To the Community,

From Bronxville Teachers Association

Jan. 12, 2021: If you know anything about The Bronxville School teachers, we are an illustrious faculty who has earned Double Masters and PhDs and National Board Certification.  We are published researchers and writers and we present annually at renowned educational conferences.  We bring vast experience to the classroom:  97% of our staff has more than 3 years experience.  Many staff members enrich our learning environments as this is their second career; formerly, working in investments or marketing agencies or human resources or publishing.  

95 staff members took part in a Bronxville Teachers’ Association (BTA) survey which shed more light on our dedication.  Our aides are a dedicated group who anchor our students’ needs and advocate for their learning and who have relished working with students from kindergarten through our Life Skills program.   

We have logged an impressive amount of teaching years here at Bronxville. Of our 95 respondents to our survey, 7 have taught for over thirty years, 7 have careers which span 26-30 years, 13 have anchored themselves here for 21-25 years, 21 have served for 16- 20 years; 17 have invested and perfected their craft for 11-15 years; 15 of us have served for 6- 16 years, and 16 have launched their career here between 0-5 years.  We are also highly qualified with our professional growth:  Five colleagues have earned PhDs, 52 are teaching at Masters + 75 credits beyond, 17 instruct students with sixty credits beyond their Masters Degree.  And eighteen of us have Masters +30 credits.  To date, all but 2 colleagues have earned their Masters Degrees and many have two Masters’ Degrees.  

When we are not planning lessons or supporting learners in the classroom, 19% of those who took the survey have coached a sport; 45% of our staff members have taught a BASC course, which is an afterschool enrichment program; 35% have led a book talk for colleagues on trending issues in education.  Our Elementary teachers create exceptional units including connections with an orphanage in Africa, leading the Philadelphia trip, creating school plays and Innovation Night, and overseeing field days organized for each grade level by our talented physical education teachers.  19 Middle School teachers run clubs, advisories, or both, which are vital to the caring, dynamic atmosphere which is so integral to the needs of adolescents. 19 High School teachers reported how they invest personalized time into Independent studies with students and even more of our colleagues dedicate themselves to our clubs.  These overtures help us to not only connect with our treasured students but also to provide them with varied, vibrant, and personalized opportunities for their success and passions.

According to state and federal data, 96% students are proficient in math and reading 97% of our students participate in Advanced Placement courses, our students’ graduation rate is 99%, and teachers embrace and embody our Bronxville Promise.

During Covid-19 near total shutdown nationwide of schools, we were quickly trained on how to Zoom and then sent home to launch it.  From that day, we teachers did not miss a single day or lesson; in fact, we are one of a few nationwide schools that never missed a day of instruction, demonstrating unparalleled dedication to our community and students while managing Zooms for our own families and their educations. Our school garnered publicity in newspaper articles to this end.  According to the 2021 US News and World Report, we are ranked #145 in the Nation, #22 of all high school public and private #13 in all New York public high schools- all earned during this pandemic.

Clearly, we are an invested, talented, dedicated group who- in our year of contract negotiations- deserve respect commensurately. 

Editor's note:  MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements in letters to the editor, and the opinions do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff. Its objective in publishing letters to the editor is to give air to diverse thoughts and opinions of residents in the community.