Power Packed Administrative Interviews of JSEC Administrators

With our 2023-2024 school year underway, our Newspaper Committee decided to try to interview the two Administrators of JSEC.  We thought that this would allow students to familiarize themselves with them.    Getting to know those who lead the school is always a win-win as any family is strengthened through building of relationships and JSEC is fortunate to have so many current amazing staff and some new staff this year.  We have proposed the following questions and listed each interviewee’s answers below each question.  Even as we conducted the interviews we learned so much more about the interviewees.  Special Thanks to Mrs. Testa &  Ms. Roderick for participating in the interviews.   Please note each interview will begin with the photo of that person and you will need to scroll down to see what each staff person had to say.

Interview #1—Our Principal Mrs. Testa

• What made you want to become an Administrator?   

In High School I saw how different Administrators treated kids differently, often not the same and it was unbalanced.  When I graduated I remember putting a quote in the Yearbook referring to how I wanted to become an Administrator in Secondary Administration because I wanted to be a voice for students who sometimes didn’t have one.

• What’s the last thing that you watched/streamed on TV? 

I streamed House of Usher.  I finished the entire series over the weekend.

• What city do you live in/where are you from?

I live in Providence now, I was born in Providence, and went to school in Providence.

• What is your impression of JSEC so far? 

I am excited about the upcoming school year with our new JSEC Redesign Plan.   I see a lot more order this year with clear and high expectations for students.  I am not afraid to hold all accountable and feel these 1st couple of months have been going very well and only expect things to get even better.

• What are 2 main things you want to improve here at JSEC?

Student groups, I would like to see more of them and also want student’s voices to be heard more often.

• When did you start your career and where did you go to college?

I’ve been at JSEC 13 years, 2 as a English Teacher Lead for English, 10 years as an Assistant Principal and 1 year (this year) as a new Principal and went to college at Rhode Island College.

• What are your thoughts on the Yondr Pouches?

The Yondr pouches have actually curved a lot of issues that were coming from phones last year and years past.  Examples of this were on-line bullying and students constantly being worried about things happening outside of school.  I see more students now paying attention in classes.  In the real world we are not putting phones in pouches.  The phone issue/distraction issue had gotten so bad to the point that we had to do something drastic.  How as a community can we reintegrate phones is another question that we will address at a later date.  There has to be a community agreement down the road of how we use them in classes.

• What’s your favorite thing to do outside of school?

I love the beach and vegging out on the couch watching TV.

• What’s are you looking forward to and what are your hopes for 2024?

Looking forward to getting the new Bio-Med Lab built here at JSEC.  Getting the Redesign Plan off the ground and ensuring JSEC Students are getting a world-class education are most certainly what my hopes include.

• Whats your favorite food?

Sushi

• If a genie could could give you 2 wishes what would they be?

Can I have more than 2 wishes?   My 1st wish would be to have both my Mom & Dad back would be my first wish.  The 2nd wish would be that myself and family are always safe and happy.

• What is one issue effecting the world that you feel needs to be addressed?

Treating human beings with kindness and ending racism.  In general people simply need to be nice to other people.

• What’s one thing you would tell your “15” year old self if you could?

Take advantage of all the opportunities afforded you.  When I was in high school I was focused on being with my friends.  I could have been a much better student.  It wasn’t because I couldn’t do it, it was because I didn’t want to do it.  It was easier for me to bunk and go go Mc’Donald’s on Broad.

• Please give 5 of your strengths and one weakness?

People skills, and being able to reach out to many people that others may not be able to are two strengths.  I am organized and it’s almost impulsive to be organized.  Being a mother, yes I have a 16 year old son,  who is a sophomore, is something I love.  Loyalty is also a strength and being able to listen to everyone else’s opinion and finally it’s tough for me to say no to things as I have always been a people-pleaser.

• If there was one thing you would want the entire student body to hear what would that be…a phrase, sentence, shout out, ect…..?

