Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

'Humans of New York' Principal Pens New Book on Brilliance in Brownsville

By Camille Bautista | August 31, 2016 5:32pm
 Principal Nadia Lopez, of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, released a new book on Aug. 30 titled
Principal Nadia Lopez, of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, released a new book on Aug. 30 titled "The Bridge to Brilliance: How One Principal in a Tough Community Is Inspiring the World."
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Rachel Holliday Smith

BROWNSVILLE — More than a year after a student’s praise launched Nadia Lopez into the international spotlight, the Brooklyn principal is set on widening her educational influence with the release of a new book.  

The founding principal of Brownsville’s Mott Hall Bridges Academy debuted her story, “The Bridge to Brilliance: How One Principal in a Tough Community Is Inspiring the World,” on Aug. 30.

"It's not just an educational book, it’s a candid, heartfelt reflection on what it's like to be a leader in a very challenging and high-needs community," Lopez told DNAinfo New York.

"But when you are willing to put forth the hard work, follow a vision and really have faith to do it, anything is possible."

Lopez gained worldwide recognition after photography blog Humans of New York featured one of her middle school students, eighth-grader Vidal Chastanet.

"When we get in trouble, she doesn't suspend us," Chastanet told the blog, adding that his principal was the most influential person in his life.

"She calls us to her office and explains to us how society was built down around us. And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built. And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of us that we matter.”

Lopez’s new book, written with author Rebecca Paley, follows her journey from opening Mott Hall Bridges Academy and becoming “a leader who is unapologetic about fighting for the equity and respect that all children deserve," she wrote in a blog post. 

Her leadership helped bring Chastanet to the White House to meet President Barack Obama and prompted a national campaign that raised more than $1 million for the school, which went toward student visits to colleges and a scholarship in Chastanet’s name.

Readers can step into the lives of children, staff, and parents, through anecdotes in the book, the principal added.

"There’s a number of phenomenal educators that go unrecognized and are not acknowledged for the great work that they’re doing, and sometimes the resource we need is human capital: the support of people showing up," she said.

"That includes parents, that includes the community, that includes our elected officials," she continued. "From the outside, people see a school and they hear a name but don’t really understand that there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes into creating a safe haven for children who have been disadvantaged for so long. My hope is that those who read it can walk away wanting to help and do more."