BAL Teacher Mohammad Ahmad Receives Prestigious Award

 The Bronx Letters Foundation is proud to announce that high school teacher Mohammad Ahmad has been selected to receive a Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award from Amazon. Mr. Ahmad is one of only 10 teachers across the country who were chosen out of a candidate pool of thousands. The award prize is valued at over $50,000 for our school and couldn't come at a better time.

Mr. Ahmad has been at BAL for four years and teaches AP Computer Science, Algebra 2, and Arabic to our high schoolers. Said Mr. Ahmad, "It is a privilege to be selected for this award. Growing up, I didn't see many faces like mine in education, whether they were male or a person of color. I grew up in a single-parent, low-income, household. Although my mother got creative and made sure to provide us with resources or alternative resources to broaden our horizons, not all families are as privileged. I started teaching to make an impact on the lives of all students, to be an ally to students of color who often don't see themselves reflected in the staff of their schools, and to try to broaden the horizons of those students who might not have access to the same resources as those from higher income families."

This was Amazon’s first year of the Future Engineer Teacher Award program. According to Amazon, all 10 winners work “diligently to help students in underserved and underrepresented communities build life-changing skills to propel their futures in computer science.”

"Teachers are beloved in communities across the country, and we are excited to celebrate their hard work, passion, and commitment to their students' future success," said Jeff Wilke, CEO, Amazon Worldwide Consumer. "Computer science skills will be of vital importance as we take on and solve the challenges of the future.”

Award recipients were chosen based on a variety of criteria, which included their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within computer science education, a recommendation from a school administrator, and compelling, personal anecdotes about their school and students.

Each of the ten award-winning teachers received a prize package valued at over $50,000 to be used to benefit his or her school and students. In addition to the contest’s original $25,000 award, Amazon is donating an additional $25,000 in school supplies, including Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablets, classroom essentials from AmazonBasics, and additional items from Amazon Essentials. In their Amazon Future Engineer swag box, award recipients also received one full year of Amazon Music Unlimited and a 12-month Audible.com Gold Gift Membership. In this inaugural year of the award, Amazon is also recognizing each of the hundreds of applicants with a $200 Amazon gift card to celebrate their hard work on behalf of computer science students across the country.

It's Teacher Appreciation Week: Meet Rachana Patel!

Meet our fabulous science teacher Rachana Patel! It's Teacher Appreciation Week and we couldn't be more grateful. Especially in these challenging days, we are thankful for the passion, talent and dedication of Miss Patel and the whole Bronx Letters teaching team. Our students are lucky!

I was happy to have had the opportunity to speak with her this week, given her busy schedule— to learn more about her personally and get an up-to-the-minute read on how on-line learning is going for our community, now in its 8th week. Read more of our discussion here. -Kristina Bicher, Executive Director

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Our very beloved RACHANA PATEL misses her students: “Being with them in person gave me more motivation than I realized!”

This Long Island native is in her sixth year at BAL and currently teaches Living Environment to 9th graders as well as Regents prep for grades 10-12.

Echoing accounts by other staff and teachers, BAL hit the ground running when schools were closed in March, thanks to the smarts and organizational skills of Erin Garry, our principal. “That first Sunday, we were so ready to go,” said Rachana.

As the weeks have progressed, teachers have been tweaking such things as the optimal amount of classroom screen time and the right mix and format of classroom assignments. They’ve gotten better at planning and how to maximize the effective use of technology.

What’s key to BAL’s success is teamwork.  Rachana talked about how the teachers regularly share best practices and how their interactions are structures. The school has set up grade teams, department teams and social-emotional oriented teams that are in regular contact so that the full range of students’ needs are addressed.

 What have been the surprises? Says Rachana, “Remote learning has taught us a lot. Our teaching practices were always innovative in order to reach our students.  But now everyone has to raise their game, be more 21st century.”

 While BAL students have had foundation-funded laptops for several years, they weren’t always fully utilized.  Students have now gained more confidence and familiarity with their devices which will persist and can be built upon going forward.

What drew her to teaching? As a biology and psychology major in college, Rachana was planning on going to medical school.  But after a stint with Teach for America, she fell in love with teaching.  “I love science,” Rachana said, “but my passion is for teaching-- interacting with the kids, connecting.” Right away, she seemed to have a knack for behavior management, even with middle schoolers which can be a tricky age.  Over her career, she has taught math, biology and forensics to middle and high school students 

I asked her what makes Bronx Letters so special and she was quick to answer, “a sense of community and collaboration.  We all have each other’s backs, personally.  And it’s not like that in a lot of schools.  Bronx Letters feels like a family.”

