Valley Stream Central principal: 'Our kids walk the hall without barriers'

Today is Pink Day. Our school has raised over $3,000 for breast cancer research by selling these shirts. It’s part of our spirit week, leading up to our homecoming football game Saturday.

When I took this job in 2001, I was immediately attracted to the area because it’s a very blue-collar environment with hard-working people, family values, traditions and diversity. I think our teachers work very hard, and we constantly strive to motivate and challenge these kids. We’re not a wealthy district, but the teachers here come early and stay late. These kids want to be here even after the bell rings at the end of the day.

Central has a culture of very high expectations. In my experience, once you put expectations out there, no matter what race these kids are they do respond well.

We prepare our kids to be better citizens of their country by having students vote for their school body president and at the same time practice-voting for the president of the United States. Teachers have to be engaging and up to speed with what’s going on. Also, I just want to say that when there’s a commitment in the building the students follow through with it. The Class of 2012 raised the money to display two electronic signs showing school events in front of the school.

Well, many things have made me proud, but as you probably already know schools just began implementing DASA [The Dignity for All Students Act, protecting students from bullying] over the summer. We’ve already been enforcing this for years. You won’t hear another kid say, “That’s so gay,” in this building. Our teachers address bad behavior or language. I’m just so very proud that our kids walk the halls without barriers, and they’re kind and supportive of one another.