It has been my pleasure

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By Joyce Szuflita

I am sending out this special letter to express my gratitude to all Brooklyn families who have reached out me over the last 18 years, and to all of you, who have listened to the hundreds of talks, read the almost 400 blogs and almost 200 newsletters. Somehow, I created a business that was also a deep vocation. All I wanted was a job where I could wear ALL my stoop sale jewelry and become a one name celebrity. You all were so kind to indulge me. Be aware that my right hand, Dom, is happy to keep my ego in check. He tells me daily that he has OSHA on speed dial (even though he works from his own home.) And while we are on the subject of Dom…he came to me by accident, with no saleable skills, and became my touchstone, friend, and consigliere. I would have drowned a thousand times without him.

Your children are so lucky to have parents who care so much about their education. And I am so lucky to have met your families. You have all been delightful. Gracious, in the face of my manic, rapid-fire monologues, and my salty language. You knew that I only wanted you to understand and make the best non-fear-based decisions possible. Little by little the message has permeated the neighborhoods. Brooklyn is awesome, and it has been my great honor to be a part of this supportive community. 

I knew that I couldn’t do this forever. My wonderful, long-suffering husband has endured years of my insufficient work/life balance. He is retired and it is time to join him. This high school admission season will be my last. I have booked my final consult, and I am moving on. More on that in a minute.

Don’t panic.
I would never leave you without a plan.

Dana Szarf came into my life 4 years ago. I recognized a kindred spirit immediately. I could not have survived the last 4 years without her. She has the temperament, knowledge, and experience to carry the message with grace and humor. It is a delicate thing to pass on the legacy of a venture like this and once I found Dana, I knew that I could move on without a single qualm.

This is a big job and it is growing. It has become clear over the past few years that we needed help, so we would like to announce that going forward, two wonderful consultants are joining the team at NYC School Help. Abigail Kahn and Audrey Fleischner will be focused on high school consultations, and Dom will continue to keep them all in line.

Abigail and Audrey’s insights about the NYC Public High School process are deep and nuanced. They are skilled in communicating about process and content with parents and students. They met as an ICT team. As former teachers, they have deep knowledge of the workings of the DoE, and they can support students with disabilities as well as general ed students. They already have experience as tutors and consultants, and I have shared my knowledge and perspectives with them as well. They thoroughly understand the admission criteria and school cultures.

Essentially, they know what you need to know, and they have the empathy and insight to give you the kind of advice that I have been giving you. I highly recommend them, and I don’t make these recommendations lightly. It is personal for me.

You can contact them through the NYC School Help website.

So, what am I doing next? Good question.
I came to Brooklyn in 1981, with the intention of just staying for a year. I needed to decide whether I wanted to go to grad school for painting or theatre design. 44 years later…I need to figure out who I am now. If you are curious about my evolving self, you can follow my escapades here.

And because I am always learning from my millennials, I also have an Instagram account. Nothing there yet, but soon…

Thanks for your curiosity and support.

Remember,

  • You don’t need to find “the best school”. You need to find the place where your children can be their best selves.

  • You learn as much from the missteps as you do from the successes.

  • Rank schools in true preference order.

Best of luck,
Joyce