We Are Bronx Letters! Meet Jennifer Barth

“Education is everything.”

Get to know us! We’re happy to present the next 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 her own words, here is Jennifer Barth, Board Member, Bronx Letters Foundation.

What do you believe in?

equality

What inspires you?

excellence and integrity and creativity

What do you love about Bronx Letters?

the energy, the students, and the teachers

How can education change the world?

Education is everything..

How can one person make a difference?

By speaking up, and leading.

What's your biggest dream?

That one day all children will have access to the same educational opportunities.

What's a "fun fact" about yourself?

I was born in the same hospital as my son and daughter.

"Be the Change Week" is a middle school favorite at Bronx Letters!

Be the Change Week at Bronx Letters

Every year, all Bronx Letters middle schoolers take part in a fun, dynamic program we call “Be the Change Week” involving research, field trips, hands-on making, and group presentations.

Students form small groups to explore their chosen topics, and then at week’s end, the school is abuzz as each group showcases and explains their findings to other students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

This year’s theme was highly topical: We took inspiration straight from the United Nations and their Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Each BTC group was created with these goals in mind, so that Bronx Letters students could play a part in bettering our world by the time we enter the next decade. 

Topics included:

·       Climate: conservation, protecting ecosystems, solar power and the impact of climate change on our local community

·       Food: food security, healthy food access, nutrition, hydroponics, know what you eat!

·       Humanity: healthy cities, empowering girls and physical/emotional self-care, educational equity

The students partook in relevant field trips, talking with growers at the Union Square farmers’ market, taking yoga classes, recording an original climate change rap at a professional studio and comparison grocery shopping at Whole Foods and their local store.

Touring the exhibitions and hearing the students explain their work was a joy! Kudos to the teachers for sparking the kids’ creativity and learning. Students used mosaic tiles to illustrate air pollution, built a mini-house out of plastic water bottles and made a toy car go with solar panels.

So proud of our BAL Ravens!

We are Bronx Letters! Meet Lisa Jardine

Lisa Jardine, Bronx Letters Foundation Co-Chair

“Bronx Letters is the Little School That Could. Against all odds, our kids are standing up for themselves and claiming a seat at the table.”

Get to know us! We’re happy to present the next 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 her own words, here is Lisa Jardine, Board Co-Chair, Bronx Letters Foundation

What do you believe in?

That education changes lives.

What inspires you?

When a student finds their voice and tells their story.

What do you love about Bronx Letters?

To me, Bronx Letters is the Little School That Could. Against all odds, our kids are standing up for themselves and claiming a seat at the table. And we have the best teachers, hands down.

How can education change the world?

Without it there's no hope. Change doesn't happen in a bubble. It comes about when individuals pick their heads up and understand the world around them. That's when change happens.

How can one person make a difference?

I like to think that if I can change the course a young person is on, then they can go on and change one as well. One by one, the chains of poverty are broken, and the shift occurs.

What's your biggest dream?

That there is a shift in public education. The current system doesn't support the kids today, and it definitely won't support the next generation.

What's a "fun fact" about yourself?

I lived in Japan for 6 years with my husband and four children.

We are Bronx Letters! Meet Greg Leitao

“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.

Happy BAL Anniversary to the one-and-only Susan McGovern, Parent Coordinator!

We’re simply thrilled to celebrate the 1-yr work anniversary of our fabulous and beloved Susan McGovern, Parent Coordinator extraordinaire at Bronx Academy of Letters.

She's involved in almost every aspect of school life, helping students and supporting their families everyday. Here she is enjoying the woods on a recent 6th grade overnight trip.

An incredible multi-tasker, passionate and dedicated, “Miss Susan” has a hug and warm smile for every student who passes by.

Susan is vital team member in helping our foundation deliver on our mission to change the world, one child at a time.

How did we ever manage without you?

We are Bronx Letters! Meet Darryl Montgomery

“I believe in creating, not just discussing, new means of agency for myself and my community…and having an honest laugh each day I wake up.”

Get to know us! We’re happy to present the second 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 Darryl Montgomery, Artist-in-Residence at Bronx Academy of Letters.

What do you believe in?

I believe in creating, not just discussing, new means of agency for myself and my community, artistically challenging myself, and having an honest laugh each day I wake up.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by people and systems that surpass expectation[s]. Seeing people execute amazing stunts and tasks takes me to another level, reminding me of my pro BMX freestyler days where I challenged my personal best, at the very real risk of serious injury, everyday.

What do you love about Bronx Letters?

