When the Chancellor Came to St. Charles School

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It’s probably fair to say that St. Charles School on Staten Island has never hosted such a high-powered collection of school leaders, both public and parochial, as were assembled there on Jan. 14.

Let’s just say the school in the borough’s Oakwood section made the most of its moment in the spotlight.

The morning visit brought New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, as well as Dr. Timothy McNiff, superintendent of schools in the archdiocese. The visit featured a lot of classroom observation, and more than a little instruction, along with some shoptalk behind closed doors with Staten Island Catholic regional and local school officials.

Chancellor Fariña, who herself attended St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School in Brooklyn Heights, quickly went to the head of the classroom, literally. She began quizzing students on a favorite book of hers, “The Witch of Blackbird Pond,” by Elizabeth Speare, that she picked up in a sixth-grade English classroom, where the class had been busy working on Google Chromebook laptops. When she asked students one lesson it taught them, one young scholar replied, “You can’t judge someone unless you learn to know them well.”

Despite their busy schedules, neither the chancellor nor the commissioner seemed in a hurry to leave St. Charles, where they also toured a fifth-grade math and science computer lab, a fourth-grade math classroom featuring an interactive Smart Board and small group instruction, and a lively UPK classroom, where the young charges of teacher Paula Marchi were actively working with clay, cotton balls and other soft materials as they safely learned about more complex topics.

St. Charles, headed by principal J.C. Kiernan, enrolls 530 students from pre-K3 and UPK to eighth grade. The 40-student UPK program, a signature program of Mayor Bill de Blasio, is in its second year.

The school also features art and music programs, French classes, literacy courses and a sports journalism club.

In brief remarks to the media afterward, the public education leaders gave high marks to what they witnessed at St. Charles.

Chancellor Fariña, who has visited many UPK programs in the city’s public schools, said she found many areas in common at St. Charles. “To see the faces and the happiness…is wonderful,” she said.

Commissioner Elia complimented the St. Charles teachers for their dedication to their students, whom she cited for “positive” classroom interactions.

The visit had its genesis at a panel discussion on “Today’s Trends in Education,” held at the Sheen Center in September. Featuring Ms. Fariña and Ms. Elia, the event was moderated by Dr. McNiff.

Dr. McNiff used the occasion at St. Charles to ask for Commissioner Elia’s support for what he termed “a dire need” for the State Department of Education to restore an office for nonpublic schools in Albany.

“That was taken out (of the budget) several years ago,” Dr. McNiff said. “We don’t have a voice up there.” He indicated to CNY that the commissioner had expressed support for reestablishing the office.

Also among those present at St. Charles Jan. 14 were Father Louis Jerome, pastor of St. Charles parish; Christine Cea, a member of the New York State Board of Regents; James Cultrara, director of education for the New York State Catholic Conference; Zoilita Herrera, regional superintendent for Staten Island Catholic Schools; and Michael Coppotelli, the archdiocese’s associate superintendent of schools for government programs and public policy.