Scenes from Chalkbeat’s back-to-school event

About 135 teachers, education advocates, administrators, students, and friends gathered for Chalkbeat’s back-to-school event on Tuesday night for conversation, new connections, and live story-telling.

The night included a first look at Chalkbeat New York’s new partnership with StoryCorps. Attendees heard stories from New York City teachers and an eighth-grade student from a Harlem charter school, plus guests were encouraged to share their own education stories with us.

Click here to listen to the live story-share between Democracy Prep Charter Middle School teacher Noah Mackert and his former student, Kristophe Yen.

(Philissa Cramer)
Ruth Mesfun, a computer science teacher at Excellence Girls Charter School Middle Academy (middle) speaks with Chalkbeat Managing Editor Philissa Cramer (left) and Teach for America communications director Katie Ware. (Stephanie Snyder)
Christopher Caruso, who heads the city education department’s community schools office, speaks with event attendees. (Stephanie Snyder)
Chalkbeat CEO and co-founder Elizabeth Green (left) welcomes attendees with Chalkbeat New York bureau chief Sarah Darville (middle) and Laura Neish, of StoryCorps (right). (Stephanie Snyder)
(Stephanie Snyder)
Noah Mackert, an English teacher at Democracy Prep Charter Middle School in Harlem, talks with one of his former students, eighth-grader Kristophe Yen at Chalkbeat New York’s back-to-school event in October. (Stephanie Snyder)
(Philissa Cramer)
Harvest Collegiate High School teachers Andy Snyder (left) and Stephen Lazar (right) share stories about their students. (Stephanie Snyder)
(Philissa Cramer)
Educators 4 Excellence digital manager Justin Lam speaks with Teach for America communications director Katie Ware. (Philissa Cramer)
(Stephanie Snyder)
Chalkbeat New York senior reporter Geoff Decker speaks with David Bloomfield, an education professor at Brooklyn College and The CUNY Grad Center. (Stephanie Snyder)
Christian Clarke, an English teacher at Brooklyn Technical High School, speaks with Laura Neish (middle) and Anne Vierse (right) of StoryCorps. (Stephanie Snyder)
Class Size Matters founder and executive director Leonie Haimson (left) speaks with Chalkbeat CEO and co-founder Elizabeth Green. (Stephanie Snyder)