Staff Tributes
Kimarlee Nguyen
High School English Teacher
“Ms. Nguyen's passion for teaching and love for her students was ingrained in who she was. She would do anything for her students, and they knew it. Each spring, she'd come bouncing into my office (and delve into my secret stash of candy) to talk about how she could support ‘her’ seniors (yes, they were ‘hers’) as they were making their way towards graduation, and perhaps getting a little lazy with their work. She was intent on doing whatever needed to happen to help them cross the finish line and make their way to what came next in their lives after Brooklyn Latin. She was so invested in who they were, and who they would become.”
– Rebecca Davidson, a colleague of Kimarlee Nguyen, who taught English at Brooklyn Latin High School for six years before passing away from COVID-19 in April at the age of 33.
The word “passion” comes up over and over in the multitude of tributes to Ms. Nguyen from her students and fellow educators. Like many of her students, she was a first-generation American who became the first in her family to attend college. The daughter of parents who fled Cambodia’s brutal Khmer Rouge regime to settle in Massachusetts after several difficult years in a refugee camp in Thailand, she earned numerous writing fellowships and residencies for portrayals that drew from her family’s experiences.
In the classroom, Ms. Nguyen’s outgoing personality and desire to instill her love for the written word in her students enabled her to form powerful connections with them. Listen to one of her seniors: “You not only made me laugh and feel happy, but you also gave me the determination I needed when I felt like I wanted to give up or quit. I found it hard adjusting back to English class this year after being out, but not only did you help me every step of the way, you gave me the opportunity to enjoy English and reading again. Your class challenged me in ways I wouldn't think possible, and I'm so glad to have known you.”
Ms. Nguyen earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Vassar College, where she also played rugby, and a master of fine arts degree from Long Island University. In her off hours, she was working on a novel titled “Lion’s Tooth,” about a Cambodian-American family living in Cambridge, Mass.
As this tribute from teacher Caitlin Ferraro attests, everyone at Brooklyn Latin will truly miss Ms. Nguyen:
“I think the biggest reason why it's so hard for me to accept that you're gone is that you were more full of life than probably anyone I've ever met. You were so unapologetically vibrant. You were always so THERE, and I can't wrap my mind around you being anything but. I am so grateful for your friendship, for the comfort I found in you during a really tough year, for the lightness and joy you brought to my life, to our community, and to every community you were a part of. There are so many more things I want to say but I can't figure out the right words. I wish you were here to help me find them.”
Louis S. Barcelo
Physical Education and Health Teacher
“Virtually every child Mr. Barcelo encountered has stated that he was their father figure and positive role model. He truly made every child feel like they were important. Reading posts after his passing from students he had 15 years ago, the sentiment is the same: ‘he was like my dad.’"—Julie Princivil, a longtime colleague of Louis S. Barcelo, who taught Physical Education and Health at P.S./M.S. 280 Mosholu Parkway for 26 years and served the DOE for 32 years before passing away in April at age 54.
In some school communities, there’s one educator whose distinctive personality and ability to connect with virtually everyone serves as a unifying force underlying a positive school culture. For decades at P.S./M.S. 280 Mosholu Parkway in the Bronx, that individual was Louis Barcelo, known to everyone as Mr. B.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Mr. Barcelo supervised breakfast and lunch, talking non-stop with students as he wandered through the cafeteria. Principal James Weeks describes Mr. Barcelo as “an amazing person, full of energy and love for everyone, especially the students.”
On a tribute page filled with many dozens of remembrances from colleagues and students, one comment in particular captures what made Mr. B. so special:
“He was REAL with the students. He talked to them, he laughed with them, he told it like it was when they were acting up, and always lovingly and patiently shared his wisdom with them. He would say, ‘You have to treat people the way you want to be treated’ and modeled that respect and loving kindness with every single person. On the playground, he would connect the lonely child with the group and always made sure each kid was playing fair and with respect. He led the entire cafeteria in singing happy birthday to make kids feel EXTRA loved. And he always shared his special message, ‘Have a good day, Mr. Barcelo loves you guys, and please make the right choices!’ I used to tell him all the time, ‘Those words are what kids will remember!’”
After Mr, Barcelo passed away, dozens of his former students returned to the school to light candles in his memory. One of them said, “He taught me how to tie a tie when I was a little kid. He taught me how to be professional and be the best person I can be. Now I’m going to try to live my life like him and show the love to others that he showed me.”
Shortly before he passed away, Mr. Barcelo sent a video to the school that concluded with his giving a thumb’s up and saying, “Bye-bye, and don’t forget to do your remote learning!”
Joshua Vasquez
High School Social Studies Teacher
“Mr. Vasquez was such a beautiful soul who always kept me out of trouble. But I also always knew that if I got into trouble, he was someone you could talk to about anything and he would never judge you. Not only was Mr. Vasquez and amazing human being, he was always there unconditionally for me when I was coming out, undocumented, and struggling.” -A former student of Joshua Vasquez, a social studies teacher at Bushwick Leaders High School who passed away of COVID-19 in April.
Above and beyond Mr. Vasquez’ ability to generate enthusiasm for learning in the classroom, he pushed his students to become agents of change in their community. And as a former community organizer before becoming a teacher, he practiced what he preached. In 2013, the New York Daily News published a profile of Mr. Vasquez describing how he worked with the police to improve safety in the neighborhood surrounding the school. The article included this quote: “The ingredients for transforming schools and communities are always the same: dedicated, organized people having the courage to work for the same goals.”
Mr. Vasquez was a mentor to countless educators over his 20 years with the DOE, including Gerard Henry, who went on to become principal at Brooklyn Lab School. The testimonials those colleagues posted on the Internet after his death convey the profound impact they had on them and his students.
Two examples:
“Mr. Vasquez was a hero to every kid he ever taught, and had a real love for the Bushwick community. He mentored me as a new teacher, taught our students to organize, took them on meaningful field trips, and he’d even dress up as ancient historic figures to engage the class. He made the work fun, and he brought joy and a sense of belonging to so many kids that the city had given up on. I hope all his students know how much he deeply loved them.”
“The world lost a smart, big-hearted, and crusading educator. Josh Vasquez was a mentor to me and so many others when I began teaching in Brooklyn 15 years ago. He worked passionately and optimistically within an imperfect system and used his own life as a model for what others like him could achieve. He loved his community and his students fiercely, but he always welcomed and championed outsiders like me.”
Mr. Vasquez’ talent and passion for healing wounds and spurring community change continues to inspire those who knew him as Bushwick contends with these tumultuous times.