Caroline Veraldo, a second-grade teacher, is the coordinator for the Cook Shop program that teaches K-2 students about nutrition and different food groups. The program is partnered with Food Bank for New York City and features a recipe and a food group each week. Students have learned how to make a fruit salad with oranges and opening their palates to vegetables all while acquiring food preparation skills such as chopping and cutting.
“They’re learning about cooking healthy food and they're getting a chance to prepare it as well,” Veraldo said. “The one week was vegetable week and it was a lot of their first time trying celery and they ended up really liking it.”
Veraldo is in her third year at Brooklyn Excelsior after previously teaching in South Bend, Indiana. She has enjoyed the support and coaching she has received from Principal Megan Freeman and Dean of Lower Elementary Arielle Fitzgerald.
“I really like having them come into the classroom and see what’s going on and giving me advice on how to improve my teaching or suggestions on things,” she said. “As a newer teacher, that's something that I really appreciate. That culture of trying to grow and become the best version of your teacher self is something I really like about the school.”
Striving for growth is nothing new at the school. There is a friendly competition in numeracy assessments, with 92% of Veraldo’s students reaching mastery and another classroom hitting 100%. It all contributes to a learning environment at Brooklyn Excelsior that has outperformed the district for 17 years.
“It’s neck and neck, but it's a positive competition,” she said.
Keep up the excellent work, Ms. Veraldo!
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About Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School
Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School is a tuition-free, public charter school in Brooklyn, New York, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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