PINE PLAINS — “I love this school, and I am so grateful to everybody who works so hard to help my son learn English,” Cold Spring School mom Erkhes Galidev said of her first-grade son, Bamboo, and his progress. A native of Ulan Baator, Mongolia, Galidev, whose husband is a pianist at Bard College, spoke sincerely of all the kindness and attention shown to her son.
The directors and teachers, she said, keep in touch with her by email, so that she is always in the loop with school matters. Bamboo’s (a simplification of his Mongolian name) day-to-day learning astonishes his mother beyond words: “Every day,” she said, “it is…,” she gestures as if to describe a head expanding upward.
Galidev and son were one pair of about 50 parents and children who enjoyed an informal evening of crafts and games for kids and families,while learning about offerings in the school district and the community. The ENL family evening was held on Monday, April 24, in the cafeteria at Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School. English as a New Language, or English for New Learners, is the updated version of ESL, or English as a Second Language.
Joanne Koch, secondary ESL and reading teacher, outlined the history of the district’s program for non-native speakers of English. “When I started here in the ‘90s, there were just a few students, mostly Russian and Polish adoptees.” Now, she said, most are Spanish-speakers, largely the children of farm workers, as well as a family of polo players from Argentina who come for polo season, attend school and then leave.
It takes five to seven years to get basic skills, Koch pointed out, and achieving literacy can be challenging, especially if a student’s core family do not have literacy in their own language. So students are given a diagnostic screening test even before they enter school, then are placed in not just ENL but also the broader reading program.
State guidelines
As to how long and how often students are pulled out of regular classes for English instruction, their progress is assessed yearly using the NYSESLAT tests. Classroom differentiation of instruction has been an education byword for decades now, the assumption being that teaching needs to be tailored to students’ varying capacities and learning styles. This works well for English Language Learners (ELL). Over the years, teachers have come to encourage students to talk about their cultures, and fortunately the approach to learning language is more dynamic and less academically rigid than it used to be.
Seymour Smith School teacher Alana Garnica and co-teacher Renee Rundall proudly presented their third-grade students’ graphic novel projects. Kids chose an endangered animal, filled out graphic organizers with research about them, and illustrated their stories based on the Maxwell Eaton III “The Truth About …” series. The school had been about to collaborate with the artist when COVID-19 hit, and they and hope to reestablish the relationship.
A pioneering year for the NYSSB
Gian Starr, director of curriculum and instruction, was present to introduce the New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB), which has been around for six years but was adopted in Pine Plains just this year. For now, the focus is on Spanish as the second language, and the Pine Plains students who are graduating with Seal of Biliteracy diplomas are mainstream, non-ENL students who have taken enough courses at a high level to accrue the needed credit points—three in English and three in Spanish—earning 85% or better in their courses. They must also achieve a set score on national tests, and complete and present a culminating project in English and/or a world language.
In the future, Starr noted, they hope to have ELL students stay in the language program long enough to achieve true bilingual fluency in not only speaking but reading and writing in both languages—or biliteracy. “That’s the goal,” he stated.
Eighth-grader Zayuri De Gabriel Jose, one of relatively few students over elementary age at the event, is an ideal candidate for the NYSSB. She has come up within the Pine Plains system and, despite some challenges, consolidated her English skills by about the fourth grade. She dreams of a career in immigration law.
There was a representative from the Pine Plains Library, and the Willow Roots Food Pantry owners greeted attendees and offered packages of mushrooms to all takers. Lisa and Nelson Zayas run the pantry, a nonprofit that feeds 50-70 families twice a month.
In line with their composting concerns, Nelson Zayas noted that “we’ve had zero breakfast garbage at Seymour Smith for the second year now.” They have compost bins there and are looking to install a similar system at the high school.
After a dinner of baked ziti and meatballs as well as a vegan option, youngsters wove through an obstacle course set up in the cafeteria until their attention was drawn to a decorate-the-cookies activity. Starr and Bon Burg urged everyone not to miss the new season of Unified basketball, which started last week, in which mixed life skills/special education and mainstream students from Stissing Mountain will compete with Unified teams from other schools.
Erkhes Galidev, left, with son Bamboo creating artwork at the Stissing Mountain ENL Family Evening on April 24. Photo by Deborah Maier
“We had such a fun party for her,” said AMP founder and artistic director Ellen Griesedieck. “I am excited for what is next for Amy and grateful for every moment she has invested in her work at AMP.”
Wynn, who previously led the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, said her decision to step down came after careful reflection.
“It’s time for me to shift into the next phase of my career, which will call upon my 40-plus years of nonprofit experience to do project work,” she said. “I’ve absolutely loved my time at AMP.”
Visitors to the American Mural Project.Sky Johnson
Under Wynn’s leadership, AMP expanded education programs, deepened community partnerships and oversaw key milestones in the creation of its monumental centerpiece — a three-dimensional mural stretching 120 feet long and five stories high — celebrating American ingenuity, industry and collaboration.
“Through all these years, Amy has worked with tireless enthusiasm for AMP, running day-to-day operations and guiding the overall direction of our mission,” Griesedieck said.
During Wynn’s tenure, AMP evolved from a concept into a dynamic cultural campus. She helped professionalize its structure, solidify its funding base and develop programs that drew visitors from across the state and beyond.
“The work she has accomplished, the hours of overtime she has logged, the mountains we have climbed together since that moment are many and miraculous,” Griesedieck said.
AMP also weathered challenging times, including the pandemic, which forced arts organizations to rethink audience engagement. Wynn guided the team during that uncertain period with a steady hand.
To ensure a smooth transition, AMP has brought on Renee Chatelain of RMCreative Solutions, LLC, an experienced consultant, attorney and arts administrator who previously worked with AMP on its capital expansion planning.
Chatelain will serve as interim executive director while a national search is conducted for AMP’s next leader.
“A longtime friend, Renee comes to us with a depth of knowledge on executive transition,” said Griesedieck. “As an attorney, a leader of several arts organizations and a classically trained dancer, she is particularly well-suited for this interim role.”
Though stepping down, Wynn said she will continue her work in the nonprofit field in a more flexible, project-based capacity.
“I’ll be seeking consulting projects with other nonprofits, assisting with grant work and strategic planning,” she said. “What I enjoy most is leading a collaborative effort and finding solutions to challenging problems.”
Sky Johnson
Even as AMP bids farewell to Wynn, its focus remains on the future. The next phase of development will focus on converting a second mill building into expanded programming and community space.
“The next step has got to happen,” Griesedieck said. “It’s absolutely what the Northwest Corner needs — a place for the community to congregate.”
The proposed expansion would create flexible areas for performances, workshops and public events, further establishing AMP as a cornerstone of the regional arts scene.
With community support and grants, AMP hopes to carry forward Wynn’s momentum into a new era.
“She is not leaving,” Griesedieck said. “Amy will always be here for us.”
Founded in 2001, the American Mural Project was conceived as a tribute to the American worker — a celebration of skill, creativity and perseverance. The mural, the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world, was created with contributions from thousands of children, artists, teachers, tradespeople and volunteers nationwide.
Today, AMP offers tours, workshops, lectures and performances, all rooted in its mission: to inspire, invite collaboration and reveal the contributions people of all ages can make to American culture.
As Wynn turns the page, her legacy — from her calm, strategic leadership to the collaborative spirit she fostered — remains woven into the fabric of AMP’s story.
