Erica Gaeta-Castori

I started working with students when I was a student myself as a tutor. I then went on to work at Sylvan Learning Centers. I secured a job in 2000 for the NYC DOE and have been a teacher ever since. I currently teach first grade, but have experience teaching all grades from Pre-K through 6th. Throughout my 22 years teaching for the NYC DOE I have had many opportunities to create and teach different curriculums. I am a constant learner and willing to train and go back to school if necessary to ensure student success. As a former teacher at PS 69X I was chosen to be part of the Datawise initiative through Harvard University where I also acquired over 26 hours of instruction led by such innovators as Howard Gardner. I also was sent to New Orleans to work on a project set up by the Smithsonian institute where I had the opportunity to work with fellow teachers on teams and then turn-key information to the administration at my school upon my return. I have excellent writing, communications, and relationship-building skills, too. I have been teaching at PS196-Literacy and Arts Academy since Sept. 2014. I have worked here as a Science cluster teacher for grades 1-5. I am currently teaching Grade 1. I have experience creating curriculum for First Grade, including but not limited to scope and sequence and mapping. I have worked in First Grade more than any grade over the course of my career and am currently working with the TC Reading and Writing programs and Wilson’s fundations. I use the Go Math! Program, as well. I have taught in all levels PreK to 6 and even had an experience teaching Korean students how to speak English. I am very flexible and very willing to work in an classroom setting, as well as working out of the classroom. I have my Master’s Degree in Literacy, as well. For the 2022-2023 school year I will be Grade Lead for First Grade and will continue to work with Data Wise. I am teaching an ICT class with an amazing co teacher, as well.