is a real talent, and the kids LOVE her. She inspires their interest in dance by putting together amazing shows in which first graders shine at ballroom dancing or nutcracker ballet moves and second graders perform tap ensembles. But her talents extend far beyond P.S. 8: Mrs. D sings in the USO, auditions for musicals, and hosts a neighborhood journal on a local cable channel. "I love all of that, so why not?" she says with a smile.
Josette Slivinski was born in Brooklyn and attended Stuyvesant High School, where she was strongly involved in what she refers to as the "artsy subjects." She even performed for the pope with her choir. After she went to Boston College to earn her Masters degree in Communications, she turned to advertising for many years, only to realize that she was working too much for too little money and missing out on what she really enjoyed the most: singing and dancing. So her mother, a teacher, encouraged her to start teaching dance part-time. She received her teaching credits through workshops, and was finally certified as a public school teacher. Starting in 2003, she taught dance and physical education at M.S. 447, District 15's Math and Science Exploratory School. Olivia Ellis, PS.8's former assistant principal, saw one of her middle school shows and begged for her to join P.S. 8. Mrs. D. loves the elementary school schedule and enjoys the enthusiastic kids--while reveling in the fact that she still has time and energy for her showbiz life.
Posted on: February 7, 2008.
Ms. Kristen Tolhurst
3rd grade
Room 310
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Where she lives: Fort Greene
Teaching since: 2005
Teaching at P.S.8 since: 2007
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"I had enough of sitting behind desks," decided Kristen Tolhurst after working at the management department of a Pennsylvania theater for one year. She had received her undergraduate degree from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and discovered her love for teaching while visiting neighborhood schools with her theater. She moved to New York to go to Bank Street College for her M.S. in General and Special Education, working at a private school for children with special needs while finishing her studies.
When she graduated in 2007, P.S.8 was the first school at which she interviewed. "Seth called me back after half an hour, and here I am!" she says, excited to be co-teaching with Mr. Jansen in the third grade CTT class. Both use differentiated instruction tailored to the individual needs of the students in the class. Ms Tolhurst especially likes P.S. 8's progressive, child-centered teaching philosophy. With a cooperative staff and confident kids she finds herself always supported and able to support her students.
Ms. Tolhurst loves traveling and languages. She lived in Bologna, Italy for a year as an undergraduate. She loves to combine travel with helping others. This summer she will travel to Hungary with Habitat for Humanity, saying "For 2 weeks I will be a mason! But afterwards I go to Greece to relax in the beach with a friend."
Posted on: April 13, 2008.
Claudia Vecchio
Kindergarten
Rm. 101
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Where she lives: Manhattan, Upper West Side
Teaching since: 2002
At P.S. 8 since: 2006
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"I believe teaching is about guiding students, not dictating," Ms. Vecchio says, "and a little silliness goes a long way." What she finds most rewarding about teaching at P.S. 8 is being part of the community. "The school is such a happy place," she says. "People are friendly and they make you feel appreciated and welcome." Her favorite part of the kindergarten curriculum is Writing Workshop, she says, because it is structured in such a way that she can make her lessons specific to each child. Her favorite time of year? "I love January and February, because the students seem so grown up, and it's when they start to really grasp some of the kindergarten concepts." She continues: "Kindergarten is special in that there is so much social growth and maturing that goes on. This is the year that they start to hear sound and recognize letters, but it is also the year they learn to socially interact." Ms. Vecchio, who attended Southern Methodist University as an undergraduate and received her master's degree from City College of New York, comes from a family of teachers--her mother, aunt and uncle all teach. Her hobbies include swimming, reading and playing Scrabble; on weekends she likes to clean ("weird, I know," she jokes), hike and spend time with friends.
Posted on: November 28, 2006.
