Click on the Links Below to View Previous District Letters
| Winter 2018 Letter |
| Fall 2017 Letter |
| June 2017 Letter |
| Spring 2017 Letter |
Embracing Possibilities in 2016-2017 |
Winter 2017
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What do you want to be when you grow up? |
Which question best prepares our students
for the 21st century? 
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What problem do you want to solve? |
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I don't know how it happened, but one day I had a problem. I didn't want it. I didn't ask for it. I really didn't like having a problem, but it was there. -Kobi Yamada |
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It is with this presentation of a problem that Kobi Yamada opens his book What Do You Do With a Problem? As What Do You Do With an Idea served as the anchor for our goals in SY 2015-2016, we chose this book as the closing framer of our September Principals + Assistant Principals meeting because of the continued progression of thinking it represented for our work. Problems "challenge us, shape us, push us, and help us to discover how strong and brave and capable we really are. Even though we don't always want them, problems have a way of changing us in unexpected ways." Such is the core charge of our work as a district team: education is challenging work, and problems arise. Left to their own devices, problems can fester and prevent us from providing the children of this district the experiences they deserve. However, in helping our schools to define and engage with problems in constructive, positive ways, we bring out the very best in ourselves and those around us.
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At the start of the year we could not have imagined the depth and richness of experience we have had over the past few months as we have guided students, teachers, parents, and administrators through the surfacing of, and engagement with the problems they face. In many ways this work has aligned to the S.T.E.A.M. framework we have for our work as a team. As we approach the midpoint of the school year, it's important for us to take stock of our work to-date, highlight our success, as well as pause and contemplate what our next steps are with this work to ensure that it continues to be in service of our district's essential questions and core values of fairness, presence, process, support, and trust.
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Scan the World for Problems
Test Solutions Embrace Possibilities, And Make a Difference in the World |
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Scan the World for Problems
We launched our September by challenging school leaders to think deeply about their individual school's data and the implications it had for the direction of their work for the year, and identify priority areas for deeper inquiry. Anchored to our core value of support, we revised the structures for our Principal and Assistant Principal meetings so that our leaders could have dedicated time to think deeply about priority areas and collaborate on solutions with peers and experts from the District Team and the Queens North Field Support Center. These new Professional Learning Communities have already met three times and we are very excited to begin to see the impact of this work on student experience in 2017! Sometimes in order for us to have meaningful conversations about student experiences in our district we have to get out of the office and into the classroom to participate in shared experiences that foster rich conversations. Building off of the success of previous years, we are proud to say that this year 100% of district principals are participating in our Collaborative Rounds structure. Anchored to our core value of process, these are inquiry based, collaborative sessions designed to support principals in improving student achievement. In small groups, school leaders have been meeting to discuss and solve challenges through learning walks. |
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Test Solutions
SPOILER ALERT: Kobi Yamada's protagonist in What Do You Do With a Problem? makes the decision to engage his problem head on, and in turn learns many beautiful things about himself in the process. Central to this journey of discovery is the space and time he affords himself to wrestle with the critical issues surrounding his problem so he can design the right, best solution. For the first time in District 26, we have a space for Teacher Team Leaders to meet to think deeply about what it means to grapple with problems of practice. In a similar fashion we are excited at the initial progress that has been made by the participants in three of our teacher-facing initiatives anchored to supporting collaborative teachers and rigorous instruction. Eve Sci (PS 186) and Stephanie Famoso (PS 46) are leading a Pre-Kindergarten Professional Learning Series where participants are splitting their time between a book study and collaborative planning. Taso Lampoutis (MS 67) is facilitating an Interschool STEM Collaborative where he is leveraging the momentum surrounding STEM and a partnership with the Queens North Field Support Center to support schools as they craft their school's STEM Vision and Mission. Richard Schaffer (MS 74) has already met twice with his second cohort of teachers hungry to learn more about designing Project Based Learning experiences so that students can begin to experience problems in safe, collaborative spaces. |
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Embrace Possibilities
