“Every room here is full of love and support, which is so much more than what most schools ever offer.”
Get to know us! We’re happy to present the third in a series of mini-interviews with the fabulous faculty, staff and board that make a difference every day at Bronx Academy of Letters.
In his own words, here is Greg Leitao, Asst. Principal at Bronx Academy of Letters.
What do you believe in?
I believe in a school being more than just an academic building. The content that is taught to students is, of course, necessary; however, what is most important is who they are when they are walking across the graduation stage. Can they think critically about the world around them? Are they able to cope with and troubleshoot any challenges that they face? Do they have the ability to not only speak their mind but listen to others as well? In short: are they aiming to better the world? These are skills that can often be discarded or postponed in favor of keeping up with a new curriculum - but schools need to not only create strong students, but strong individuals as well.
What inspires you?
As cliché as this sounds my answer is - and always will be - the youth. My first year as a teacher I struggled with if it was the right choice for me, and if it wasn’t for my students that year I’m not sure where I would be today. My interactions with them and the things that they taught me completely shook my way of thinking while opening my eyes and mind further than I thought possible - they are the sole reason I decided that this was my ideal career path. Being able to watch hundreds and hundreds of individuals find themselves and make their marks on our society is the most inspiring thing imaginable, and I continue to be amazed at the brilliance, passion, and joy that young people bring into my life and that of others each day.
What do you love about Bronx Letters?
There is something to be said about the fact that, although it is not perfect, there is a deep sense of love and stability at BAL that keeps people coming back time and time again. Each year we have students who have moved or transferred reach out asking to return and frequently our newly hired staff mention that BAL feels unlike any other school they have worked in. I don’t know if it is possible to pinpoint what it is that causes this phenomenon, but it is palpable on a daily basis. A simple example is how often there is laughter and celebration in the halls or after school; however, just as often there is frustration, pain, tears, etc. This is clearly a place where people feel safe enough to open up and feel any and all types of emotions - myself included. Every room here is full of love and support, which is so much more than what most schools ever offer. Because of this sense of connection and trust, the BAL community is more than a school: it is a family. A somewhat dysfunctional family made up of hundreds of people, but a family nonetheless. All in all, I guess what I love about Bronx Letters is that it feels like I wake up each morning so that I can come home for the day.
How can education change the world?
The world can only be changed once people are actually educated about the world itself. It is very difficult to make a change in something that you are unaware of, which is where education comes in. As students learn more about what is happening around the world and their own roles in it, they can begin to formulate what their own mission will be as an agent of change. Just as important is that through these discussions educators can expand their own worldview and continually adjust what their role looks like as well. In short: education can change the world by revealing to people what it is that needs changing (and where/how to start).
How can one person make a difference?
One person is never going to go out and change the world single handedly (unless there is some magical, all-powerful button that I am unaware of). What a person can do, however, is to try to better the lives of those around them. Even the tiniest gestures towards one another help to create more understanding, more compassion, and a brighter future. The MTA voiceover often reminds us that caring is contagious. For once, shockingly, I agree with the MTA.
What’s your biggest dream?
I have had many dreams throughout my life: working in animation, making it big in Hollywood, becoming a marine biologist, going to space (that one is still there, to be honest). I think at the end of the day my all-encompassing dream has to simply be that people are more compassionate towards one another. So many of the issues in our world today stem from hatred, ignorance, or apathy. People taking the time to listen to one another and allowing themselves to feel empathy would solve so many of the issues we face - so my dream is that the students I see each day lead their generation to be better than those before them
What’s a “fun fact” about yourself?
A fun fact about myself is that I have a deep love for music. Growing up I played numerous instruments and was a part of multiple musical groups - in fact, the music department of my high school is by far the thing that got me to where I am today! Although I do not play as often any more, music is still an important part of my daily life. Each day I either am listening to new music, attending a new concert, or utilizing lyrics and beats into my teaching. I think that music, particularly hip-hop, is one of the greatest ways to express all of the things that the above questions are asking.