P.S. 267 Opens Doors

Medea McEvoy to lead new elementary school By [Alice Robb] Amidst recent budget cutbacks and school closings, one piece of good news on the public school front was recently a cause of celebration on the Upper East Side. P.S. 267, on York Avenue between East 77th and 78th streets, finally opened its doors Sept. 8 under the direction of Medea McEvoy, principal and veteran educator. The school starts its inaugural year with three kindergarten classes but will eventually add one grade a year until it finally houses students through the 5th grade. The opening of the new school should help alleviate some overcrowding that is currently plaguing Upper East Side elementary schools. This year, P.S. 267 is giving priority to families on the waitlists from P.S. 183, P.S. 290 and P.S. 59. McEvoy, a resident of the Upper East Side, started her career in the same district as her new school, at P.S. 6 on East 81st Street and Madison Avenue, where she spent a decade teaching 3rd through 6th grades. She went on to work for the New York City Department of Education in various leadership roles, including as director of literacy. However, she said that she started to miss being a part of a school community and what that entailed's coming to school every day, spending time in the classroom and being an integral part of students" and parents" lives. â??I think that being principal is the hardest job in the system, and I really wanted to do it, she said. McEvoy comes from a family entrenched in children"s education; both her mother and aunt were kindergarten teachers in New York. â??My mother always told me to be a teacher, she said. Her mother even gave her piano lessons because playing the piano was once a prerequisite for teaching kindergarten. It was not until she had experimented with careers in real estate, public relations, special events and catering that she finally heeded her mother"s advice, finding her place in education. Her years of experience in education helped shape her vision of P.S. 267. â??I wanted to write a proposal for a school that is informed by my experience and my travels to other schools, she said. â??It is going to be academically rigorous, it"s going to have a strong foundation in math and literacy, the students will do in-depth project-based studies in science and social studies, technology and the arts. McEvoy said that she believes the most important component of a successful school is dedicated teachers. She spent nearly five months searching for the best candidates. â??What I was looking for in teachers was not only experience but also that they have passions and interests and a love of learning. If they are learners themselves, they"re going to be the best model for students, she said. P.S. 267 is currently sharing space with another elementary school, P.S. 158. The principals of the schools have worked together to make sure their students will use facilities like the cafeteria at different times. McEvoy said that she has worked hard to maximize a tight budget, arranging to work with other schools so she can afford to give her students classes such as music, art and physical education. In two years, P.S. 267 plans to relocate to a permanent location on East 63rd Street between Second and Third avenues, a space currently occupied by the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.