What year did you become a member of the PS 230 community?

2019

What do you like to do in NYC for fun?

In Manhattan, I love the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Building is so stately with its beautiful designed tall white Greek columns and shiny marble floors and high ceilings interior. Inside resides some of the most well known artists' works including Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Bridge Over a Pond Lilies by Claude Monet and The Dance Class by Edgar Degas. I love to sit and sketch the Roman statues and always purchase a refrigerator magnet to display my art.

Here in Brooklyn, I love to take a walk on the Coney Island Boardwalk where I went every Saturday from Suffolk County, Long Island as a child to visit my grandparents. In my neighborhood, I walk around my block 2x a day and look at all the beautiful flowers and vegetable gardens and sometimes photograph them. I love taking Betty, my Bengal cat out at night to sniff the grass and romp in the front garden while I sit on the front steps and say hi to neighbors.

When I travel, I like to go visit my family on Long Island to play with my granddaughter and hold my baby boy. I love to visit naturally beautiful places like the woods with a waterfall and a stream to splash in or a lake to swim in, or mountains to drive through. Walking on the beach collecting rocks and sea glass is fun too.

I love to design jewelry pieces from vintage ones and storm wood, shells and found objects. I also draw, paint, sculpt and do caricatures on weekends at parties!

What school and/or teacher most influenced you?

Mr. Burger, my science teacher and Mr. Derosa my music teachers had very big influences on my life.

What is your favorite book?

A Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is my favorite book. It personifies the tree. I see her as a giving mom who will give everything to make sure her child is OK. As a mom who made large sacrifices for my children's success I can relate. However, I believe any parent or guardian who gave of themselves in a huge way, male or female could relate to this book.

What is your favorite part of the school day?

My favorite part of the school day is when I speak one-on-one with my students getting to know their individual interests and acquainting my self with their work. I enjoy offering them guidance and access at anytime to my email.

What was your favorite subject when you were in elementary school and why?

My favorite subject was Band! I loved playing my flute with all the other students (many of which I became good friends with) to fill the room with great music. I also enjoyed Marching Band!

What do you remember most fondly about elementary school?

My Band Teacher really encouraged with me to become first flute in third grade. I was first flute from fourth through 12th grade.

If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would love to see wildlife in Australia and to go snorkeling on The Great Barrier Reef.

Do you have a pet? If so, tell us about it.

I have a Bengal Cat I rescued from an abandoned house that was boarded up from a fire. She comes when called, understands many things I tell her like to walk around things, sit, lay down and to go out.

Do you have kids? If so, tell us about them!

I have 699 kids. Oh! you mean my own kids. LOL

I have two grown children who have blossomed into successful young women. My younger child is 30 and lives in California with her partner. She is a professional singer and has done one woman theatrical shows. My other daughter is 32. She is an environmentalist who has chosen a career in guiding Corporations in the field of Green Energy and Sustainability. She is married to a gym teacher to be and is mom to our one year old boy and 3 year old girl.

When was a time you failed and what did you learn from it?

I failed Golf in High school and I learned I was very bad at it. LOL I also failed algebra because I could not understand how a letter to equal a number. My brain just was not developed to do abstract math until College. When I attended CW Post LI University I got it!

Do you have any hidden talents? Tell us about them!

I am an excellent cook. I cook many ethnic foods including Chinese, Italian, Jamaican, Tex Mex, Eastern European, and more.

What is your favorite quote and why?

What you think you become. What you feel you attract. What you imagine you create. - Buddha

Ms. Becker's profile