About Us

Manhattan School for Children
http://www.manhattanschool.org
Phone: 212-222-1450
Fax: 212-222-1828

Susan Rappaport - Principal
Claudine Jellison - Assistant Principal
Darlene Dooley - Assistant Principal
Tatiana Hoover - Technology Coordinator
Annie Kolpin - Parent Coordinator

Who created this website...
Mia Kargen and Lisa Pomerantz

  Why Mia is great, by Lisa
 I met Mia 4 years ago when she 
 was volunteering in a kindergarten
 classroom at MSC and I was 
 student teaching.  I knew that I 
 wanted to get to know her more
 when I saw that she was spending
 her days working with a little girl 
 with disabilities, Valente, who 
 just entered the school, making sure that she had the tools she
needed to be fully included into her classroom.  Both Mia and I
went on to teach first grade at ManhattanSchool for Children.  It
was at that point that I got to know her betterand we decided that
we wanted to try co-teaching together in a different type of setting. 
I was surprised to learn that her Masters Degree was in Early
Childhood Education and that she did not have a bakground in
Special Education.  Watching all the different ways that she had
presented information and gave children the tools that they
needed to be successful, I had just assumed that she had formal
Special Education training.  I was thrilled when we were given
the opportunity to work together, realizing what a strong team we
had the potential of becoming.
   Mia's enthusiasm for EVERYTHING keeps all the kids (and me!) 
excited about learning.  She is amazing at developing age-appropriate
curriculum, always providing students with the opportunity to learn
something new and to do something "hands on" in order to fully
grasp whatever concept we are teaching. The ideas about curriculum
flow out of her so naturally.  Mia is always finding ways to design 
activities that reach every child, whatever their abilities may be.
   Mia places high expectations on every child and treats all children 
with respect.  She believes in each student and in turn each student
believes in themselves and in each other.
   We bounce ideas off each other all day long and because of 
that we are always inventing and creating new materials for our
classroom.  The best thing about Mia is she doesn't only think about
those things, she has done them before I can blink my eyes!
   Mia's passion and philosophy about education is inspirational.  
She is much more than a classroom teacher.  She is an advocate
and role model for all children that step into her classroom, 
as well as for me.  


 Why Lisa is Great, by Mia
 Lisa began teaching at the
 Manhattan School for Children
 in the 2003-4 School  Year. 
 We got to know each other
 while both teaching first grade. 
 She was one of the most talented  
 teachers I had ever seen.  Her
ability to work with co-workers,
teachers, and students was something to be envied.  We worked
closely to create a first grade curriculum that was interesting and
accessible for all the students within our general education classes.
Her understanding of curriculum design and her ability to make the
curriculum appropriate for every student was amazing.  
   An immediate friendship was formed.  Our principal, Susan
Rappaport, was in the process of starting the program at the
Manhattan School for Children that is now in place.  I was aware
that the class was to be a true "inclusion" or "immersion" model.
Although I was not sure what this meant exactly, I knew that two
teachers would teach each classroom.  I also knew that this was
an opportunity to reach children of all abilities.  I immediately
wanted to teach with Lisa.  Since her certification was Special
Education, I felt that it was a perfect match.  I begged and
pleaded with Susan to match us together.  It seemed a long
shot since we both had limited classroom experience.  The
following year Susan paired Lisa and I together in Room 506.
We were so excited! Not sure what to expect, we entered
the classroom to begin setting up. I was in awe of Lisa after only
one hour.  Every decision that she made was in an effort
to make every child a successful and happy learner. With
that said, our first year was difficult at best.  Niether of us were
willing to wait to create a dream classroom for every child. "It can
not be done in one day" was never good enough for Lisa. She
was willing to work every day (including weekends) often
for 14 hours or more, to create our ideal classroom.
   Lisa was able to identify the needs of each child and
together we were able to teach and create a classroom that
addressed each of those needs.  I can truly say that by
mid-year our classroom was a place where all children
were learning and thriving.
   In the time that I have been working with Lisa I have seen
both of us grow as teachers and individuals.  Her ability to
learn and use complex programs and devices is wonderful. 
Not only was she able to teach herself how to use these
programs, but she was able to teach others to use them as
well.  
   I feel lucky to be able to work with a teacher whose
philosophy and ideas reach all children and to work with a
friend who makes me strive daily to become a better teacher. 
   Now when people visit our classroom they ask, "Who is
the Special Education teacher and who is the General Education
teacher?" If they can't tell, we'll never tell! I owe this to Lisa.
 
               The staff composition is made up of:
                                  1 general education teacher per class
                                  1 special education teacher per class
                                           full time physical therapist
                                        full time occupational therapist
                                  full time speech language pathologist
                                                paraprofessionals 
                                                  program director


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