Newburgh Futures David Gallagher

                           

Welcome to the Newburgh Futures Podcast. Newburgh Futures is a project that uses the power of story to build community and imagine futures locally here in Newburgh and more broadly in communities across the country. The podcast is a project of the Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York.

On today’s episode, we will hear from the President and Vice President of the Newburgh School Board, as they address the students at NFA West, as part of the WEST University Guest Speaker Series. Each Thursday, guests from the community are invited to speak to the students about their professional journey and offer advice.

Ms. Carole Mineo, the President of the School Board for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, was a classroom teacher and then principal before retiring and becoming a school board member.

Ms. Susan Prokosch, the Vice President of the Board, was also a classroom teacher for many years in Newburgh.

Both Ms. Mineo and Ms. Prokosch were the first women to go to college in their families, and they both have led successful lives as leaders in the community and are working to improve our schools today.

NECSD News: Newburgh School Board Members Part of Career Discovery Series

Date of recording: 10/5/17

[3:20] Ms. Mineo discusses why she decided to serve on the school board

[5:30] Ms. Prokosch discusses being the first person in her family to go to college and how she grew as a student

[7:20] Prokosch discusses how the concept for NFA West came to be

[9:00] Ms. Prokosch gives advice for students at the school

[11:10] Ms. Lakeya asks about move to Big Picture Learning

[11:20] Ms. Mineo discusses the process of becoming a Big Picture Learning School

[15:00] Ms. Mineo and Ms. Prokosch discuss what inspired them to become teachers

[17:00] Ms. Prokosch & Ms. Mineo discuss what they think about the Capital Bond Proposal

[19:00] Ms. Prokosch & Ms. Mineo talk about their personal inspiration to get where they are today

[21:10] Ms. Prokosh & Ms. Mineo talk about what they would change if they had the chance

[22:00] Ms. Prokosch & Ms. Mineo talk about the importance of traveling to grow as people

Our first podcast series will bring you the talks from the Guest Speaker series at Newburgh Free Academy, West Campus High School. In the first episode, Dr. Roberto Padilla shares how fear and addiction led to his success.  Dr. Padilla grew up in Newburgh, N.Y. and graduated from Newburgh Free Academy (NFA), the local public high school.  Dr. Padilla was in foster care when young and experienced a lot of moving around in the city.  When he was in 10th grade, Dr. Padilla’s two close friends were murdered within 3 months of each other.  After losing his two friends in high school, he became dedicated to learning and succeeding in school for the first time in his life.



Dr. Padilla went on to attain his bachelors in Education and his masters and Ph. D. from Fordham University. He has been a teacher, coach, vice principal, and principal.  Dr. Padilla returned to Newburgh and is now the Superintendent of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.  Dr. Padilla shares with the NFA West students his passion for learning and his belief in their ability to, like him, "set a new course for yourself."