tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6178330661968922056.post8610510550712515367..comments2024-03-09T03:53:10.077-05:00Comments on NYC Rubber Room Reporter and ATR CONNECT: Francesco Alexander Portelos, Tenured Teacher at Berta Dreyfus I.S. 49, Wins The "A For Accountability" AwardBetsy Combierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6178330661968922056.post-57958594375596966112012-03-24T13:00:14.144-04:002012-03-24T13:00:14.144-04:00I've known Mr. Portelos since he started teach...I've known Mr. Portelos since he started teaching at 49. First, 49 is no "amazing" school; I've had my share of bad experiences there. For me, going to school every day was no walk in the park. My friends and I have been jumped, mugged, harassed - by our own fellow students. Imagine what it's like for the staff? Every teacher struggles daily to do their best and I've seen the best in teachers at this school. I've met some of the most committed instructors in my life here at 49. They've sacrificed hours just to improve what outsiders would consider a failing school. I thank those teachers, because they were the ones who changed me, who changed my life. Mr. Portelos was one of those teachers. His service to the school via the robotics team, his efforts to integrate technology into the school, and his work to create an atmosphere appealing to kids who are uninterested in education have earned my respect. I was angered by a newspaper article slandering the school a few months ago, because I know that there are quality teachers and quality students in this building. 49 is not a lost cause. I know, because Mr. Portelos among other teachers, Mr. Valia, Ms. Monohan, Ms. Martino... allowed me - an alumni to blossom. My middle school years had some unforgettable moments and I attribute many of them to Mr. Portelos. I was deeply involved at this school. I stayed long hours, everyday, every week. I attended school early in the morning, left school late in the afternoon. I skipped lunch nearly everyday to go to Mr. Portelos's STEM Lab. My friends and I made the most of our middle school years, we had fun while gaining recognition of our school through awards and competitions. We were better than other "well-off" middle schools in Cranial Crunch, our Robotics team etc. Portelos was a huge factor behind my 3 years at 49. Though he came in during my second year, his passion for kids never ended both inside and outside of the school building. I am a witness of that. Besides mentoring me in technology and engineering, besides showing me that teachers and students can build friendly relationships, besides making me believe in a school that everyone else called "a place full of hoodlums" - he saved me once. While going home from 49 one day, kids threatened to mug me. I was not alone; I was with my friend. My friends were mugged before, but this was my first time. I walked faster, ignoring the kids who kept saying "Where you going? You got some money?" They stopped us. They reached into our pockets when we protested. This was when Portelos pulled over in his car. "Hey what's going on here. What are you guys doing?" He addressed the kids and they ran away. "You guys alright there?" "Yeah. Those kids just wanted money we didn't have." "Are you guys really okay?" After a brief chat, we joked that he would be our "guardian angel" in his "Bat-Mobile". A couple of blocks later, I realized that Portelos was keeping watch over us, just in case something happened again. He drove away when we reached our bus stop. I'll never forget that moment. I love this school. I respect Ms. Hill. I wish the kids here a better future. And I hope that Mr. Portelos is not innocently victimized by what might just be a BIG misunderstanding. I'm standing up for him. I'm standing up for this "guardian angel" of a teacher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com