It is with great pride that we are able to report that 100% of District 26 schools hosted or participated in an event in support of Computer Science Education Week. On the CSEdWeek website, only seven NYCDOE events citywide were flagged as "Special Events;" of those seven, three (PS 31, PS 162, and Bayside High) were in District 26! Shifting to a problem-based approach to learning requires us to be open to the unknown, and central to this new reality is ensuring that parents feel supported in their engagement with the children in this modern world. Anchored to our core values of trust and presence, our office has been working alongside school-based parent coordinators to provide spaces for parents to deepen their understanding of the impact of technology on both their experience in school, as well as the effect it is having on their development. In December we hosted a screening of the film Screenagers followed by a panel discussion. We were floored when we counted over 400 community members present at the event! |
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Make a Difference in the World
While we will have to wait until the end of the year to truly know the impact of our work this year, we are seeing early returns where we are anchoring our work to the core value of presence. We want to take a moment to highlight three initiatives that are in their second year, which are instilling district stakeholders with the skill set to lead us in the 21st century. When you visited our schools this fall, you might have noticed a small plastic box like this sitting on the counter. Our second year of the Student Leadership Program is up and running. Assistant Principals Denise Gilrane (PS 173) and Karen Strauzer (PS 221) have been creating the space for Fifth and Eighth Grade Student Council Presidents to meet on a regular basis to deepen their understanding and leadership skill sets anchored to the following characteristics: Commitment, Communication, and Character. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to them as well as the student council liaisons, who are going above and beyond in their support of students as they partner with the Ronald McDonald House for this year's district-wide project. As we are developing students for future leadership roles. We have been equally as committed to cultivating adult leaders within our district. The second cohort of the Aspiring Leadership Program met for its launch session in December. Melissa Corbett, June Dunn, and Calia Kelly (all MS 158) are at the lead of cadre of assistant principals who are excited about cultivating the presence and leadership voices of teacher leaders. Aspiring teachers are in the process of planning their year-long projects back at their home school that will enhance and grow their own leadership skill set. Similarly, our third cohort of the District Aspiring Principal Series has been meeting to deepen their understanding of the demands of being the leader of a school, and the importance of defining the core values that will serve as their anchors as they seek to make the world a better place. |
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STEAMing into 2017
"Every problem has an opportunity for something good," is the closing message for What Do You Do With A Problem?, and we can think of no better way to frame all of the opportunities we are excited about as we sail into another calendar year. January begins with a focus on College Awareness, stay on the lookout for events that link approaches to problem solving with college awareness and readiness. Across the upcoming winter and spring, we are thrilled to deepen our Professional Learning Community work with our Principal and Assistant Principals as they explore how priority areas-- English Langauge Learners, Formative Assessment, Math, Students with Disabilities, Supportive Environment, STEM Integration, and Writing-- can serve as opportunities for them to discover the greatness that is present in the teachers and support staff inside of our schools. Additionally, we are excited to deepen our understanding of the critical thinking skills through our partnership with Learner Centered Initiatives. |
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Last but not least: for decades we've had the pithy motto of 26 [K-8] schools in District 26; but just as the 6 has turned into a 7 on the calendar, so will the 6 turn into a 7 in the number of schools we support in our district! Construction is moving right along on PS 376 and it is on schedule to open its doors in September of this year. We've added a page dedicated exclusively to its progress-- check it out!
As we continue our voyage together, we look forward to hearing from all of you about the great work taking place in our schools and community. By far, the best way to stay in the loop-- and the best way to keep us in the loop-- is to follow us and engage with the District Team on Twitter.
Wishing you all the best in 2017,
Danielle Giunta, Superintendent, and the District 26 Team
As we continue our voyage together, we look forward to hearing from all of you about the great work taking place in our schools and community. By far, the best way to stay in the loop-- and the best way to keep us in the loop-- is to follow us and engage with the District Team on Twitter.
Wishing you all the best in 2017,
Danielle Giunta, Superintendent, and the District 26 Team
Welcome Back!
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September 2016
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For our children, summer is a time to expand their minds and explore new opportunities. Our district team had the joy and benefit of seeing so many of our students doing these things through their participation in the Hawthorne Summer Program at MS 74 and Summer in the City programs at PS 46 and MS 158. For the adults in our community, summer is a time for rest, relaxation, and reflection. Our work during the year is meaningful, and we are only at our best when we allow ourselves the opportunity to unplug, if only for a short while. We hope that you have made the most of your time and that you are as ready as we are to jump back into the powerful and important work we have ahead of us.
