W. Arthur Cunningham Intermediate School 234 A Proud Past ● A Bright Future 1875 East 17th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11229 (718) 645-1334 ● FAX (718) 645-7759 IS234.com SUSAN SCHAEFFER Principal

Assistant Principals JENNIFER CAMILLIERI ANNMARIE SCHNELL LYRIL THOMAS APRIL WACHTEL

January 29, 2018 Dear Families, Words cannot express the gratitude that I have for your commitment to the children in our entire school community. During my tenure as principal, the partnership between educators and families has made a profound impact on the lives of our students. Your unwavering dedication has been instrumental in my success as the principal of Cunningham. It has been a tremendous privilege to teach and supervise some of the finest students in New York City and to have played a role in our children becoming successful adults. For over 30 years, I have carried out my duties and led the Cunningham community alongside a dedicated faculty who conveyed warmth, patience, and academic excellence for all. I have immensely enjoyed my time at Cunningham and feel thankful for the many profound relationships I have formed here over the years. Prior to my employment in this school, I taught at JHS 99 for five years where I was able to build the foundations of my teaching practice and educational philosophy. After careful consideration of the culmination of my career as an educator, I have decided that it is time to begin a new chapter in my life. My time at this wonderful school have been the best years of my professional life. My experiences here have shaped my understanding of relationships through the connections between educators and families. Some of my fondest memories as principal that have involved families are celebrating student and teacher achievements; our annual multicultural celebration; overnight trips to Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Frost Valley; math and science student competitions; Model UN meetings; our annual musical production; and our chorus, instrumental music, and dance performances. Although most of my time at Cunningham has been filled with positive moments, not every situation has been easy. Together, we have persevered through some challenging times like testing, changes in academic standards, illnesses, deaths, and crises within and outside our community. Regardless of the challenges, we have worked as a team to use the strength of our relationships and our sense of compassion to nurture our students through the years. The camaraderie between me and our Cunningham families has been pivotal to my success as a school leader. After 35 years of service for the Department of Education, it is time for me to move on. So after a tremendous amount of reflection, despite my ambivalence, I have decided that it is time for me to retire as Principal of W.A. Cunningham Intermediate School. My retirement will be effective on February 26, 2018. Thank you for the privilege of being the principal of this remarkable school. Cunningham is a success because of our partnership and commitment to student achievement. This school will always be a part of my heart and soul. I look forward to visiting in the future to see the success story of Cunningham continue. Sincerely,













Susan Schaeffer Principal