By Katie Vasquez

In Paul Mazza’s 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes, students know not to expect an easy A.

The St. Joan of Arc teacher said he holds his students to the highest standards.

“I have a reputation for being tough, you know,” Mr. Mazza said.

But just because Mr. Mazza is tough doesn’t mean he isn’t shaping these young minds for the better.

“He helped me to be more open about poetry, and now I’m able to express myself more freely and have more confidence in that,” said Adriana Moreno, an eighth grader at St. Joan of Arc.

For the last 38 years, Mr. Mazza has seen dozens of students come and go, and while some things may have changed for the former math teacher, now science teacher, the one thing he’s always done is encourage his kids to try.

“Kids are always afraid of wrong answers,” Mr. Mazza said. “With science, some of the best science guys came from wrong answers. So don’t ever be afraid of the wrong answer.”

His perseverance for his pupils is why Mr. Mazza is one of the teachers being recognized at Futures in Education’s upcoming gala.

While the nonprofit for years has been putting the spotlight on kids- and helping them attend Catholic schools across Brooklyn and Queens.

This year, they focus on the teachers and highlight those who go above and beyond.

St. Joan of Arc Principal Agnes Mosejczuk says no one deserves it more than Mr. Mazza.

“Mr. Mazza is an outstanding educator,” Mosejczuk said. “He truly cares about his students and learning. He inspires them to dream big, reach high, and work hard. His work ethic is so high, and he instills that in his students. He expects them to, you know, do work on time to be in school on time.”

Mr. Mazza is honored by the recognition, but he says his job is about one thing.

“I’m here for the kids, and what can I do for them,” Mazza said. “What do we need to get done today, and such, and that sort of keeps me grounded.”

Because he has seen the fruits of his work in his classroom.

For Brandon Novillo, an eighth grader at the school whose dad also had Mr. Mazza, the hard work Mr. Mazza gives his students is ultimately purposeful.

“My dad came here from public school in the seventh grade, and his first teacher was Mr. Mazza. “To this day, he has stories about how Mr. Mazza was strict but also changed his life for the better.

To learn more about how you can help make a Catholic education possible for thousands of students across Brooklyn and Queens, visit futuresineducation.org.

By Katie Vasquez

A community in mourning gathered to pay tribute to Marine Park resident and firefighter Steven Pollard, who tragically lost his life in 2019 while responding to an emergency call on the Mill Basin Bridge. Steven fell between the gaps as he attempted to rescue victims of a car crash.

Five years later, his legacy continues to thrive, thanks to the firehouse where he served. The Steven H. Pollard Memorial Foundation has been established in his honor. Recently, the foundation awarded a scholarship with a $150,000 gift in his name to students at his alma mater, St. Edmund Prep.

“I think that he’d be very happy to be awarding a scholarship at his own high school,” said Firefighter Andrew Spadaro. “He took great pride in going to this place, and he was very pleased with the education he got here.”

Two juniors, Sienna James and Ziaire Hope, were selected as this year’s scholarship recipients. Principal Allison McGinnis stated that the decision was clear once she learned about the scholarship, as both students displayed qualities reminiscent of Steven.

“More and more people were writing about Sienna and Ziaire, and we saw this pattern that was emerging among other students as well,” McGinnis said. “And then those names got shipped off to the firehouse.”

Like Pollard, James and Hope are actively involved in sports and extracurricular activities. They also share his quiet demeanor, though they assert that this does not diminish their dedication or effort.

“People who are hardworking and kind of not that it goes unnoticed, but you’re not like the loudest or like the top of your class, but like you’re still close enough up there.” Ziaire Hope added, “He was quiet, but he did just enough to get recognized. He was an amazing student, amazing athlete, funny when necessary, and just. He was all around a great person. Once you got to know him.”

The scholarship will cover half their senior year tuition, totaling $7,500 each. However, they express that being compared to the man known as the silent hero is its reward.

“I was really honored to know that so many people felt that I showed the characteristics of myself in him,” said Sienna. “It tells me that I’m living on his legacy in his school that he strived on to become a firefighter later on in life.”

This scholarship is endowed, ensuring that students will benefit from it for years to come and thus ensuring that Steven’s legacy lives on.

The community at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy came together Thursday to celebrate STEM education. Students displayed their knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math at the school’s family stem night.

The kids took part in experiments like lego robotics and balloon-powered car racing. They gave their own lessons to the parents and other students.

By Jessica Easthope

It takes a confident teacher to admit she doesn’t have all the answers.

Mary O’Donoghue, or Ms. O as she’s known to her students at Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy in Astoria, has done it countless times over her 25-year career.

“If I don’t know the answer, I will tell them; you can’t pretend to know it all because they will see through that in a second,” O’Donoghue said.

Being approachable is one of the many reasons Will Royer said O’Donoghue has changed his life.

“She’s just a great person in general to talk to, to be around,” Royer said. “She has great energy, great vibes. She teaches us in a very unique way, like, it’s very hands-on and, like, personal.”

Mary is being honored by Futures in Education on Tuesday, April 30. The organization provides tuition assistance to families like Will’s who want their children to have a Catholic education.

“The core of what our Catholic schools are are the teachers,” said John Notaro, the Executive Director of Futures in Education.

Notaro said teachers like O’Donoghue are the reason why Diocese of Brooklyn schools are so desirable.

“It’s heroic,” Notaro said. “And I know it will inspire our donors to do more because we know it’s going to make a difference in the lives of the kids that she is teaching in our classroom every day.”

In O’Donoghue’s 8th-grade math class, her passion for numbers has rubbed off on her students. But for Emma Marina, the ways O’Donoghue has left a mark on her can’t be measured.

“Ms. O is the most wonderful teacher you could ever meet,” Marina said. She’s someone you could go up to and talk to about anything, and she helped me really achieve my dreams academically.”

Immaculate Conception’s Principal Brother Joe Rocco said O’Donoghue’s impact reflects her faith.

“She lives the gospel message of Jesus,” Brother Rocco said. “She is the model of a Catholic educator. She has a vocation, not just a job. It’s a ministry for her.”

O’Donoghue rejoices in her students’ successes and knows there’s only one answer when they’re challenged.

“They have so much doubt and uncertainty in this world,” O’Donoghue said. “And to try and see that Jesus is their friend and to pray and Catholic identity is very important.”

She’s in front of the classroom, but Mary learns from her students daily.