From Student and Teacher to Co-Workers

Let’s take a trip back to the spring of 1998. Titanic won Best Picture at the Oscars, Peyton Manning was drafted by the Colts and Katie Brennan was finishing up her master's degree at Fordham University. Brennan, who is now a second-grade teacher at Bedford Village Elementary School (BVES), was student teaching kindergarten at Bedford Hills Elementary School. One of the students in her class was Jena Aponte—who is now also a first year second-grade teacher at BVES.

“Katie and I have spoken many times about what I remember—and, as a five-year-old, I don't remember much,” Aponte said. “But I do remember my teacher was passionate and had what I now realize was amazing classroom management. I also remember my parents coming in at nap time, the sliding doors that led out to the playground and learning about the alphabet people.”

Brennan’s experience was obviously very different.

“For me, it was such an exciting time as I was at the very beginning of my teaching career,” she said. “I know the joy and excitement Jena is feeling being at that same moment.”

That June, Brennan was offered a job teaching third grade at Mount Kisco Elementary School—making this her 28^th year with the district.

One of her favorite things about teaching is the connections she makes with students, families and colleagues.

“I love hearing from students I taught long ago!” she said. “Many still keep in touch with me and it's so exciting to see their individual journeys!”

That sentiment makes it not so surprising that last year, when Aponte was a teaching assistant at BVES, Brennan told her that she looked familiar. Aponte didn’t think anything of it since she grew up in Bedford Hills and went through the Bedford Central school system. Brennan came back a few minutes later, after realizing Aponte was in the class she student taught in.

“I was so surprised and thought that it was just a crazy coincidence, but then I was assigned to a student who was in her class last year,” Aponte said. “I spent time in her classroom, and we spoke at times about how I had just finished my master’s degree and wanted to be a second-grade teacher. At the end of the year, I applied and was told I got the second-grade position and would be working alongside her. I was elated and thought, ‘how serendipitous; I get to work with the very teacher that taught me!’”

Later, Aponte’s mom was going through old photos and found a picture from kindergarten. She texted Aponte, asking if it was Brennan.

“It was a picture taken by my father with a 1988 Cannon Sure Shot Zoom of Katie teaching the class a lesson on The Napping House and me up at the board,” Aponte said. “That sealed the deal for me: this is the place where I’m supposed to be.”

Both women are delighted with how things have turned out.

“It's such a full circle experience!” Brennan said.

Aponte noted that she is still learning from Brennan.

“To be able to work with her, almost 30 years later, as her teammate, is the most amazing experience for me,” she said. “I have not stopped being her student. She still teaches me, laughs with me, talks me off ledges daily, and has once again taken me under her wing.”

For Aponte, teachers like Brennan are the reason she got into this line of work.

“Growing up, I had amazing teachers who shaped and molded who I am today,” she said. “All of my teachers impacted me and challenged me, but I was incredibly lucky to have amazing elementary teachers. I can name each and every one of them and can remember at least one thing we learned during the year. But, most importantly, I remember that I was loved and cared for. I felt safe.”

She wanted to have that same impact on children.

“To be able to do that in the very community and district that made me feel that way as a child and fueled my passion and love for the art of teaching was the perfect ‘pay it forward’ opportunity,” she said. “It’s really come full circle for me. I want to give a child the experience that I once had.”