January 3, 2024
Dear P.S. 38 Parents and Guardians:
I hope this letter finds you in good health and that you and your children enjoyed the mid-winter break. I hope that you had a joyous and relaxing holiday season and that everyone is looking forward to an exciting remainder of the 2023-2024 school year together.
As the new Interim Acting Principal of P.S. 38, I am truly honored to lead a school with such a diverse student population and dedicated staff. I arrive to P.S.38 with 24 years of experience in the New York City Department of Education and 3 years at an early childhood center. My journey in education began in Williamsburg, Brooklyn as a Universal Pre-K teacher in a Community-Based Organization and continued in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where I taught for 16 years at a Department of Education elementary school. In 2016, I transferred to P.S.18 where I taught for 2 years and transitioned into the role of Assistant Principal in 2018 up until January 2, 2024. My years as a teacher and a leader have taught me countless lessons about myself, building relationships with students and parents, teacher practice, leadership, and working with various stakeholders within a school community.
Although I was extremely happy as an Assistant Principal at P.S.18, my leadership journey has led me to P.S.38 and I fully intend to honor the legacy of my predecessor, Mrs. Acosta-Murillo, and continue to build on P.S. 38’s vision, mission, teaching practices and cultural experiences that have been implemented to ensure student, parent, and community success.
In the coming weeks, I am eager to get to know students, teachers, parents, and the school community. It is imperative that I understand all of the things that make P.S. 38 a unique school community. This includes getting to know constituent and stakeholder groups on a more personal level as well as continuing to create and sustain positive, collaborative, and productive relationships with families and the community for the benefit of students. This will also include collaboration with the PTA and members of the School’s Leadership Team as well as engaging in regular and open two-way communication with families, students and the community.
I look forward to working together as a team to provide the best possible educational experience for our students through cohesiveness, positivity, inclusivity, fairness, consistency, and equitable practices for all!
Best Regards,
Dr. Jason Cotto
I.A. Principal, Public School 38
January 3, 2024 Dr. Cotto Family Letter