10 Reasons We Love Our Teachers
Jackie Albers – May 3, 2016
During Teacher Appreciation Week, we give a special thanks to all our amazing educators who go above and beyond for our scholars.
How a Cardboard Box Brought Boston Into My Classroom
Amanda Levy – April 26, 2016
But my scholars didn’t have to leave Harlem to take in Boston’s historic sites. For this field study, they used virtual reality viewers — simple devices made of cardboard that work with a smartphone and let users experience an immersive, three-dimensional environment.
Thank you – from a former Bronx 1 Teacher
Eva Moskowitz – April 12, 2016
It’s wonderful to hear from former staff. Thank you, Ms. Gaines, for taking the time to write me and share your thoughts — and thank you for the contribution you made at SA and are now making in Tennessee.
Thank You For Teaching With Love and Patience — You Deserve an Award
Jacqueline Mitchell – March 8, 2016
I am one of the many parents who are in full support of Success Academy and its teachers.
How A Teacher Turned Disappointment Into Triumph For One Scholar
Isha Rodriguez-Aviles – March 7, 2016
I would like to see the Times spend a few days at Success Academy Williamsburg, where my daughter attends fourth grade, so a reporter could see the magic that happens there daily.
After Leaving to Serve His Country, Teacher Returns to Say Thank You
Brenda Gonzalez – February 22, 2016
Our school has not been the same since Chris took his leave of absence in December, but we were thrilled that he returned Feb. 19, even if for only one day.
What You Don’t Know About Success Academy Pre-K
Geri Seder – February 10, 2016
When I sat down for our first pre-k teacher training session, I was thrilled to learn that, instead, we would be borrowing the best concepts from many different programs to mix together a set of principles, goals, and plans that perfectly matched our vision.
Let’s Go, H4, Let’s Go!
Brianna O'Sullivan – January 7, 2016
I love sharing the joy I found when I was a cheerleader, so when I came to SA Harlem 4, I asked my principal, Mr. Loskoch, if I could start a cheer squad for third and fourth grade girls — and I was so thrilled when he said yes!
Game On! What Happens When Kindergarteners Play Board Games
Meredith Didlake – December 17, 2015
The brainchild of founder Eva Moskowitz, Gamesday is new this year and happens at all Success Academy elementary schools every Wednesdays: Blokus in kindergarten, Monopoly in first and second grade, and Settlers of Catan in third and fourth grades.
Labsite Educators Take Teaching to a Whole New Level
Tara Stant – December 7, 2015
Success Academy labsite teachers are our best of the best—teachers who mentor and model best practices for their peers.
What I Learned from My Mentor Teacher
Success Academy – November 13, 2015
At Success Academy, new teachers — known as associate teachers — receive constant coaching and support from experienced teachers and leaders. We asked former associate teachers to reflect on their first year teaching alongside a lead teacher — an experienced educator — and to share what they learned that helped them improve and become strong lead teachers this year.
Teacher Voices: Ending Inequality Starts in the Classroom
Meghan Mackay – September 21, 2015
Of all the schools, programs, and clubs I have played and coached for, Success Academy is the perfect marriage of a vision I can fully stand behind and practices that allow me to maximize the potential of every person I interact with.
Reprogramming Gender and Racial Stereotypes — One Line of Code at a Time
Kandace Ferguson – September 18, 2015
In the spring of 2014, I was visiting the New York Hall of Science in Queens when I came across a group of third graders in blue and orange uniforms. They were so excited to be exploring the museum.
Ending Inequality Starts in the Classroom
Meghan Mackay – September 18, 2015
When I first started teaching, two words bounced around my head hourly: “achievement” and “gap.”
When You Think You See a Good Move, Look for a Better One
Taylor McGraw – September 14, 2015
In the months leading up to the U.S. Chess Federation National Elementary Championship in May, 13 of my chess students at Success Academy Harlem North West kicked their training into high gear.
Finding Joy in the Struggle: My Quest to Run the NYC Marathon
Laura Drechsel – August 31, 2015
I have always wanted to run a marathon, even though I am not exactly a long-distance runner. Before I began training, I had never run more than six miles at a time. I am a former college athlete and gravitate toward physical challenges, but the marathon is my Mt. Everest.
In T School, I Reconnected as a Learner
Katie Crouch – August 26, 2015
When I started teacher training at Success Academy this summer, I did not know what to expect.
A Real Test of Personal Strength
Claire Bartkus – August 20, 2015
In middle school, the state tests were Kayla’s Mt. Everest — seemingly unscalable twin peaks of math and English. Even thinking about the tests made her anxious; for two years straight, she had not passed either state test. Eighth grade — the last year of mandated state testing — was her final opportunity to shine.
Welcome to Success! What Every New Teacher Should Know
Success Academy – August 20, 2015
To help new teachers adjust to their first year here, we asked eight returning teachers to share one piece of advice they wished someone had given them when they started teaching at Success Academy. Here is what they said:
A Chess Legend Gives Advice to His Former Students, Now Teachers
Dakim Vanterpool – August 14, 2015
Three lessons that extend beyond chess and can inform every teacher’s practice.
Aboard Sailboats, Scholars See Math in Action
Denae Howard – June 15, 2015
For three days at the end of May, two dozen seventh-grade scholars from three Success Academy middle schools — Harlem East, Harlem West, and Harlem Central — traveled to Oyster Bay, L.I., to study marine biology, ecosystems, winds, tides, and sailing at the Waterfront Center.
2015 Success Academy Teacher Excellence Awards
Eva Moskowitz – June 10, 2015
I am especially pleased to recognize the 24 winners of this year’s Success Academy Teacher Excellence Awards for their outstanding work and deep commitment to the highest standards of excellence.
Guest Post: Why Success Academy Charter Schools are So Successful
Steve Leinwand – June 5, 2015
I usually don’t visit Capitol Hill to see great teaching and learning. But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go to the Hill recently and observe Success Academy math teacher Dana Adnopoz masterfully deliver a lesson on proportional reasoning to a group of fifth graders.
For This Art Show, It Took a Community
Holly Relyea – June 3, 2015
For the art show, we invited school staff and families into our art studio to see the hundreds of art pieces that our first graders produced this year. In addition to painting their community portraits, our young artists created collages with geometric shapes, built their own dream playground using recycled materials like cardboard and straws, created monotype symmetrical prints, and made paintings of a special memory to tell a story.