Dear LREI Community,
Hello! How are you? Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year. Today was the first day that all students, preK-12th grade, were in school for a full day, on campus, back from orientation, done with phase-in, all here, present and accounted for. It is so nice to all be here together, focused, working hard, getting in our groves.
As you know, each Thursday afternoon we send home a note from the principals or from me, or from the occasional guest writer. This week, however, I have chosen to write on Wednesday, on the eve of primary election day, rather than on election day itself, anticipating our participation in our democratic society. I look forward to meeting with the high school student body in the next few days to encourage all who are 18 or older to register to vote in the general election in November. It is important to get into the habit early. The registration deadline for the November 6, 2018 general election is October 12, 2018.
In addition to voting as a way of choosing to participate, I have long thought that LREI graduates would, and do, make terrific candidates, officeholders, staffers, etc. This summer during a meeting with a group of alumni, I realized that in the room we had three alumni, one from the class of 2009 and two from the class of 2008, who work for the NYC government in some capacity. One was the briefing director for Mayor DeBlasio before returning to graduate school last week. She also had worked on a number of campaigns prior to her joining the Mayor’s staff. Another LREI grad is currently the chief of staff for a member of the NY City Council and the third is a lawyer for the NYC Conflicts of Interest Board. A fourth former student and current LREI trustee, Robert Rosenthal ‘80, while not in the room on the night in question, is currently a candidate in Manhattan to be a Civil Court judge. So proud of these alumni and their choices to work in these important roles in city government.
We must encourage more of our graduates to put their talents to work as politicians, staffers, strategists, activists, etc. The skills and experiences that our students gain from their earliest days here –critical thinking, a sense of responsibility for others, time spent collaborating, the ability to consider various points of view – are excellent preparation for so many roles in government and advocacy. I see a bright future ahead, led by many LREI grads.
See you at the polls,
Phil