|
“I try to escape to Bermuda whenever I can. It’s only one hour and 45 minutes away from New York City.” Suzanne Stevens, Head Teacher of Preschool Threes in the Yellow Room and Associate Director of Preschool Admissions, talked about her interests while not on the second floor of 375 Pearl Street. There she has a dual role: teaching three year-olds in the mornings and assisting Director of Preschool Admissions Sara Soll with administrative work, meeting with prospective parents, and leading tours. A fixture at BFS for nearly a decade, Suzanne met with staff writer Jeff Stanley recently to talk about kids, kittens, and marine biology.
1. What did you do before you came to Brooklyn Friends School?
I taught in Australia. I was head of school in Queensland, in a place called Tamborine. I was educated in boarding schools. I taught in England for a while and then I got married, and we went to Bermuda. After eight years teaching in Bermuda, we moved to Australia.
2. Where are you from originally?
I’m from northern England. The family home is a very old house that my great, great grandfather owned.
3. Let’s see, England first; then, Australia; then Bermuda. That’s a very special place to you, right?
Yes. It’s a British crown colony. I go back whenever I can, just for a weekend or the whole summer.
I love the island and completely relax when I am there. As the song says, “Bermuda is another world.
” There’s no water on the island so every house has a tank under it.
It used to be Commonwealth schooling but now it’s a cross with the American and Canadian system
so that now students who go through the education system there have broader opportunities
to study in the US and Canada.
4. How long have you lived in the States?
I’ve lived in the US for 11 years and worked at BFS for 10 years.
5. Did you come here looking for teaching work?
No, I had no intention of working in the States. But after being introduced to Karen Luks by a friend
in the neighborhood I accepted a part time position teaching with Preschool Admissions Director Sara Soll.
6. And when did you become Associate Director?
I’ve been Associate Director for seven years.
7. What do you do when you’re not working?
I read a lot. I’m in the process now of reading a book being written by a BFS parent
– It’s “The Painter from Shanghai” by Jennifer Epstein. I also walk a lot. I like cooking as well.
8. Where do you live now?
Park Slope.
9. Any favorite restaurants there?
The 12th Street Cafe on Eighth Avenue, which I really like. Also Roc in lower Manhattan. It’s an American mix.
10. Desert island question. What three things would you want with you?
I guess water. Definitely lots of water. One big box of books — a mix of fact and fiction. Music, definitely music.
11. What kind of music would you take?
My least favorite is that modern boom-boom-boom thing. I think I mean Rap. Oh, and my two new kittens because they’re so cute and so naughty.
12. That’s four things but maybe too cute to leave behind. Did you grow up with animals?
Oh yes, I grew up with indoor-outdoor cats and dogs, and also farm animals. I had one cat that traveled with me from Bermuda to Australia to New York. He died when he was 21. Oscar. I said I’d never have animals again but some BFS parents drew me into their little web.
13. Which do you like better, teaching or being Associate Admissions Director?
I enjoy both. Of course there are days when you don’t like either but that’s normal.
14. I hear you loud and clear. What is it you like about teaching?
I especially like early childhood education and the establishing of early relationships with parents, which is important.
15. What’s your least favorite part of your job?
Anything to do with a computer. I never learned to type because in school I did sciences.
16. What kind of sciences?
Physics, chemistry, biology, zoology.
That’s pretty surprising, I mean to go from that to early childhood education.
If I could have chosen another career it would have been marine biologist, but in 1969 it was a whole different world. People told me that even if I got the degree I’d never find work so I went into teaching instead.
17. What’s one thing that’s always in your fridge?
Water.
18. What’s your sign?
Gemini. The twins. Usually easygoing. They say they can have two sides. They’re supposed to be good at communicating.
19. Do you think that accurately describes you?
Yes, I think so.
20. How many students do you have right now?
I have fifteen students, 3 year olds. They’re cute and naughty and very engaging, just like my kittens.
|