A Newark teacher offers a Thanksgiving lesson
Susan Palmucci is a Newark teacher. First grade at the Cleveland School. In the city’s schools for 24 years. But forget her job for a moment. Think of her in a way many people don’t think of teachers–as a woman, as a person who saw an immediate, emergency need and did what she could to help another person–another woman happened to be the mother of nine, including one of Palmucci’s students.
“I knew the family had been living in a shelter and then I learned they had finally found a home in public housing,” says Palmucci.
The name of the family won’t be published here, but the teacher says that, despite the work involved in taking care of nine children, the mother is a conscientious parent who is active at the school and its PTA. The youngest of her children is eight months old, the oldest in the 8th grade.
They had found housing just days before Thanksgiving. But that’s all they received–the housing, walls with no furniture.
Susan Palmucci explained, “I was happy they finally were no longer homeless. I picked up a few things and brought them to the housing development where they live. What I saw made me very sad. The kids were so happy to finally have a home but they were sleeping on blankets. No furniture. No kitchen appliances. Little food.”
Palmucci, a mom herself and a West Orange resident, posted a story Nov. 14 A Newark teacher offers a Thanksgiving lesson | Bob Braun's Ledger:
