Mayra has fundamentally changed the ways in which so many of us understand educational leadership and change.  From teaching the adult development class to supporting our research efforts to continuously mentoring us in the field to informal conversations and collaborations and on and on, her impact is deep and wide.

Mayra's teaching is both constructivist and developmental - exactly what Bank Street aspires for us to do as leaders and teachers in our schools.  Mayra models the skills and qualities we have learned are necessary for transformational leadership:  deep and authentic listening, strategic questioning, commitment to self-reflection, understanding how adults learn and meeting them where they are.  We use what we learned from Mayra on a daily basis in our work with teachers and colleagues.  In addition, many of us continue to receive support from Mayra whenever we reach out.  She meets with us, responds to our emails, sends us resources, and reminds us through her own actions of who we can be as transformational leaders.

In addition, the Leadership for Community Based Learning program provides a critically important entry point for those of us who want to be leaders in community-based organizations.  At this moment in educational history, when afterschool and out-of-school-time initiatives are prominent, especially in NYC, this program is poised to impact the lives of educators, children, and families.  Instead of ending this innovative and important leadership program, Bank Street ought to develop and grow it.

If Mayra Bloom leaves Bank Street, it will be a tremendous loss to the Leadership Department and ALL of its programs, its current and future students, as well as to the many alumni who have learned and continue to learn from Mayra.