Kylie Allston

Ms. Fudge’s Classroom

Leadership & Public Service H.S. has adjusted well to sharing its building with another school on its 30th anniversary.  In students’ eyes, it may not seem like a drastic change since classrooms are classrooms, but two departments would need to rebuild science labs and an art studio.  Beloved teachers, Ms. Fudge, Ms. Mente, and Ms. Paradise, have had to relocate their classrooms to floors eight and eleven. Lead News interviewed Ms. Fudge, Ms. Mente, and Ms. Paradise to learn about how they prepared for the 2023-2024 academic year.  These are their responses. 

Kylie (Lead News): As a teacher at Leadership, how have the changes within our school made you feel?

Fudge: “A little difficult, and frustrating because before the change I had a whole floor to myself, with two sinks to clean brushes, paint, and other materials, however it was also a positive change”.

Mente: “I was on the 5th and 4th floor for 17 years, the change gave me the opportunity to look at our school in a different light and to know other colleagues better since the 5th floor entirely belonged to science teachers.”

Paradise: “At first I was nervous because I didn’t know what things would be like, but there was a small group who were excited because we didn’t get to see a lot of teachers.”

All three teachers informed Lead News that before the co-location of another school, they had entire floors dedicated to science and art.  Despite the apparent loss, they all saw the light in this change. Each teacher expressed that although these were the floors they had been on for so long, they were excited to be on floors closer to other disciplines and colleagues.  In other words, before the change, the science and art departments were somewhat isolated. 

Kylie (Lead News): How did you adapt to losing your science labs or art studio? 

Fudge: “I had a lot of help, a friend helped decorate the room, and students as well as janitors”

Mente: “I changed my mindset, I was used to certain routines like waking up around 6:30 leaving the house at 7:40, and arriving at school before 8. I wanted to change my old routine by giving myself the chance to experience school the way students do, for example, taking the stairs, and coming very early.”

Paradise: “I think one of the biggest things was trying to set up this classroom, the way it was on the 4th floor, and relying a lot on Ms Mente, and we are both going through the same situation. And by being flexible.”

When listening to their responses,  Lead News admired that each teacher adapted to these changes by getting help from someone, whether it was from other adults or students. Ms. Paradise and Ms. Mente, both science teachers, helped each other through this process. 

Kylie (Lead News): What effect did this change have on your previous routines, what new routines did you have to get used too? 

Fudge: “Storage for student work, trying to figure out where to store things, and how to work around the room having no sink to clean up materials.”

Mente: “One new routine I had to get used to was being in a different classroom.  I used to have different spaces to prepare materials for class.”

Paradise: “The elevators stop on this floor and now I am getting used to all the students walking past this room. Also, I share this classroom with Ms Ramos.”

Responses revealed that art and science require space for storage and for setting up labs and art projects.  Storage is crucial for keeping up with student materials and working materials. 

Kylie (Lead News): What did you have to change in your new classrooms to make it feel like your previous classroom? 

Fudge: “I had to make the room look brighter, so I added greenery and decorations.”

Mente: “Remodel. I had to throw out a lot of former materials so that it could fit in this space, and I had to make sure to use materials that were crucial and not unnecessary or not as needed.”

Paradise: I tried to put all the tables in the same position as I had them In 415. I tried to make it look similar to the old one, and I also brought up my smart board”.

Ms. Paradise, Room 805

Regardless of the changes in their rooms, each teacher remodeled them to their liking and used similar aspects from their old rooms in their new ones. 

Kylie (Lead News): Do you prefer the new classrooms or the old ones? 

Fudge: “The new one. However, I miss having two sinks and bulletin board space for artwork.”

Mente: “The old ones, I got used to having a certain routine, this classroom is still new and I have to get used to it. When you’re used to a certain habit, it’s hard to stop doing it.”

Paradise: Some things I miss about my old room, the windows, the view of Trinity church, but now I like being close to the main office and being around other teachers.”

Although change can be difficult, being open to new surroundings can be positive. By being open to change, Leadership staff continues to take on the task of giving its students no less than what they deserve.