Michaelah Valentine
Where did you grow up and what was your first language?
I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. My first language is English.
What from your hometown do you wish you could find in New York City?
When I was younger, I loved attending the annual carnival, festival, or circus that came in town. I eagerly waited for the day I could play games to win the biggest stuffed animals, wear some funky circus light up gear, and eat zeppoles and funnel cake with my friends and family. I still look forward to all of those things even now because they bring me back to when I was a child growing up and remind me of home.
Where did you go to college?
I attended Rutgers University where I earned my B.A. in Social Work and Africana Studies. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Education at Relay Graduate School of Education.
What was your favorite book in middle school?
My favorite book in middle school was The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney.
What is the best part of teaching at Hamilton Grange?
The best part of teaching at HG is having the wonderful opportunity of getting to know my students and building relationships with them during Advisory and Club. I enjoy these moments because they allow both the students and teachers to understand that we are both not only teachable, but, we are both people. When I was in middle school often times the only thing I knew about my teachers is that they were teachers and maybe if they had a pet. It was like solving a mystery to know that they had a life outside of teaching. Club and Advisory not only add a unique way for students to learn more about one another, but for staff and students to build sustainable relationships while learning.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not teaching?
I love exploring different places like museums and restaurants with my family and close friends. I also enjoy doing hair.
What is your favorite quote?
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2 NKJV
Michaelah Valentine
Where did you grow up and what was your first language?
I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. My first language is English.
What from your hometown do you wish you could find in New York City?
When I was younger, I loved attending the annual carnival, festival, or circus that came in town. I eagerly waited for the day I could play games to win the biggest stuffed animals, wear some funky circus light up gear, and eat zeppoles and funnel cake with my friends and family. I still look forward to all of those things even now because they bring me back to when I was a child growing up and remind me of home.
Where did you go to college?
I attended Rutgers University where I earned my B.A. in Social Work and Africana Studies. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Education at Relay Graduate School of Education.
What was your favorite book in middle school?
My favorite book in middle school was The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney.
What is the best part of teaching at Hamilton Grange?
The best part of teaching at HG is having the wonderful opportunity of getting to know my students and building relationships with them during Advisory and Club. I enjoy these moments because they allow both the students and teachers to understand that we are both not only teachable, but, we are both people. When I was in middle school often times the only thing I knew about my teachers is that they were teachers and maybe if they had a pet. It was like solving a mystery to know that they had a life outside of teaching. Club and Advisory not only add a unique way for students to learn more about one another, but for staff and students to build sustainable relationships while learning.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not teaching?
I love exploring different places like museums and restaurants with my family and close friends. I also enjoy doing hair.
What is your favorite quote?
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2 NKJV
DATA AND STATISTICS
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4,771: Schools in New York State (public and charter)
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1,700: Schools in New York City
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10: Schools in NY State that met the requirements to be honored as a Reward School for Progress
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2: Schools from the NYC DOE honored as Reward Schools for Progress
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1: Middle School (grades 6 - 8) in ALL OF NY State to be honored for Progress
That one middle school, is ours. We are one of two schools in the City, Elementary and High Schools included, that made the gains necessary to be honored by the State. But even more impressive, WE WERE THE ONLY MIDDLE SCHOOL (6th - 8th grade) IN NEW YORK STATE THAT MADE LARGE ENOUGH GAINS TO BE HONORED AS A PROGRESS SCHOOL. THE ONLY ONE (check out the press here).
English Language Arts (ELA)
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The share of Hamilton Grange students scoring at proficiency in ELA increased by over 5 times from 2015 to 2016!
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Hamilton Grange improved from 3% students at proficiency on the New York State exam in 2015 to 16% in 2016. Hamilton Grange’s growth was greater than both the city and district.
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Hamilton Grange also decreased its percentage of students scoring at level 1 from 55% in 2015 to 37% in 2016, a greater decline than the city and district.
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Students with Disabilities (SWDs) improved from 0 to 7% proficiency, outpacing SWDs in the rest of the district.
Math
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The share of Hamilton Grange students scoring at proficiency in math increased 43% from 2015 to 2016!
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Hamilton Grange students made significant strides in math, improving by 6 percentage points, from 14% proficiency on the New York State exam in 2015 to 20% in 2016.
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Students scoring at level 1 decreased from 47% to 30% - a lower share of students scoring at this level than the district and city.
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6th graders improved most compared to their 5th grade scores in 2015 with 28% proficiency in 2016 compared to 20% in 2015. Even more dramatic was the reduction by 27 percentage points in students scoring at level 1 from 46% to 19% - neither trend was matched by the district.
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7th graders reduced the percentage of students scoring at level 1 from 47% to 44%. By comparison, the number of students scoring at level 1 across the district increased from 41% to 44%.
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Hamilton Grange English Language Learners outperformed their peers throughout the district with 10% scoring at proficiency compared to 3% for the district. The number of Students with Disabilities scoring at level 1 decreased 23 percentage points from 86% to 63%, a trend not matched at the district level.
Reading
According to the Degrees of Reading Power exam we administer three times each year to all of our students ...
On average, Hamilton Grange students began the year reading at a mid-year, fourth grade level (53.1). By June, they were reading at an end of year, sixth grade level (60.2), well over one year's worth of reading progress.
What Our Students and Their Families Say
Students
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91% of our students say that their teachers challenge them to be better thinkers in most or all of their classes, compared with 84% of students across the rest of the district
Families
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98% of parents feel that Hamilton Grange staff work hard to build trusting relationships with families.
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97% of parents feel that Hamilton Grange staff regularly communicate to parents how they can help students learn
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99% of parents feel that Hamilton Grange teachers and families think of each other as partners in educating children