"Another Hunter Woman" Nobody has ever loved me or believed in me more than my grandmother Florence. We lost her last summer, and it was because of her I decided to pursue a Master's degree in Educational Leadership at Hunter College, her alma mater. Florence was a brilliant child of Jewish immigrants from Poland who fled Europe during the time of pogroms. She grew up in the Bronx, NY. Little Florence loved learning so much that as a three-year-old, she would fill her arms with books just to go outside and walk home with the schoolchildren, pretending to be one of them. As a student, she flourished, skipping two grades and graduating high school at age 16. Then she went to Hunter College, which was a women's school at the time. After building a happy life with her soulmate and two children, she enjoyed a fulfilling career as a college administrator and later became a doting grandmother to six. My grandmother was so proud of her grandchildren and their accomplishments. She had a box in her living room with magazine articles, playbills, and other artifacts from the careers of some of my cousins in show business. But it wasn't just the flashy careers that impressed her. If I got a letter of recommendation, she would be the first to see it; I knew how much pleasure it brought her. Later in her life, my grandma used a walker, which had a compartment in the front for storage. She had printed out an email written to me by a parent of one of my students, thanking me for the way I had engaged her daughter that year in mathematics. My grandma used to show that letter to everyone who came to visit. Before last year, I never considered the path of educational leadership. I enjoy teaching, but the idea of leading a school or a department intimidated me. With the passing of my grandma, and one more generation lost, I feel the urge to step up. Even if I doubt myself, I can remember her, her brilliance, and how she would never doubt me. She was so proud to be a Hunter graduate and would have kvelled to see me walk the stage at the same institution she attended so many decades ago. I will be looking to Florence for guidance every step of the way in this program. She was a matriarch and a strong leader who knew how to handle talented people with big personalities. She was organized and detail-oriented. She had a strong sense of justice and fairness. She gave lots of love and maintained high expectations for her loved ones. She was never disappointed in us, though. She understood our journeys. I will miss my grandma Florence for the rest of my life, and I will do my best to live up to her legacy in both my personal and professional life. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to honor her in this way. I only wish she could see what I wrote about her.

Resilience in the Rhythm: Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" and the Teacher's Journey "Shake It Off" resonates deeply with the challenges and triumphs encountered by teachers every day. As an educator, I have experienced firsthand the obstacles and pressures that come with the profession. The days, weeks, and school years are long. The setbacks are many and are hard to bounce back from. Sometimes you wish for a boring day so that at least you won't feel so tired by the end. But the end of each day always comes, and when it does, we have to shake off the day and let go. Through its empowering lyrics, infectious rhythm, and uplifting message, "Shake It Off" serves as a personal anthem, reminding me of the importance of resilience and self-belief in overcoming obstacles, including navigating jealous colleagues who may question our talents. The opening verse of "Shake It Off" sets the stage for embracing the unique journey of a teacher. Swift's lyrics, "I stay out too late, got nothing in my brain," humorously allude to the long hours and mental exhaustion that teachers often experience. However, it is the resilience embedded within the song that inspires us to rise above these challenges. Swift's spirited vocals and the energetic melody inspire us to rise above the negativity and judgments that may come our way. As a teacher, I have encountered colleagues who may feel threatened by my talents or innovative approaches. Swift's lyrics, "I'm lightning on my feet," encourage us to confront these challenges with grace and confidence. By embracing our unique strengths and maintaining a positive mindset, we can overcome the negativity and focus on creating a positive impact on our students. Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" not only inspires us with its infectious beat but also reminds us of the resilience required to thrive as teachers. The song urges us to shake off doubts, negativity, and judgment, emphasizing the importance of staying true to our passion and purpose. By embodying the message of the song, we can maintain our focus on nurturing children, despite the obstacles we encounter along the way. In conclusion, "Shake It Off" reminds me to embrace my unique journey, rise above adversity, and inspire my students to become their best selves. As teachers, we must remain steadfast in our dedication, confidently shaking off the challenges and doubts that come our way, and continue to make a lasting impact in the lives of our students.

I am the founder of a school, open and accessible to all families in the community, that values, recognizes, nurtures, and cultivates the brilliance that is innate in all children.

How does technology change the way we live and work? How can we use computer science to reduce waste in the fashion industry? Using the coding platform Scratch Jr., these are questions my second graders explored this year in an interdisciplinary unit I created, entitled “Textiles, Geometry, and Digital Design.” In this project, students explore textiles from around the world and how they are made. After learning about Diarra Bousso, a contemporary designer who uses math to create geometric prints, students create their own digital "stamp" in Scratch Jr. and use block code to write a program that repeatedly reprints the design, forming unique patterns. Scratch Jr., the programming language for young learners, enabled our students to understand how technology can contribute to reducing waste in the fashion industry. Through digital design, image rendering, and fabric printing, we can reduce waste by physically producing only what is needed. Students created their own designs and connected the process to designers in the real world who are running sustainable businesses. In addition to the criticality of sustainable fashion, our students also experimented with new mathematics and geometry concepts in Scratch Jr. to create their designs. In second grade, students are introduced to polygons and explore the characteristics of polygons and non-polygons. Each student’s design incorporated this understanding. Additionally, they learn about equal groups and how to arrange dots into equal rows, called an array. Arrays were also incorporated into their final designs. By applying these new mathematical concepts to their art, students deepened their understanding of the content. This project empowered our students to think of themselves as real mathematicians, coders, and designers. The designs they created using mathematics and technology are beautiful and unique with universal appeal. With Scratch Jr. and other coding platforms for our youngest learners, we can make magic happen in the classroom.