As a person who has guided my educative work specifically at at communities that were and are structurally underfunded for generations, working at BAL enables me to have a tangible and quantifiable impact on the lives of teens that often are seen as hardened people who require fixing and validation versus being seen as people dealing with various levels of environmentally induced PTSD who need to be loved and understood.

How can education change the world?

Education, writ large, is the cornerstone of intellectual curiosity. Learning to learn can be an empowering way to mentally move beyond one's current situation, discovering new vistas to explore and engage. As my father used to say, "If you are only learning in school, you are not learning." It is applied education that changes the world. Teaching at BAL further enables me to bring to fruition my organization's tagline, "Building community. One person at a time."

How can one person make a difference?

By moving beyond the theoretical and developing the means to directly and positively impact, even in the smallest way, that which one deems important.

What's your biggest dream?

I really do not have "big dreams." I have applied ideas of what I want to do / can do in the various worlds I inhabit. I have lived such a richly varied life, if I had to have a "biggest dream," it would be that I continue building the life and mindset / skillset I am so incredibly lucky to have, and blessed to be guided by.

What's a "fun fact" about yourself?

There are many fun facts about my life. I was called a "polymath" by a British person in my network. The definition had described my thought process perfectly. That encapsulated all the things I believe led to the agency I have in the world in modernity. Fun facts in bullets... ["Live each day like it is your last, like there is going to be a tomorrow." dh] - My first time having students was in 1991 working with the Breadloaf Program that brought young people from Lawrence and Lowell, MA to the Andover Academy in Andover, MA for a summer program. - I was an expert freestyle [not roller disco] roller skater. - I was a pro bmx freestyler. [known as one of the top riders in the sport for the time.] - I am a first generation new wave / punk rocker. [listed in the archive of Black punk rock musicians.] - I love that clergy and politicians use my artist pseudonym, "Darryl Hell," when I am doing my social / cultural / community work. - I was brought in to be a guest lecturer at Monmouth University in 2013. I am well-respected by the director of their media literacy program. In 1983, I was escorted off of the campus due to an out-of-control party that followed our band's performance in their student lounge. - I am a first generation turntablist. - I was the first hardcore punk rock bass player to use a wireless system, enabling me to slamdance while playing. - I was the lead Internet strategist for Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney's successful 2004 campaign. - I directed the first webcasts for Harry Belafonte, Sonia Braga, and the 2000 Slamdance and Sundance Festivals. - I created the first bash bar for a bmx freestyle frame, which enabled trials style riding on a freestyle frame, protecting the chainring and bottom of the frame. The design was stolen by a factory rider I shared a tour with. The following year, a number of companies released a frame with a version of it. At least there are thousands of people who saw me with it in development for 3 years prior. - I co-produced the first multi-location performance featuring Black culture. It was called "Digital Diaspora" and was done in 1996 at The Knitting Factory, NYC and The End in London. It was also webcast. - I produced the world's first Online record release party for the San Francisco experimental record label Furnace Records in 1995. - I produced the first experimental industrial music culture events at the world famous Stone Pony club. [They had only featured rock and roll based bands prior.] - I was babysat by the mother of David Sancious. She and her husband used to allow a number of their son's bands to practice in their basement. She also made incredible lemonade and was very kind. I would listen to the bands while sitting on the porch, although his personal jazz fusion band was simply dope and was my fave. One of the bands became very famous and named for the Sancious home. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The "E Street Band" name came from their primary rehearsal space being on E Street in Belmar, NJ, my hometown. The band is named for a Black family's home that provided the original foundation for the band to grow.

We Are Bronx Letters! Meet Kate Authenrieth

“Helping young people develop their curiosity, critical thinking, and activism is the only thing that will save us.”

Get to know us! We’re happy to present the first 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 her own words, here is Kate Authenrieth, ELA teacher at Bronx Academy of Letters.

What do you believe in?

All children deserve great schools and great teachers.

What inspires you?

Seeing the overwhelming strength and resilience of my students.

What do you love about Bronx Letters?

I've been a teacher for 20 years and this is the kindest, smartest, most devoted staff I've ever worked with. Our scholars can shine so bright because of their hard work.

How can education change the world?

Helping young people develop their curiosity, critical thinking, and activism is the only thing that will save us.

How can one person make a difference?

Trickle down economics doesn't work, but trickle down kindness does.

What's your biggest dream?

That this generation of young people can save us from ourselves.

What's a "fun fact" about yourself?

I am a descendant of Abraham Lincoln!

School's in Session and We're Ready!

Such much is in store for 2019!

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