Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza Visit PS 25

  The above photo is what the Mayor and Schools Chancellor's visit to PS 25 located in District 7 was all about. Children learning, and the Pre k and PrePre K programs at the school. This class was a PrePre K class made up of three year old children who are getting a real head start on learning. You can see interaction with the Mayor and Chancellor by children who are learning. PS 25 has a school uniform code as you can see, which also can benefit the children on how to dress properly for their future. The principal of PS 25 Carmen Toledo is a well experienced principal and for the past eight years PS 25 has been rated a school in 'Good Standing". As a matter of fact I remembered Principal Toledo  from PS 3 in District 10 when I was a parent leader many years ago. Ms. Toledo also remembered me, but she was a little busy with the Mayor and Schools Chancellor.

  After interacting with most of the children in this class the Mayor and Schools Chancellor went to another class, this time a PreK class. Thee the children were learning about the different modes of transportation. there was a story board set up with three different areas, and the children were asked what mode of transportation does this thing do. There was an airplane, which one child said 'the airplane flies in the sky'. There was a bicycle, where one child said 'I ride my bike on the sidewalk'. There was a boat, where one child said "the boat rides on top of the water".  

  After the second class the Mayor and Schools Chancellor were joined by DEputy Mayor J. Philip Thompson for a mini press conference. Mayor de Blasio opened by saying that he was amazed at what we all saw. The passion of the children for learning and their energy. They wanted to answer every question he added. He then reminded everyone that the children were three and four year olds. He then spoke of his 'Vision of equity and excellence" for all students. 

  The Mayor then introduced Chancellor Carranza, who praised Principal Toledo for her leadership at the school. The Chancellor went on to say that currently only two boroughs have the PrePreK program that being Brooklyn and the Bronx, but that he intends to bring the program to every borough. The Chancellor then went on to praise the mayor and his administration, and said that this will have its rewards further down the educational line. Chancellor Carranza then became a little political as the mayor grinned when he said "Can you imagine if adults worked cooperatively like our children do?"

  Deputy Mayor Thompson also spoke, saying that he like the chancellor is relatively new to the administration, while he also praised the work of PS 25 Principal Carmen Toledo. He said that his mission (and the administrations clear vision) is to have 3-K available to every child in New York City from Central Brooklyn to the South Bronx.

  Mayor de Blasio then concluded by saying that he could feel the warmth of PS 25 when he came through the doors, that learning could be seen in all the classrooms that he and the chancellor visited, and that PS 25 is a positive place full of possibilities. It takes a lot to build that kind of community, but it has been built here at this school. He then left for his next school visit with the chancellor without taking any questions.