Outstanding Principal
East Side Elementary School – PS 267
Principal Medea McEvoy
Grades K-5
213 East 63 Street
PS267.org
Describe your school’s core educational philosophy.
East Side Elementary School, PS 267, is a community of learners where wonderers come to learn, where observation and imagination are celebrated, and where the question “why” is welcomed and encouraged. It is academically rigorous, with a strong foundation in math and literacy and an emphasis on science, social studies, and the arts. Our goal is to ensure that the wonder and excitement that students bring with them not only lasts, but also deepens as they journey through elementary school and into middle school.
Tell us about a few of the school’s achievements or distinguishing programs.
We opened eight years ago, in another building, with three Kindergarten classes and 49 students. We have since moved to our permanent location and now have grades K-5 with over 400 students. Our students’ artwork has been selected as finalists for Project Arts at the Metropolitan Museum as well as the Manhattan Borough Arts Festival at MoMA. Their artwork is also displayed yearly at the City Council art show at Sotheby’s. We have added technology and introduced computer science including robots to all grades last year. We have also added chess to our curriculum and host Saturday chess competitions at our school.
What’s new?
Jackson is our new comfort dog. We adopted him at 10 weeks from the North Shore Animal League. He has been attending puppy training school and has learned a lot. He is loving, intelligent, very cute, and enjoys a lot of attention and spends time with parents, teachers, and students. He works with small groups of students to build social/emotional skills and to provide comfort and a way to de-stress. He also greets everyone in the morning at arrival and says goodbye in the afternoon at dismissal.
What do you love about your school?
I love our school community-students, teachers, staff, and parents. I enjoy coming to work each day knowing that I will spend my time in classrooms with excellent teachers learning alongside our students. I meet with parents, the PTA, SLT, and Executive Board to hear about their ideas and what is working well and what we need to work on. The school culture is one of collaboration and support in ensuring the happiness and safety of all.
