For about two years, she explained, from 2011 to 2013, she worked side by side with Petrides teachers and staff in the middle grades on curriculum development and model lessons, particularly in social studies.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Teachers and staff at the Michael J. Petrides School got a big "A" for appreciation, from none other than the city's top teacher, Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, who paid an informal call on the school Tuesday to mark national "Teacher Appreciation Day."
"Happy Teacher Appreciation Day," she said, as she entered the school's main building on the Sunnyside campus and got a hug from several waiting teachers and principal Joanne Buckheit. "You know this is one of my favorite schools; I spent a lot of time here," she said.
For about two years, she explained, from 2011 to 2013, she worked side by side with Petrides teachers and staff in the middle grades on curriculum development and model lessons, particularly in social studies.
The visit Tuesday served to underscore her emphasis as chancellor, on professional development and collaborative learning. She cited Petrides as a model school for collaborative learning. "Ideal learning only happens when people talk to each other and share ideas," she said.
Accompanied by Mrs. Buckheit and Kamillah Hanks, Borough President Oddo's appointee to the city's Panel on Educational Policy, the chancellor wasted no time going right to the classrooms, visiting two sixth-grade classes, as well as two high school-level classes, in social studies, math and English.
She popped in on a class of high school juniors in the Petrides Humanities Academy, and was pleased by the interdisciplinary, collaborative approach taken by teachers Phil Gagliano and David Olah, combining social studies and language arts and reading. The class has spent much of the semester learning and discussing the Cold War, Mrs. Buckheit explained. "There's such a bond between these kids and their teachers," the principal added.
Chancellor Farina sat for a brief interview for the student newspaper, "Paw Print," and was grilled by editor Thomas Lynch, a high school senior, who asked about her "vision" for the school system. Again she emphasized her vision for "collaborative" teaching and learning, so that "all schools will be places of learning" and "achievement will go up."
Ideally, she said, "I want to bring joy back to the classrooms. I want teachers to love teaching; principals to love their jobs, and students who want to come to school in the morning."
On her way out, she sat around the conference table munching cookies with teachers. "Your success is my success. Who thought I'd be here. I'm really glad you've been so successful in sharing what you know. I give you all the credit, you're out there doing the work," Chancellor Farina said, as she accepted a bouquet of flowers on her way out the door, promising she'll return.
Chancellor Farina has been on Staten Island more than a dozen times since she was appointed in January, visiting schools and meeting privately with borough elected officials, teachers and principals, as well as presiding at a meeting of the Panel for Educational Policy in February, and hosting a Town Hall meeting two weeks ago for parents and the education community.