The teachers of Fort Hamilton High School, one of the largest schools in New York City with over 4,000 students, are in constant need of one thing: photocopies. Whether it be the tests, the practice packets and worksheets, or the lengthy articles that fill every student’s backpack, all of them go through the copy center operated by Stefania Bevilacqua, a hardworking staff member who keeps copies in our hands and smiles on our faces.
Upon entering the copy center, the first thing one sees are inspirational quotations on the door reading, “You rock!” and “Be Yourself,” echoing Ms. Bevilacqua’s cheerful energy. Inside the office, people are greeted by the crisp smell of paper, a wall of colored reams, and art on the walls decorating the place where they pick up their copies, with Ms. Bevilacqua always offering her support.
Ms. Bevilacqua works determinedly each day, not only making copies, but also answering phones and sending out school mail. Her dedication to getting materials printed out in time for teachers, however, has an especially significant impact on Fort Hamilton.
Worksheets, graphic organizers, review packets, and texts are the lifeblood of any teacher’s classroom and are integral to students’ learning, which is why Ms. Bevilacqua’s role is a cornerstone of a Fort Hamilton High School education. She ensures that everything is done correctly, so teachers have everything they need to teach the best they can and students have everything they need to succeed.
“I love the teachers here, and I like making them happy,” Ms. Bevilacqua told The Pilot.
Keeping up with the demands of the school, however, is no easy task, especially when Ms. Bevilacqua’s copy machines, which she has affectionately named Bruce and Ricky, “misbehave” or do not cooperate with her. Factors as small as keeping the windows open and changing the type of paper can affect the operation of the machines.
“I’m a really good multitasker, but when these machines aren’t working, it makes it much harder because my main focus is on that,” Ms. Bevilacqua said.
On busy days, Ms. Bevilacqua uses an average of seven boxes of paper a day, which equates to approximately 35,000 sheets of paper. She noted that the demand during finals week is especially high, and piles of boxes of copies fill up her office.
Despite the challenges of the job, her determination, the support from staff, and her favorite paper – the Staples brand, which doesn’t jam – allow her to complete her job successfully and allow teachers and students to have their copies made in time for their lessons.
Ms. Bevilacqua credits stockman Francis Martinez, who can often be spotted around the school delivering supplies to teachers, for helping her keep the copy center operating.
“I have a great relationship with Francis,” she said. “He’s great in the school and he helps me out so much and anytime I need paper, he’s got it right away, so he’s the best. He’s just as important as I am in the school because he gets things done and brings everything to the teachers.”
Among the parts of the job Ms. Bevilacqua enjoys most is the community bonds she’d developed with school staff, many of whom come to the Copy Center not only to pick up and drop off their copies, but also to say hello and talk.
“If nobody came into this office, I’d be miserable,” Ms. Bevilacqua said. “My favorite thing about the job is actually communicating with all the teachers. I love when they come in. I just like talking to people so when they come in I have great relationships with teachers here. They’re so nice and they’re so respectful and I try to [be] the same.”
Fort’s teachers feel the same way about Ms. Bevilacqua.
“Whenever I enter B33 I can be assured of a warm welcome and a smile,” said Mr. Dimaio, a government teacher at Fort Hamilton. “[Ms. Bevilacqua] is always upbeat and ready to help and make accommodations for any staff member. She helps me bring color to my lessons by making every handout in a vibrant color to stand out. This strategy also has helped me with organizing all handouts and making sure students are working on the appropriate worksheet.”
Ms. Bevilacqua’s trove of colored paper allows teachers to differentiate materials for students. Around holidays, she encourages teachers to choose colors that complement the celebration.
Ms. Bevilacqua believes that “having a physical carbon copy is exactly what you need,” and she works extremely hard to make sure that every student is afforded the comfort of having paper copies to foster a bond to their education. Despite a greater move toward digital learning, Ms. Bevilacqua believes that the copy center will always have a place at Fort Hamilton High School, continually connecting students to their learning material.
“Even though we now live in the digital age, students still prefer to have a hard copy of the reading or document,” Mr. DiMaio said. “[Ms. Bevilacqua’s] speed with making the copies for my class has allowed me to better aid my students with their preferences.”
“I’m truly happy here and I think this is a great school,” Ms. Bevilacqua added. “I’m happy to be here and I’m happy to help the teachers and students out.”
