One graduate, five questions, go…
Verone Kennedy '89 (Childhood Education)
Division Director, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, Abu Dhabi U.A.E.
How did your education prepare you for what you are doing today?
My education at SUNY Old Westbury largely prepared me to take on my role as an education professional over the course of the past 35 years. Steeped in theory, I learned from distinguished faculty, knowledgeable of student-centered teaching and learning. My experience at SUNY Old Westbury yielded opportunities far beyond classroom instruction yet impactfully placed me on track to becoming an invested scholar committed to learning. Anyone who knew me prior to enrollment would attest to the fact that my development as an invested learner was nothing short of transformational. Most importantly, I was afforded rich and relational opportunities to network with those who would help in my development as a learner and a potential teacher. I enjoyed “real world” opportunities to develop my competencies which continues to fuel my purpose, passion, and practice to date.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment or recent professional accomplishment to date?
My tenure as an education professional began with the tutelage of accomplished SUNY Old Westbury practitioners the likes of Hermine Lewis, Karlyn Wood, Constance Batty, Warren Smith and other professors committed to ensuring students like myself experience rigorous, relevant, and relational learning. The approach (consistent across programs) exposed me to the bridging of theory and practice preparing me for the world of work in my respective field of education. Today, I am exceedingly proud of a career, where I have played key roles in the development of quality schooling for children and families on opposite sides of the world. From the NYC Department of Education to the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, my ability to forge community schooling and programming responsive to the holistic needs of all school stakeholders is rooted in my endeavors as a SUNY Old Westbury student.
What programs do you support at SUNY Old Westbury, and why?
I am a proud alumni and current day supporter of SUNY Old Westbury’s School of Education. My belief in the program and its ability to effectively prepare students for impactful teaching and learning (considerate of academic & co-academic competencies) is evidenced throughout our NY schools. Programmatic impact has been experienced firsthand as a student and a NYC Principal where my team forged a robust partnership with the school of education (student teaching placements/recruitment pipelining). More significantly, I don’t believe there could be a greater indicator of success other than the citing of the numerous graduates who have exceled with distinction in our school community (and other communities) and subsequently progressing to become school leaders, district administrators, superintendents, etc.
Do you have advice for current students?
In my opinion, the faculty at SUNY Old Westbury are second to none. Well versed in the conveyance of theoretical and practical insights to equip students with relevant experiences in their respective areas of study. School faculty and administrators consistently provide a comprehensive experience designed to ensure every learner ventures into “the world of scholarship and work” with confidence of an informed practitioner. Unquestionably, there were times when I wanted to “throw in the towel” yet between parental encouragement and that of my professors, I persevered and of course . . . the rest is history as the impact I have made over the course of the subsequent 40 years in education I attribute to my ability to “press on”. So, I will say to all experiencing the challenges that come with attaining anything worth having . . . press on.
What is your favorite memory of your time on campus?
The entire campus was a “home away from home” for me. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I maintained full-time employment taking most of my classes in the evening. While I enjoyed many key locations around the campus, ranging from various locations in Core West, to those in the Academic Village, my most frequented location was the library where I studied and engaged in numerous activities ranging from research/report writing to the viewing of entertainment. As a “self-described loner”, the library provided me the much needed space to enjoy a bit of solitude when I simply needed a venue to recharge my battery after engaging in hours of classroom and or work engagement.