By the Numbers: A Deeper Look at District Data
“Excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey that never ends.”
- Brian Tracy
Channeling this quote, the work we all do to ensure the students in our charge receive the highest quality educational experience in the city is ongoing. Critical to this journey, is taking time in the summer to conduct a deeper review of the outcomes of the previous year, so that our work in the upcoming year can be focused on ensuring that all students have access to the very best of ourselves.
Over half of K-8 schools in District 26 were identified as Reward Schools by New York State for the 2016-2017 school year.
As a district, we have the highest percentage of students in the city who are proficient in Math and the second-highest percentage of students who are proficient in ELA. When combining average scores for our students in ELA and Math, 100% of our schools are in the top quartile of schools in the city.
While our performance is commendable—truly a testament to the dedication of all members of our community—we still have work to do to ensure that ALL students are able to access and demonstrate proficiency on assessments which will prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow.
This past year we did well to improve our community’s satisfaction in the area of strong family and community ties, and we must now build on that foundation to ensure that all stakeholders in our district feel their voices are heard with agency as we engage with our work. To this end, I encourage you to make your voice heard. There are several channels within your community to involve yourself in our mission. We didn’t come this far only to go this far; we welcome you as an equal partner in this endeavor.
New Faces in Familiar Places
In our end-of-year letter, we wished a fond farewell and happy retirement to Kathleen Sciortino (PS 115) and Marie Nappi (MS 158). Over the summer, Zoi McGrath (MS 67) joined Kathleen and Marie in retirement; thank you, Zoi, for your years of service to the children of District 26.
It is with great pride that we are able to share two of our principals—Jennifer Ambert (PS/IS 178) and Nicole Scott (PS/IS 266)—have been asked to become the newest members of the Office of Leadership, where they will use their strong, positive experiences from leading our district to develop the next generation of principals in our city. While we celebrate their career progression, it is bittersweet that they will no longer be leading the communities they were so active in making great.
The collective greatness of the five leaders mentioned above has made a deep and profound impact on the children of our district. As we move forward with our work, we would do well to carry with us all that we have learned from their time with us. Nowhere is this more relevant than within the communities they served, and we are incredibly excited to introduce to you the five new leaders that have been selected to carry the torch in these schools:
Join us in wishing them all the best as they begin their leadership journey in our district!
Our schools are not the only teams gaining new personnel. We are equally excited to announce that our district team is growing as well. We want to introduce you to Maria Lam, who has joined us as a Teacher Team Leader through the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality. Teacher Team Leaders are skilled or “expert” teacher leaders with experience providing developmental support for other teacher leaders and emerging teacher leaders. Ms. Lam will serve as a member of the district team, working with teacher leaders within schools to cultivate communities of practices and support your school and our district vision for teacher leadership. Welcome, Maria!
What anchors you in your work?
Every September brings with it great energy and the boundless promise of starting anew. One of the biggest challenges we face across the year is sustaining the momentum we create in these early days. This is no different for us on the district team. This summer we have grappled with two key questions:
Over half of K-8 schools in District 26 were identified as Reward Schools by New York State for the 2016-2017 school year.
As a district, we have the highest percentage of students in the city who are proficient in Math and the second-highest percentage of students who are proficient in ELA. When combining average scores for our students in ELA and Math, 100% of our schools are in the top quartile of schools in the city.
While our performance is commendable—truly a testament to the dedication of all members of our community—we still have work to do to ensure that ALL students are able to access and demonstrate proficiency on assessments which will prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow.
This past year we did well to improve our community’s satisfaction in the area of strong family and community ties, and we must now build on that foundation to ensure that all stakeholders in our district feel their voices are heard with agency as we engage with our work. To this end, I encourage you to make your voice heard. There are several channels within your community to involve yourself in our mission. We didn’t come this far only to go this far; we welcome you as an equal partner in this endeavor.
