By Lily McInerney
As soon as I entered the conference room, Ms. Juliet L. Gevargis-Mizimakoski greeted me with a hug and a smile. Ms. Gevargis-Mizimakoski, who goes by “Ms. GM,” gave me personal advice for the future and stressed the importance of communication between parents, teachers, administrators, and students. Here is my exclusive interview with Irvington High School’s first female principal. It features her plans for IHS’s future, updates on the master schedule, a look into her personal life, and how she will be tackling some of the issues that have been raised by students, parents, and faculty.
How do you feel about being IHS’s first female principal?
I am honored, excited, and nervous. During the interview process I got to know many administrators, students, teachers, and felt excitement within me. There are some big shoes to fill in terms of the principal position. I’m excited to get to know everyone and live up to the high expectations at IHS.
What are some of your main goals for Irvington High School?
I want to connect with people, honor the traditions, and explore new ideas. I want to be able to partner with everyone and work together as a community. I understand that not everyone is going to agree all of the time, but I want everyone to share their voice, and have a complete understanding of what is going on and to feel included in every aspect of the high school.
Where have you worked before education-wise?
I taught social studies at Herbert H. Lehman High School in The Bronx. I also served as the Honor House Coordinator and the National Honor Society Advisor. Then I was the assistant principal at Millennium Art Academy in The Bronx. After that, I became the assistant principal of Tappan Zee High School, where I’ve been for the last 11 years.
What made you want to join the Irvington School District?
What really drew me in was the culture at Irvington High School and the close relationships that are cultivated. I also connected with Irvington’s strategic objectives, and was especially drawn to one of the mission statements that talked about skills and dispositions — being flexible thinkers, problem-solvers, reflective, empathetic, and collaborative. I was also excited by the size of the school because I have worked in much larger schools in the city where it was harder to get to know everyone on a first-name basis. From a parent perspective there is no such thing as an overly involved parent, all stakeholders will work together to support our students and I am prepared to listen to all.
What did you study in college/where did you attend?
I was a political science and communications double-major from the honors program at Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus and then I received my Master of Arts in Education from Fordham University’s School of Education. Then I received a Masters of Science in Administration from The College of St. Rose, and I am currently pursuing my doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Manhattanville College.
Do you have any updates on the Master Schedule?
The short answer is no. I’m in the process of learning all I can about it and making sure that all stakeholders have an understanding of the change. I understand the anxiety surrounding this change, as any form of change is always a little concerning, especially when there is no crisis calling for a change. Sometimes it’s good to have a change in a system, and though it can be challenging, it also brings new opportunity. Some share that the hybrid block helps prepare students for college, and also allows greater time for problem-based learning and exploration. In the past I have worked with the same consultant who is working on the master schedule and it went smoothly.
Some teachers and students have complained about a lack of voice they have in the decision-making process. How do you plan to address this?
I am here to serve the community and I want people to feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts and ideas and to let me know if something bothers them. Respect and communication are important and go both ways and I am currently trying to learn as much about the Irvington community as possible. I am prepared to listen to any concerns and ask any questions I need to help serve the community.
Are there any new major rules or changes you plan on quickly implementing?
Effective change takes time and I don’t think it would be respectful to start off making any big changes in the high school. I want to be able to get stakeholder and community voice involved whenever a big change is being made.
How will you involve students in any decision-making process?
My goal is to create a formal and informal way of constant communication between me and the students. I want students to feel comfortable to stop me in the hallway and to create an environment where students feel that they can always talk to me. In terms of a formal way of communicating I need the students’ help on figuring out the best way to get in contact with everyone, whether it’s meeting with class officers, club leaders, or The Paw Print regularly.
What do you think the role of a principal is in a school?
To be everyone’s person. I am here to make sure that the levels of teaching and learning are rigorous. To me, skills are the most important, of course content is important too. As mentioned earlier, what also drew me to Irvington was that one of the mission statements talked about skills and dispositions. I am a big believer in making sure students are learning important skills and dispositions in the classroom. I want students to be flexible thinkers, good communicators, and have a sense of grit. I want to make sure that every voice is heard related to any decision I make. I know that not everyone can be happy everyday but everyone should be feeling safe, respected, and comfortable at all times. If they are not feeling this way I want to create a comfortable environment where students and faculty can come and talk to me.
As the interview came to a close, Ms.GM’s excitement to take on the principal position at IHS was very clear. Her thoughtful responses are all the more reason The Paw Print is looking forward to covering her in the future.
