A real class act

September 3, 2024

A real class act

MS 137 in Queens has such a strong "sense of community" according to Shenelle Ali, one of nine current faculty members who attended as students, that it draws educators back years after graduating.

Poonam Budhu Social studies teacher
Class of ’04
"This school is a true reflection of its students. When we embrace diversity, we enrich the educational experience for everyone."

Natasha Repaul, English teacher
Class of ’09

Breanna Kowlassar, English teacher
Class of ’12
Kowlassar’s middle school English teacher, Danielle Monock, "told me I could be a teacher. I took that and ran with it."

Dillon Partap, Social studies teacher
Class of ’11

Kevin Ramirez, Paraprofessional
Class of ’08

Shenelle Ali, Social studies teacher
Class of ’09
"My middle school experience was like every other middle school experience — horrible. But having teachers who really cared made things better. That’s why I chose MS 137. I wanted to be that for other kids in the community."

Rafeena Muntaz, Math teacher
Class of ’13
Muntaz credits her middle school math teacher for her career choice: "I chose to teach math because of him."

Vishal Ramnanan, Math teacher
Class of ’08
Fun fact: When Ramnanan teaches students to find slopes of lines, he uses street names from MS 137’s Queens neighborhood such as Atlantic Avenue, Liberty Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard.