It wasn't so long ago that Utica native Brandon Long '06 was sitting in a Proctor High School classroom as a student. Now he's on the other side of the desk as a Spanish teacher at Utica's John F. Kennedy Middle School. At a time when the city of Utica is emphasizing a drive to keep young professionals in the Mohawk Valley, Long personifies why that's a worthy initiative.
Long is featured in the most recent edition of the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties newsletter in an article titled "Young Scholars Standout Now Making a Difference as Teacher."
A Utica native and graduate of Thomas R. Proctor High School, Long is now teaching 7th and 8th grade Spanish at John F. Kennedy Middle School in North Utica. Long earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Hamilton.
While a student at Proctor, Long was a participant in the Young Scholar's Liberty Partnerships Program. According to the Community Foundation newsletter, "Supported by the Community Foundation, Young Scholars provides motivational and related services to Utica City School District students to help them stay in school, perform well academically and go on to college. The students are often members of minority groups who face social and economic risks, but who have the potential to excel."
In 2003 Long was featured in a Community Foundation advertisement that noted he had recently entered Hamilton College and had quickly been elected president of the first-year class. After graduation he obtained a job in the banking industry, and according to the newsletter, was "bitten by the teaching bug when a friend told him the Utica School District was looking for Spanish teachers." Long, who spent a semester in Spain while a student at Hamilton, earned his teaching certification from Utica College and in September began teaching at JFK.
Long, who teaches five classes a day, remarked in the Community Foundation article "I've immersed myself in it. I have general course guidelines to follow, but I also have the flexibility of controlling the schedule and not being rushed. That makes me more effective in what I pass along to my students."
In the article, Utica Superintendent of Schools Marilyn Skermont says "The district is very pleased to have him return to teach in Utica. Brandon is a very bright, energetic young man, and we are proud to have him stay in our community. He is a great success story and a role model."
The article notes that Long's future plans include gaining tenure after teaching for three years and earning a master's degree. "Returning to Spain to teach English there could follow. Exploring other opportunities in the United States and ultimately returning to the Utica area are long-term prospects," the article notes.
In another article in the newsletter Becky Griffin '09 is also mentioned in the newsletter as the recipient of a Community Foundation summer internship. Griffin was a summer fellow for evaluation in which she assisted staff in the review and evaluation of numerous Foundation grants.
Long is featured in the most recent edition of the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties newsletter in an article titled "Young Scholars Standout Now Making a Difference as Teacher."
A Utica native and graduate of Thomas R. Proctor High School, Long is now teaching 7th and 8th grade Spanish at John F. Kennedy Middle School in North Utica. Long earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Hamilton.
While a student at Proctor, Long was a participant in the Young Scholar's Liberty Partnerships Program. According to the Community Foundation newsletter, "Supported by the Community Foundation, Young Scholars provides motivational and related services to Utica City School District students to help them stay in school, perform well academically and go on to college. The students are often members of minority groups who face social and economic risks, but who have the potential to excel."
In 2003 Long was featured in a Community Foundation advertisement that noted he had recently entered Hamilton College and had quickly been elected president of the first-year class. After graduation he obtained a job in the banking industry, and according to the newsletter, was "bitten by the teaching bug when a friend told him the Utica School District was looking for Spanish teachers." Long, who spent a semester in Spain while a student at Hamilton, earned his teaching certification from Utica College and in September began teaching at JFK.
Long, who teaches five classes a day, remarked in the Community Foundation article "I've immersed myself in it. I have general course guidelines to follow, but I also have the flexibility of controlling the schedule and not being rushed. That makes me more effective in what I pass along to my students."
In the article, Utica Superintendent of Schools Marilyn Skermont says "The district is very pleased to have him return to teach in Utica. Brandon is a very bright, energetic young man, and we are proud to have him stay in our community. He is a great success story and a role model."
The article notes that Long's future plans include gaining tenure after teaching for three years and earning a master's degree. "Returning to Spain to teach English there could follow. Exploring other opportunities in the United States and ultimately returning to the Utica area are long-term prospects," the article notes.
In another article in the newsletter Becky Griffin '09 is also mentioned in the newsletter as the recipient of a Community Foundation summer internship. Griffin was a summer fellow for evaluation in which she assisted staff in the review and evaluation of numerous Foundation grants.
