Leaving Brooklyn: Fuhgeddaboudit!

It has been an amazing five years here at the Brooklyn Collection. I will miss my job as Project Manager of Brooklyn Connections and I will certainly miss the students and teachers I have worked with. But most of all, I will miss all the friends I have made here at the Brooklyn Public Library.

2015 Brooklyn Connections Convocation

I have learned so much more from the Brooklyn Connections students and teachers than I could have ever taught them—and I doubt they even know it!  From our students I’ve learned to be patient (especially with our middle schoolers) and to look at photos and paintings differently—I see the beauty that can only be seen through the eyes of a child.  From our teachers I’ve learned teaching techniques, classroom management methods and overall how to be a better educator. 

I am so sad to leave the home I have made here but I will be a stone’s throw away – or rather, an expressway, a bridge, another expressway, and some side streets away—in Staten Island! 

Verrazano Bridge, 2010 (I won't miss driving over this every day in rush hour traffic!)

This month I start a new chapter in my life, as I will be the Manager of Education at the Staten Island Museum—yes, Staten Island has a museum (in fact, it has several).  The Staten Island Museum is the only remaining general interest museum in New York City. Founded in 1881, by environmental activists, the Museum has three main collections: Natural Sciences, Fine Arts, and History Archives & Library.  I’m excited to be part the team as the Museum transitions into the Snug Harbor Campus.  The building the Staten Island Museum will be housed in is the first federal landmark on Staten Island to be designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, which will include a geo-thermal heating system.

Sailor's Snug Harbor, 1871

In addition to managing education programs in Snug Harbor, I will also run the education programs at their homebase at 75 Stuyvesant Place, a five minute walk from the Staten Island Ferry.

I’m excited to work in Staten Island at this transitional time with the New York Wheel and Empire Outlets coming and the newly opened Flagship Brewery!  If you haven’t been to Staten Island, I suggest you make a visit. I’ll be waiting at the Museum!