To the Editor:
Two score and seven years ago, Evelyn Taraszkiewicz began her career as a Bayonne High School history teacher. It is with mixed emotions that we wish her a happy retirement on June 30.
Evelyn’s hallmarks were her indescribable work ethic and her vision. Educated at Mount Carmel, Holy Family Academy, Notre Dame College of Staten Island, and Seton Hall University, “Mrs. T” worked long hours into the night, weekends, and summers. She always had some “cutting edge” idea to be implemented. She would research a problem and enter every argument, armed and dangerous. She was passionate about raising the bar for academics. As a history teacher, she started the Honors Program. Many of her students became national leaders in the fields of medicine, education, business, and law. They continue to thank her to this day.
Since the 1970s, Evelyn has been the director of social studies. Six years ago, she was given an additional title – English director. First, she provided each of us with the latest technology. Then she ordered all new textbooks. Next, she changed our schedules to match the HSPA demands. She directed us to rewrite curriculum. She imposed a new writing program on us, which we vehemently rejected. However, the students’ scores improved within a year!
Evelyn, you have taught us to stand up for what’s right, even if we stand alone. You have led by example, defending your love of civil rights, education, and free speech. You have placed books in the hands of 3,000 teenagers every summer. You have directed them to complete 140,000 total hours of service learning. With ferocity and determination, you have battled every force that threatened academic excellence. If “all the world’s a stage,” you starred at the Beehive for 47 years. Our HSPA scores are now the highest in history.
And now, as you take your final bow, we applaud you. Mrs. T, you are our Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man all rolled into one. With courage, brains, and heart, you took us over the rainbow. You’ve etched in the hearts of our students the knowledge that, “All men are created equal.” Hopefully, because of you, they will stand up for those words in every corner of the world.
BAYONNE HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FACULTY