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The published pieces from this January’s writing units are on display outside each class at Alain L. Locke Elementary School.  The hallways are full of third grade memoirs, fourth grade biographies and fifth grade document based question essays. 

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Ricky reports:

In art class, Mr. Baily taught students to make collage maps.  We used layers of certain paper to make it.  The papers are based on regions, like desert region, forest region, mountain region, etc.

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This past Friday, Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong visited Alain L. Locke Elementary School.  The famed authors of The First Days of School came to see the structures set in place at PS 208 during their trip to New York City.  The Wongs had a chance to meet with teachers and students of all grades.

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The Governor publicly acknowledged the commitment for “Greatness and Nothing Less” Principal Susan Green, the teachers parents and students all have.  He also acknowledged the school’s high approval rating given by our parents.

Together, we are reaching for the stars with our children!

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And anyone who knows Susan M. Green knows she enthusiastically belongs in the latter group. As Principal of Alain L. Locke Elementary School – P.S. 208 in Harlem, New York, Green not only leads more than 200 third, fourth, and fifth graders in learning the rudimentary three “Rs” of education, but perhaps more importantly, she also imparts to them the priceless ability to believe in themselves and in their future.

But this should come as no surprise, as since well before Green even entered the field of education, children have been a central part of her life. In fact, one might almost say Green started her career working with children when she, herself, was just a child.

At just 10 years of age, when most children are more concerned with sleepovers and summer vacations than with investing in future generations, Green began assisting one of her former teachers in working with pre-K students. Whereas some might have found the task tiresome, for Green, it was the start of an inspiring journey which, today, is reflected in the countless children whose lives she has impacted along the way. Indeed, every position Green has held – both before entering the field of education and since – has involved working with children.

Following her first “job” as a 10-year-old, for example, Green went on to hold various child-related positions throughout school – from babysitter to camp counselor. And during her senior year of college at the University of Stony Brook, where she studied Child and Family Studies, Green chose to complete her internship at the nationally-known Hale House, a New York City-based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the futures of children and families in need.

Upon graduation in 1994, Green again went to work with children, serving for five years as a Foster Care Caseworker and Service Coordinator for developmentally delayed children.

This background, combined with her unmatched love for children and her passion to see them achieve their full potentials, made Green’s move to education ten years ago a natural progression, and in 1999, she accepted as position as a First Grade Teacher at the Weeksville School – P.S. 243 in Brooklyn, New York. She served in this capacity for four years, during which she also earned her Master of Science Degree in Education from Brooklyn College.

In 2003, Green joined New York’s Frederick Douglass Academy as an English Language Arts Instructor, and in 2005, she became an Intern Student for Administrative Training at Brooklyn’s I.S. 392 School for the Gifted and Talented. After completing her internship, Green joined the Choir Academy of Harlem as the Assistant Principal where she remained until her selection in October 2006 as Principal of Alain L. Locke Elementary School.

In her role as Principal, Green believes firmly that an educator’s responsibility is to create as many opportunities for children as possible so that they can discover their strengths and abilities. Indeed, Alain L. Locke Elementary School’s motto itself – “Where we strive for GREATNESS and nothing less” – exemplifies Green’s strong belief in the limitless potential of her students. And she lives and works by this belief every day, enriching not only the lives but also the futures of the children she leads.

From partnering with organizations such as PENCIL – a New York City program that connects principals with private-sector business leaders in order to expand opportunities for schools – to working with education-enhancement and volunteer organizations including New York Cares and The Carmel Hill Fund, Green demonstrates her commitment to expanding the horizons of the children she serves.

Yet, whether in education or in any other field, Green maintains a consistent and simple philosophy of working with children, viewing it as an investment not only in the children themselves but also in society as a whole, as today’s children grow up to become tomorrow’s educators, accountants, hair stylists, parents, etc.

For more than 20 years, Green has been investing wisely, and no doubt thousands of lives have been impacted and changed as a result of her belief in and dedication to the children she serves.

A 2006 graduate of the New York City Leadership Academy, Green lives in Mount Vernon, New York and is a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, where she was the 2005 recipient of the Mother Figure of the Year Award for her work with her students.

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This is our expectation.
I was born from Greatness
Therefore that makes me Great
Today I will spread Love
Not hate
Not lies
Not violence
Just love
Today
I will do more
I will learn more
I will be more
Than anyone ever thought I could
Today I will strive for Greatness and nothing less.©

Written by principal Susan Green

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They work as ambassadors for guests at A.L.L, promote student activities, and participate in school events.  The Student Council elects officers, including president and vice president.

For one event, the students were invited by Principal Green to participate in the “Great Uniform Debate.”

Working in teams, students brainstormed arguments and prepared speeches.  In an assembly for students, staff, and community members.  Each team presented their reasons why students should or should not be required to wear uniforms.

Ms. Burns and Alain L. Locke - P.S. 208 Student Council members.

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As the first African American President of the United States of America, Mr. Obama’s election is an exemplary indication that any student can aspire to be anything he or she wishes, and make their dreams come true.

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With the help of an exceptional young “green-preneur” who traveled all the way from Little Rock, Arkansas with a passionate “go green” message .  The message was all the more inspiring because the young lady delivering it was not much older than our students.

Twelve-year old Riley Hoffer is the Founder of CG Kidz, a program devoted to fostering green living practices among kids. The program was created as part of the community outreach of eco-friendly bottle maker CynerGreen.com.

Riley shared her eco-friendly principle of the 3 Rs with us: "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle." Riley also demonstrated that going green can be fun as she taught our students how to craft their own Christmas ornaments and decorations using recycled materials.

By the end of the day, we were not only able to share environmentally-friendly tips with our families at home, with tips like taking briefer showers and avoiding keeping the refrigerator door open for too long. We were were also able to see firsthand the impact that children can have in helping to save the planet.

Aside from our 6th-grade guest of honor and keynote speaker, on hand to mark the event was Evette Zayas, Chief of Staff to New York State Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell, IV.

Left to right: Evette Zayas, Chief of Staff, State Assembly ,Adam Clayton Powell IV; Riley Hoffer, founder CGKidz.com; Ms C. Adebiyi, Alain L. Locke Environmental Club Teacher; Kara Smith, PENCIL Partner; Tim Decker, Teacher, Gibson Island Country School ; Principal Susan M. Green; Danelle Hoffer, VP Brands, Cynergreen.com; Vicki Dabrowka, Teacher, Gibson Island Country School

A partnership with Maryland’s first certified eco-friendly elementary school, Gibson Island Country School in Pasadena, Maryland, was also established  for mentoring and curriculum materials.

Our own Ms. Christina Adebiyi was presented with Environmental Club in a Box, consisting of mentoring and curriculum materials, by Riley's mom, Danelle Hoffer.

This is the curriculum that set the pace for the events our club participated in during the 2008 — 2009 school year. In addition to taking away the literal earth-changing message of environmental responsibility, each student left Wednesday’s presentation with a “green gift” of a BPA-free stainless steel CG Kidz reusable water bottle.

See video coverage of Riley’s visit on CBS.com

CBS 2's Cindy Shu corver Riley Hoffer of CG Kidz Environmental Visit with Alain L. Locke - P.S. 208

See related articles:

Maryland’s Gibson Island Day School Environmental Club Partners with Harlem’s Alain L. Locke-P.S.208:See Video of Their Visit to NY City

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