On Thursday, June 3, I met, on zoom, with four New York City elementary school principals so that they could reflect on their challenges these past 15 months and on their hopes for the year ahead.
Bob Groff is principal of P.S. 244 in Flushing,Queens. Dana Rappaport is principal at P.S. 234 in Tribeca, Manhattan. Gabriel Feldberg is principal of the progressive public school that was started by Deborah Meier in the 1970’s, Central Park East One, in Harlem, Manhattan and Julie Cavanagh became principal, during the pandemic, of P.S 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
I initially presented to the four of them a list of challenges school leaders might have faced. It turns out that I only touched the tip of the iceberg!
Thank goodness we have these dedicated men and women to navigate the schools and care for the children, teachers and families who have, in all different manners, been traumatized living through this pandemic.
Renee,
A great look into the mysterious ‘non-working’ of the DOE- during the overnight switch to virtual. I have been wondering about how they magicked it-
I thought as much, but hearing this panel confirms the image I had of the Mayor and DOE throwing it into the laps of the principals, and hightailing it away as fast as they could.
Thanks Renee., your valuable work continues.
M