New York City educators, including the recently appointed chancellor, visited Bronx River High School to learn more about the school’s successful literacy initiatives. During the Literacy Showcase on Oct. 29, teachers, administrators and educational leaders from Districts 8, 10 and 11 visited classrooms to watch the students and teachers in action. During the afternoon, they interacted with students representing the school’s English, debate, reading, ESL and newspaper programs. Teachers in these programs also shared their strategies during a panel discussion.
The literacy interventions impressed Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who once worked on the Lehman campus. “It was exactly the type of best practice we want to lift up and share more broadly across our schools,’’ she wrote in an email to Principal Greg Fucheck, who shared his vision for literacy at the event. “I very much appreciate you taking the time to show us around, and I look forward to seeing all that you and your team achieve this school year!’’
During the event, students served as guides, taking the visitors to different classrooms. Jaribie Santos, a visiting special education teacher, liked the school’s climate. “I have seen students work independently and build up collaboratively,’’ she said. “Students work together cooperatively and get their needs accommodated too. Teachers assist and it shows a lot of school culture.”
Micheal Adler, a visitor from the district, liked the energy in the classrooms. “The amount of attention every student was receiving from the teacher was also really strong,’’ he said.
Michelle Wertman, an English teacher at Lehman High School, said the teaching “exemplifies how using scaffold and peer instruction can engage all learners and get them where they are at.’’
