August 18, 2021
Dear Families,
I am honored to be joining the 75 Morton community as the interim acting principal beginning September 1st. I look forward to meeting you and your children and learning about all of the people and traditions that create this incredible community.
I’m coming to you with 20 years of experience working in NYC DOE middle schools. I was a 7th and 8th grade ELA teacher and literacy coach in Brooklyn and Manhattan and most recently an assistant principal in a District 2 middle school. We know middle school can be some of the toughest years in a child’s life - I tend to get condolences when I tell people I work with 11 - 14-year-olds - but I love middle schoolers. They come to us as they are navigating identity, friendships, and independence all while their brains are developing at an incredible rate that allows for more complex learning. What a combo! My goal is to ensure a positive, supportive middle school experience while holding all students to high academic standards so that they have the skills needed to succeed in high school and beyond.
This summer I have been working closely with the Morton staff to develop plans that welcome our students back to a safe learning environment that provides the emotional and academic support we know they need. Jacqui has been wonderful, and I want to thank her and all of the staff for being welcoming and making this a smooth transition.
There will be a Meet and Greet for families on September 1st if you’d like to say hello and learn more about the upcoming school year. Any questions for the meeting can be asked here. The PTA will be sending an email with the time and zoom link - please keep an eye out for it.
Here’s to a wonderful year together!
Valerie Leak