I am a part of Ms. Ercolino’s “first last class of the last day of [her] last year.” That’s how she puts it with my eighth period class almost everyday before giving us lollipops and beginning the lesson.
Ms. Ercolino has been teaching since 1989, making her last year her thirty-fifth year of teaching. She graduated from St. John’s University after three years and immediately began student teaching at Fort Hamilton High School. Originally, Ms. Ercolino hadn’t planned on becoming a teacher; she had planned on becoming a newscaster.
“I went to my first class and there were so many people in the class that wanted to be newscasters, so I said this is not going to happen,” she told The Pilot. She went back to her advisor and asked for other jobs that were hiring – teaching.
When first beginning to work she was given a choice: math, social studies or English. Ms. Ercolino chose the one she felt she knew best – history. In my interview with her, I commented on how well she can get up in front of the class and tell the most interesting and obscure history facts during her lessons.
“Thirty five years of doing this,” she answered, laughing.
Ms. Ercolino spent most of her career teaching Regents classes, which she took “very, very seriously.”
It’s what she feels was her greatest accomplishment.
“I’m proud of being a Regents teacher, and in all my years of teaching global history, I learned the foundations of history,” she said. “You learn your subject through teaching.”
Ms. Ercolino taught all kinds of social studies – global history, United States history, government, and economics. Each term she had a new subject to teach and a whole new group of students. As challenging as this was for her, Ms. Ercolino was able to remain positive and came to realize that within just five years she had developed lesson plans for almost every course in her department.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” she added about her time at Fort Hamilton.
Now that she’s retiring, she shared her plans. “I don’t know, travel. Maybe I’ll get some grandbabies,” she answered.
Ms. Ercolino often tells us of her travels to Europe. She is a self-proclaimed “Europhile.” However, going on the Japan trip inspired her to explore places she has not been to.
Traveling is very important to Ms. Ercolino. “Every experience you have enriches your life,” she said. “[Those experiences] you can share with so many kids.”
And she does.
Her impact on her students was clear when, during our interview, students of hers popped their heads into the classroom. They came to say a simple hello and ask for advice. “Everyone visits me,” Ms. Ercolino told me. “They know I’m always here.”
Anasimone Nagdy, a senior in Ms. Ercolino’s eighth-period class, was one of these students.
“It’s honestly been so great,” Nagdy said. “She never fails to make me smile and laugh at her stories. Ms. Ercolino has been one of the most understanding teachers I’ve ever had.”
Nagdy said some of her favorite moments were “the times she’d always give us candy at the end of the day,” which became a tradition during eighth period.
Ms. Ercolino radiates an energy of warmth, accepting all into her classroom like a mother.
I asked Ms. Ercolino what she would miss the most.
“I’ll miss the kids,” she responded immediately. “I get so much from you guys.” Beginning to get choked up she took a tissue and said, “I’ll miss the kids.”
“And we will miss you,” I told her.
