At its June 8 graduation, NYMA said farewell to 21 seniors and a superintendent. Maria Reeves, the dean of academics, hosted the outdoor ceremony on the quadrangle.
When it was time to introduce the superintendent, the dean cited all the improvements that had taken place while Jie Zhang was in charge.
The school surpassed its enrollment goal of 100 students. The curriculum expanded to include advanced-placement and college-level courses. Contractors refurbished the gym, replaced roofs, upgraded bathrooms and paved the quadrangle.
This was interesting news for observers who have watched the school rebuild under its new leadership. A lot has happened in the three years Mrs. Zhang has been on the job. “But there won’t be a Year 4,” the dean said sadly.
The superintendent has accepted a job as the head of a new high school in Shanghai — an area she left 34 years ago to study in the United States. She arrived at JFK with $40 in her pocket and later took the NTE exam three times before she passed it. Her first teaching job was at the prison at Rikers Island.
Mrs. Zhang cited the early days of her career to offer the graduates an example of persistence. After an ominous beginning, she eventually became the principal of an elite high school in New York City. The guest speaker for the day, A.J. Sabbath, also got off to a slow start.
After losing his father, he came to NYMA as a cadet with a chip on his shoulder. And the chip stayed there until he realized that he wasn’t the only person with problems. He graduated in 1988, and has returned to NYMA as often as possible. He still believes in the importance of first impressions and having shoes that are always shined. Mr. Sabbath has held government positions in New Jersey and is a trustee of Ramapo College.
He wasn’t the only person to come back to NYMA on June 8. Master Sergeant Fletcher Bailey, a retired faculty member, drove through the night to get to the ceremony from his home in Georgia. He arrived in time to see 21 seniors graduate, and 10 eighth-graders move up to the high school.
John Dolan, the director of admissions, sat next to Mrs. Zhang on the podium. He will replace her as superintendent. The transition will take place soon because Mrs. Zhang will be leaving the country this month.