No matter how hard it seems right now, this has only been a small portion of your life, there is so much more experience ahead and do not let other people define you or who you are, or tell you what you are worthy of or are not worthy of, they do not know the true you and they do not know what is inside.

Interview #2—Our Vice Principal Ms. Roderick

• What made you want to become an Administrator?   

I had great mentors and role models who pushed me into administration and I decided on it because being represented a person of color matters.

• What’s the last thing that you watched/streamed on TV? 

The last episode of Love Is Blind.

• What city do you live in/where are you from?

I live in Providence, I grew up in East Providence and Pawtucket.  My Dad’s family is from Cape Verde and my Mom’s is Native American.

• What is your impression of JSEC so far? 

I have good impressions, students are great and you guys are learning.  Your choices are outspoken and curious and students seem to ask many questions.  Even when it feels challenging those are all good qualities and I want my students to have.

• What are 2 main things you want to improve here at JSEC?

One is a student voice, like leadership.  The idea behind schooling should be very focused and in order to have students focus we have to have student voice.  Two would be from the Administrator’s perspective is how are we getting the community involved and how to get the money so we can do more for our students.

• When did you start your career and where did you go to college?

I received my undergraduate degree at URI in Human Development and Family Studies, and worked at Del Sesto Middle School.  Then I went back to get my Masters in Teaching at Brown University and currently getting my Doctorate and Johnson and Wales for Educational Leadership.  My career in education started in 2015.

• What are your thoughts on the Yondr Pouches?

We have to learn the time and places to house our technology.  Cell phones can bring a lot to an education and to the classroom but they can bring a great deal of distraction as well.  My overall hope is that we can get to a place where we are learning and able to manage our cell phones use.   It is my responsibility as an individual to know when it is time to put the phone away.

• What’s your favorite thing to do outside of school?

I spend a lot of time with my family , but I’m in school right now and mostly read and write papers.

• What’s are you looking forward to and what are your hopes for 2024?

I am looking forward to my 2 friends having their babies but it’s nice being able to support and love your friends and see them grow.  I do look forward to holding the babies and giving them back when they cry.

• What’s your favorite food? 

Hands down pizza, yes,  even cafeteria pizza.

• If a genie could could give you 2 wishes what would they be?

I never got to meet my Mom’s parents, they passed away before I  was born so I hear a lot about my grandparents.  I think I would prioritize equity more in the world.   I think for a long time it was more about equality but how is everybody the same when the reality is we aren’t the same and that’s why we have different life experiences.  That’s okay and people should be afforded the opportunity to have those things so they can find success.

• What is one issue effecting the world that you feel needs to be addressed?

I still don’t have a clear answer yet to such a big question.  I can’t give one issue because I tell like I’m leaving a lot of stuff out but I would uplift a lot of things and the equity piece again which means how are we identifying barriers in the challenges that people have and how are we supporting people in the ways they need.

• What’s one thing you would tell your “15” year old self if you could?

To be your authentic self, even as an educator I talk with my hands, I use slang sometimes, I don’t sound like everybody else and that’s okay.   The people meant to be in your life will be in your life so be yourself, be authentically you and unique in a world that wants to change us and a society that is so filled with propaganda.

• Please give 5 of your strengths and one weakness?

Very empathetic, listening, building relationships, knowing when to put my food down, and knowing the human aspects of things.  I love to say all the time to give people grace.  Very resilient, I think it’s important to remember we all have a story.  I think it’s important to remember we all have a story. I think it’s important to remember that we are not the things we have gone through.  Even though I give others grace I have to remember to give myself grace.  I can be very hard on myself and set high expectations, I want to do things well and I want to do them well all the time.  I am human and things are going to happen so I am remembering to be kind to myself.

• If there was one thing you would want the entire student body to hear what would that be…a phrase, sentence, shout out, ect…..?

I want students to always and continue to show us as their most authentic selves, and with that I want us to  remember to be kind.  We need to give each other grace because everyday we walk through these doors somebody’s got something going on.    We need to be there for each other.