Vera Shengalia says performance-based assessment helped her daughter after immigration
Vera Shengalia, parent of a consortium graduate and current Beacon student, says her daughter arrived from a third-world country and found her voice through performance-based assessments. Her daughter now studies at Cooper Union and was prepared to think, not just draw.
Hi, my name is Vera Shingelia.
I'm a mom of graduate of Urban Academy and a mom of a student who's in Beacon.
So I know immigrants aren't the most popular group in America right now, but in New York, families like mine aren't the exception.
We are the huge part of this city.
We fled in a third-oriented country.
When we arrived, my daughter, Vasilisa, was one of the many kids starting school here after their whole world had fallen apart.
For a child that feels like landing on Mars.
And I think the most important thing a school can do for that child is show her that not everything is gone.
Adults still listen and questions are still welcome and her voice still belongs to her.
A child in that state probably won't show her best thinking on a time test on one stressful morning.
But give her time, a hard question, and a teacher who pays attention, and you'll see what she can really do.
You cannot teach values through A, B, C, or D.
They grow through practice.
We're writing an essay for the fifth time, defending an idea out loud, fighting for your argument.
That's what performance-based assessments ask of students.
It isn't the easy option, and no one does it alone.
It takes teachers, classmates, a community.
Today, Vasilisa studies at Cooper Union.
Entrance days gave her a few abstract prompts and four weeks to turn them into six original concepts.
Drawing well wasn't enough.
They wanted to see whether she could think.
Her consortium school had prepared her for exactly that.
You know that we parents are anxious people.
We are always chasing the next goal.
High school, college, good job, good salary.
We rarely stop to ask why.
Immigration made me stop.
When you are running into the unknown with two kids and two suitcases, you remember very fast what matters.
We want our children to be free, honest, and brave.
As someone who fled an authoritarian country, I can tell you that people do not become free, honest, and courageous by learning to choose the correct box.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And I do want to address something.
I know that comment, the immigrants aren't the most popular group right now, is probably like a funny little side comment.
But I just want everyone watching to know that my office, the council, the Department of Education,
we do an incredible amount of work to celebrate and uplift our immigrant community because they are so loved.
It may not feel like that in the White House, but it's certainly that way here in New York City.
And I want everyone listening to know that.
Thank you so much from my family for that.
Yeah, thank you.