2018 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2018 | Page 36

I had no idea what to expect when Mr. Manko, Liberty Elementary’s principal, told me that I would be a “mini prin-
cipal” for the next eight weeks. I soon learned that the role encompasses pretty much everything. On one day, we
might clean out a classroom, leave school to meet with a community partner organization, and come back to school
to vacuum, sweep, and mop some more. On another day, we might meet with another principal, mediate a con-
flict between two students, send out the weekly newsletter, and then search through every classroom to update the
Chromebooks. Having the chance to work on distinct tasks with a wide variety of people is part of what makes the
job so exciting and engaging.
Beyond these tasks, my internship at Liberty has given me a peek at the complexities within the education system.
Mr. Manko hung up a picture in the main office depicting a scene from Star Wars: Episode II, where the Jedi are
surrounded and getting attacked from all sides. Mr. Manko joked that working in a school can sometimes feel like
that, and I can see why. It can feel like all the forces are working against us when we send multiple emails about
leaky ceiling tiles and flooded classrooms, and nobody comes to fix it. I wonder “How is this acceptable?” when I
learn about teachers at other schools who haven’t had a lunch break or planning period in the past year. It’s frus-
trating that there are so many teacher vacancies in classrooms while there are also many teachers who can’t find
employment in the city. At the same time, it’s incredible to see the innovative ways that schools have dealt with
limited staffing, funding, and resources. I’ve been amazed by the creative tweaks that have been made to budget-
ing and scheduling at Liberty, and I love hearing the conversations between staff members and community partners
about potential solutions to improve attendance and alleviate classroom conflicts.
In spite of the challenges, my time at Liberty has been filled with feelings of joy. When I think about the school, I pic-
ture the colorful student artwork that decorates the walls and streams down from the ceilings. I recall being greeted
every morning by a warm “Good morning, Ms. Zhang!” when I walk through the hallways. Most importantly, I think
about the relationships that I have built with teachers, administrators, classroom aides, interns, secretaries, Youth-
Workers, and more. These wonderful people show up each day to support our students and make Liberty Elemen-
tary the best place to be.
Community Partner: Liberty Elementary
Intern: Laetitia Zhang
Site Supervisor: Joseph Manko
What is Liberty Elementary?
The mission of Liberty Elementary School is to
provide teaching and learning that accelerates
student achievement and supports the social and
emotional well-being of each student in a peace-
ful, caring, and collaborative school community.
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• Prepared for summer pro-
gram: creating weekly news-
letters, leading orientations,
tracking attendance
• Prepared for the school year:
updating Chromebooks,
cleaning, reprinting staff
handbooks
• Supervised four YouthWork-
ers who offer support in
classrooms
• Assisted in grant writing to
supplement funding for the
next school year