From Sudoku to Water-Balloons: Natalie Valerio’s School Aide Experience
Sammy Meskill ’29
A condom-water-balloon fight in the bathroom. Sudoku. Calls home for those who misbehave, arrive late or don’t turn in their cellphones. From providing security at a 911 Call Center to working as a school aide at BHSEC Manhattan, sitting down with Natalie Valerio reveals a kind person with an interesting story.
With a benevolent demeanor and big heart, Natalie greets almost everyone that she sees. Coming into the school year as a nervous freshman, she was always a face I could count on to be smiling at me. However, her warm personality does not get in the way of her job — one that involves teenagers, interacting with faculty and being a helpful member of the community.
Just after we sat down for an interview, a student walked up to Natalie. Surreptitiously letting her know a water-balloon (though, in this case, condoms were functioning as the balloons) fight was going on in the second floor boys bathroom, the student then walked the opposite way from the bathroom. Natalie ran towards it. Banging on the door while scoping out the extent of the damage, three boys made their way out of the bathroom. Though a rarity, a condom-water-balloon fight seemed to be something that Natalie knew how to deal with. She made the students throw away the condoms and sent them back to class. As a school aide, Natalie has to “morph” into different roles. She has to adapt, learn and do things she hasn’t done before to help the community. There are also, however, regular parts of her job. She delivers copies of papers to teachers. She aids with phone collection or distribution. She also monitors the students who come in late or frequently misbehave, deciding if restriction of out-to-lunch privileges or calls home to parents are necessary. Her job is busy, and one that requires dedication.
Natalie grew up in a middle-class family in Yonkers, New York. As a minority at her Catholic high school, being one of the only Black kids, her high school experience wasn’t a pleasant one. Now, Natalie finds herself back at a high school, though no longer a student.
In our conversation, Natalie came off as someone who loves to learn. She also loves writing. Though she currently is not writing, a few years ago, Natalie got a book deal. She also loves word games like Sudoku.
Natalie began working at BHSEC Manhattan this past August. She has worked as a school aid for the Department Of Education for the past 5 years. Before that, Natalie worked at a 911 Call Center — the center that takes emergency calls. She provided security (under D.C.A.S., the Department of Citywide Administrative Services) for one of these buildings. Interestingly, the center was bomb and rocket proof. People inside could see out, but not the other way around. One of the craziest things Natalie had to do in her time there was save a man who was in diabetic shock. The job was a “taxing” one. She was one of four people managing security at the building. When one manager left their position, more work was delegated to the other managers. This meant working 12 to 14 hour shifts for Natalie. She “didn’t have a life” — work was the sole focus. She was very tired. With a family member in need of taking care of, Natalie left her job to go help. Now, looking back on her time at the 911 Call Center, she seems to recognize the amount of hard work and extreme hours her job required.
Natalie began her work with the D.O.E. at a school named Quest. Citing her experience in security as an asset, Natalie talked about her time there. She said because Quest was much a “rough” school, her security experience was very useful there. When coming to BHSEC Manhattan, Natalie was surprised by the students and the school culture and how different it is from Quest.
She works with the other school aides — Betty, Justin, Ryan, as well as others — and Principal Pew and Aaron Little, the registrar. Whether Natalie’s giving you a smile or a fist bump, or taking your phone away, she’s always a friendly face you can count on to see in the halls at BHSEC Manhattan.