Terrier Volume 75, Number 1 - Spring 2011 | Page 8

A Touch of “Class”
Preparation and Persistence Pay Off
for New Teachers
dean at Sunset Park High School. “I’ve taught
classes in four subjects so far, but not History,
which is what I really want to teach,” he said. 
Francesca Clemente ’10 had a similar
Those were the keys to job-hunting success
experience. A Physical Education teacher
for a group of 20 recent St. Francis College
at I.S. 72, Francesca also teaches Health
alumni who returned February 8 to share
classes. She suggested that all PE majors
their stories with current Education majors.
make sure they include Health lesson plans
Despite the exceptionally tight job market
in their portfolios. “If you teach Physical
for teachers, all of the participants are working
Education, you will almost always teach
in Education, except for William Zanelli ’11,
Health, too.” Clemente also urged students
who deferred his job search to attend graduate
to make sure they have all their certifications
school at Brooklyn College.  
and pass all tests, “so if someone wants to
“Everyone talks about job freezes and
hire you, you’re ready.” 
layoffs in city schools but that doesn’t seem
That’s exactly what happened to Jessica
to apply to St. Francis College graduates,” said
Schrank ’09. “I had a big vacation planned to
Education Professor Peter Leibman, who
San Diego, but Dr. Leibman called me and told
Celebrating the relationship between St. Francis
organized the event. “Our students work hard College and P.S. 133 are Education Professor
me to go to an interview the next day,” said
Peter Leibman, P.S. 133 Assistant Principal
and the word is out that they’re good at what
Jessica, an English teacher at the International
Deanne McGhie , Education Professor