Staff Spotlight: Saphira Cherfils, Academy for Young Writers

How’d you first get started at BCS, and what is your current position?

Right now I work as a teacher at the Academy for Young Writers. I found out about this position through just looking up teacher positions. I’m in my gap year between college and grad school, so I wanted a part-time job that was flexible with me having to study.

Are you getting your graduate degree in teaching? What’s your educational background?

I got my bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, and I’m planning on attending medical school. So while I’m studying for the medical college entry exam, I’m able to work here. I started last year in October.

How have you been liking it at the school so far?

I really like it. At first, it was a culture shock. Honestly, I was taken aback by the environment of the school. But, over time, I’ve definitely grown very fond of the children and have relationships with a lot of them. Now, I’m very comfortable, and I understand them a lot better.

What was jarring about it at first?

It was just [the students’] behavior. A lot of them—the level of profanity that they use amongst each other was just…wow. I was taken aback. But, over time, I learned a lot about them, not just in terms of academics but also their home lives, which kind of explains a lot of the behavior and the way that they react to things. We’re in East New York, which is a lower-income neighborhood. 

I’d love to know what your day-to-day looks like at the Academy.

I work every day, but it’s only about four to five hours a day. We come in, we get them started with lunch, and then after lunch we usually move on to study hall, which is our time to help them with homework and such. That’s actually where I discovered the fact that a lot of the kids are missing foundational skills when it comes to math and reading. I’ve been able to help them a lot with that. 

After that, we usually have our fun time where the kids get to choose if they want to go to art or do physical activities. We have a restorative circle and creative literacy—different classes that they can enjoy outside of academics. They enjoy it because it gives them more exposure to different things 

In the time that you’ve been there, have you been able to see a lot of progress amongst the students?

I have. Some of them—especially when it comes to the studying portion—they’re more motivated now to really learn and understand a lot of the things. I emphasize to them the importance of their education and also how education is just a way of having upward social mobility. I think some of them have really taken that into consideration and are now actually taking an interest in their education. In my own personal experience, education has changed my life, so that’s why I stressed that.

Has this experience made you interested in ever teaching in the future? 

I’m very happy that I took a gap year, which allowed me to explore this. If it’s possible in my career, I would love to do that. 

Have there been any moments or interactions with the kids that have stuck out to you the most? Or any student who you’ve seen progress a lot? 

I’d say one kid named Davina. She definitely still has behavioral issues, but I’ve realized that beyond the behavioral issues, she’s very smart. She’s very capable academically, but her environment has hindered her. I think with me pushing her and making her do higher level math and stuff, she’s actually very interested in it. 

Last week, she brought me a worksheet and she told me how she’s in the sixth grade, but her teacher gave her a seventh grade worksheet and she was able to do it. That was a positive moment. I’m just hoping that by the time she gets into seventh or eighth grade, I’m able to convince her to focus her energy on her education and improve her behavior as well. I know she could go pretty far. She’s also interested in culinary, and I was like, “Oh, cool. You know, you can go to school for that, too.” 

What do you look forward to the most when you go to work? 

Honestly, just interacting with the kids. A lot of them have become very fond of me as well. We have this running joke in our group that I have shadows, because they kind of follow me around. I really look forward to just interacting with them and them telling me about their day and the silly stuff they did throughout the day.