New Faces in Familiar Places
In our end-of-year letter, we wished a fond farewell and happy retirement to Kathleen Sciortino (PS 115) and Marie Nappi (MS 158). Over the summer, Zoi McGrath (MS 67) joined Kathleen and Marie in retirement; thank you, Zoi, for your years of service to the children of District 26.
It is with great pride that we are able to share two of our principals—Jennifer Ambert (PS/IS 178) and Nicole Scott (PS/IS 266)—have been asked to become the newest members of the Office of Leadership, where they will use their strong, positive experiences from leading our district to develop the next generation of principals in our city. While we celebrate their career progression, it is bittersweet that they will no longer be leading the communities they were so active in making great.
The collective greatness of the five leaders mentioned above has made a deep and profound impact on the children of our district. As we move forward with our work, we would do well to carry with us all that we have learned from their time with us. Nowhere is this more relevant than within the communities they served, and we are incredibly excited to introduce to you the five new leaders that have been selected to carry the torch in these schools:
- Brian Annello, IA, MS 67
- Danielle LaPorte, IA, PS 115
- Henry Schandel, IA, MS 158
- Jessica Cruz, IA, PS/IS 178
- Christina Catalano, IA, PS/IS 266
Join us in wishing them all the best as they begin their leadership journey in our district!
Our schools are not the only teams gaining new personnel. We are equally excited to announce that our district team is growing as well. We want to introduce you to Maria Lam, who has joined us as a Teacher Team Leader through the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality. Teacher Team Leaders are skilled or “expert” teacher leaders with experience providing developmental support for other teacher leaders and emerging teacher leaders. Ms. Lam will serve as a member of the district team, working with teacher leaders within schools to cultivate communities of practices and support your school and our district vision for teacher leadership. Welcome, Maria!
What anchors you in your work?
Every September brings with it great energy and the boundless promise of starting anew. One of the biggest challenges we face across the year is sustaining the momentum we create in these early days. This is no different for us on the district team. This summer we have grappled with two key questions:
- What are our core values?
- What are the essential questions that will frame our work for the year?
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On the surface these seem like simple enough questions to answer, but the more you think and talk about them the more you realize how complex they actually are. Inspiration for our conversations came in the form of the book I’ll Catch You if You Fall, by Mark Sperring and Layn Marlow. The inset of the book aptly captures the relevance of this work: “[t]his is a reassuring story about a journey. It is for anyone who has wondered, who will keep me safe? and for anyone who has answered, “I will.” In this sense, our collective core values: process, presence, and trust, anchor our ship in the storm, and our essential questions serve as the stars that will guide us in this work:
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As we start the year, we are hopeful that you will meet with your core team—whether that’s your family, your School Leadership Team, your department team, or community-based support group—and identify which key questions and values are going to serve as the anchor for your work so that you know, just as in I’ll Catch You if You Fall, who or what is your star that will, “guide [your] boat over the foaming waves, and through the storm, into the little harbor, and all the way home.”
Every year brings new faces, new places, new opportunities, and new challenges. As we navigate this year together, know that we are here for you in service of the students of this district. One of our offices key partnerships in this work is the Community District Education Council. CDEC 26 meetings are open to the public, and they get at the heart of the big issues we confront as a district. Nowhere is this more evident than at our September CDEC Meeting, where we will be hosting a Town Hall with Chancellor Carmen Fariña at MS 74 on Tuesday, September 27th at 6:30.
We hope to see you there. In the interim, here’s to another year of excellence in education in District 26!
Sincerely,
Danielle Giunta, Superintendent, and the District 26 Team
Every year brings new faces, new places, new opportunities, and new challenges. As we navigate this year together, know that we are here for you in service of the students of this district. One of our offices key partnerships in this work is the Community District Education Council. CDEC 26 meetings are open to the public, and they get at the heart of the big issues we confront as a district. Nowhere is this more evident than at our September CDEC Meeting, where we will be hosting a Town Hall with Chancellor Carmen Fariña at MS 74 on Tuesday, September 27th at 6:30.
We hope to see you there. In the interim, here’s to another year of excellence in education in District 26!
Sincerely,
Danielle Giunta, Superintendent, and the District 26 Team