My daughter Nyaliz is eight. Last fall, she started third grade at a new school, Success Academy Williamsburg. Nyaliz had never been in a high-performing charter school before. She had never taken a standardized state test before. Even coming from a well-regarded magnet school, she was not at the same academic level as her new classmates, and catching up was hard work.
When it came time for the state tests, Nyaliz was eager to prove she could “slam the exam.” The waiting period for the test results has truly been long. But we just found out she did great – a level 3 in English and a level 4 in math. And the testing process for her was a very positive experience.
Often, I would hear parents at other schools talk about opting out of the tests, and they suggested that I could do the same. I felt that wasn’t the right approach for Nyaliz. I believe schools are supposed to prepare students for the real world – and in the real world, you can’t opt out of things that are difficult and challenging. I trusted that, with the right academic supports, communication, and a belief in Nyaliz’s potential, she would not only catch up, but do well.
That preparation turned out to be best kind of positive reinforcement. When Nyaliz got an answer right, the pride of succeeding propelled her forward. When she got an answer wrong, her teacher, Jesse Poquette, would explain her mistake so she could learn from it. His conviction that she would get it right the next time, engaged Nyaliz and made her want to work even harder. She knew she could do more because her teacher knew she could do more. She was so dedicated that when the school offered to give extra help in preparation for the test, she actually volunteered herself to go.
All that support made the weeks leading up to the tests stress-free for Nyaliz. It was stress-free for me too, because from the beginning of the school year, there was constant communication with families. We understood what the expectations were and how the school was going to get our children there. I knew as a mom that no matter how hard the tests ended up being, my child would be prepared.
I admit I was a bit concerned when she got into Success Academy. Nyaliz had already attended pre-kindergarten at Northside Catholic Academy, where she was an early reader, and for kindergarten, she had enrolled at PS 212 Midtown West, a progressive, collaborative school that I liked a lot. But though she had a great teacher, for some reason, Nyaliz began to struggle. I knew she wasn’t progressing at the pace she was supposed to.
Though I knew she needed a different academic environment, I was worried about how she would do at Success Academy because of the negative press. But not only were the rumors not true, she thrived. Her academic growth has been enormous because everyone is so supportive and sets high expectations that motivate her to work to her highest potential.
Nyaliz and I did talk a little about not taking the tests, and she said it was important to take them. She said she was proud of what she has achieved and wanted to show what she had learned.
I’m so proud of her and I know this is only the beginning of future filled with success.
