what we do here when our district is about is being able to
create And to see a vision for a student,
our staff who work here with us myself included,
really choose to work here because we know that this is where
the greatest need really is.
But it's also where you see the greatest successes I've been at
the Edenwald School. And on this campus for over 31 years,
it's the kids that motivate me to come here on a daily basis.
It's a very special environment,
the staff are here for the students.
We really care about the youth who come before us.
There's not many places where you could actually make a
difference. But this is one of them.
The students in our district haven't had the same opportunities
as other students every day.
I want to do everything I can to find new and better ways to
give our students opportunities and to ensure their success.
What's wonderful about our district in general is just that we
have um a smaller setting, a more intimate setting.
And I think that that is what benefits our students the most um
whether it's in the elementary classes where we have an 8 to 1
to one ratio or in our high school and middle school classes.
So we have the 12 to 1 to one ratio.
I think that the reduced amount of people more support,
help our students.
We focus on kind of like the three pillars of academic, social,
emotional, behavioral.
We're really focusing on restorative justice community building
as a means to fostering an improved positive culture.
We also offer school psychologists and all of the related
services. We provide counseling services for our students.
We provide to really try to give the students the skills they
need and then within the classrooms they're provided with the
academic supports that are going to really help them increase
their E A and math abilities.
What does it for me is the small moments when a kid will say
thank you, Mr Bride. You know, I really appreciate it.
You know, I'm doing well hearing from a student,
maybe when they get discharged, getting an email from them,
You know, I'm doing well in my community.
You know, I'm in a program.
Um you know, that's what really keeps me going and,
and to see those small victories and,
and then when those small victories add to something bigger
that's moving, that we've done our job. I love the kids.
Their stories are so unique.
It really humbles me at the end of the day.
Um I get extreme gratitude,
teaching them I think is extremely important for them to
understand that no matter your background and your beginning,
you write your ending and a lot of times what hinders them is an
emotional component.
So as long as they can learn at least one skill that allows them
to Draw back that negative emotion and show the positive emotion
that feel successful.
So we offer a region trap to all of our students um in the high
school.
And we also offer a G E D program so that there's an alternate
path towards um graduation for some of our students who are very
much academically inclined.
We've actually started to allow for them to take some college
courses on college campuses.
One of our main goals is to make the school feel like a
traditional community high school.
So on top of the specialized instruction and the smaller classes,
we want them also to have every opportunity that a student would
have in a local district,
almost all of our teachers are dual certified in special
education and in the content area,
we make sure our curriculum is in line with the curriculum in
the local home district.
So if it's a standardized class we are teaching the same
curriculum as students would be getting in your community
district while differentiating for them.
And Vocationally, we have a culinary C T E program.
We just purchased a food truck which is a part of that program
and then they could successfully transition into Westchester
Community College with six college credits.
We are also currently in the application process for a second C
T E program, which is early childhood education.
Um We also have other vocational programs which include
woodworking and cosmetology.
We also provide supports within the classroom.
So recently, they've also brought on board. Um We have a,
a B A specialist that can help with specific behavior behaviors
that the student may be displaying.
We also have an autism coach, um aids in a classroom.
So in addition to the teacher,
you have an additional adult support right there in the class,
having the support in the hallway,
those safety monitors who are often there to help.
Um If the students do have an episode of emotion,
it helps them socially to be able to have somebody there that
they can speak to I've been at the school,
but um going on 10 years, uh I like the atmosphere.
I like working with the kids. I believe that they trust me,
which helps them through their day,
especially when they are having the most challenging days.
They come and look for me that safety plays a very important
part on protecting our kids in my role as a family and community
engagement director.
Not only do I work on getting kids back into their home school
districts,
but I also work to get them into college early acceptance
programs and I work to get them into some job corps programs.
I'm proud to announce that our school is part of my brother's
keeper program.
We are the only Special Act district in New York State that is
part of this program.
A lot of our students here have been given a rough go of things
and they need to believe and understand.
their self value, they're worth,
they need to understand that they can be positive members of
society and work towards a goal.
Mr Soare has been a big help to me since the day that I first
got here.
He's been really helpful with just getting me into programs that
help me with extra things that just I need to know in my life.
I feel like the political Science class is definitely something
that I need to know as of now.
Just so I'm prepared for the future.
This is a place where you have to be very patient.
and very proud and you have to have the motivation to do
something to do something with your life,
to want to get educated,
give them an expectation that you're gonna be great and they
will follow behind you and make you great.
My time has been and it was so good because the teachers here,
they taught me good lessons. I start spectrum in 2021.
And Miguel Suarez, he helped me out to get that job.
I'm in 12th grade.
I'm about to graduate in June 2023, which is this year.
and um going to be out in the real world.
I've been waiting for for this moment for a while.
Um I think that as an educator, I think most educators, there's,
there's an innate capacity often that you can see a potential in
somebody there, you just see it. I see their strength.
I know that they have come through so much.
And the fact that they are still pursuing and still persevering
is a motivator for me. I think with, with Children in general,
they don't always see themselves completely as having that
potential. The idea is to, to help a student to that next level,
to see that vision for themselves,