*Instructional Coach*
By: BHS Staff Profiles
May 23, 2025
Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Karen Valenza. Mrs. Valenza has been an instructional coach in Brooklyn for five years. Outside of Brooklyn, she did various educational jobs, ranging from a curriculum coordinator to teaching eighth grade. Some things she likes to do in her free time are bargain shopping and going to her two daughters’ sporting competitions. A fun fact about her is that she bought herself a JBL Partybox, and she brings it with her whenever she is with friends or family. She ends up getting everyone up and dancing, often playing her favorite ABBA songs. She also met Travis Scott in concert last year.
Q: What is your educational style?
A: “Everything is about the students. No task is too small for me; give me a task, and I will do it. We all need to be working together, too. My main focus is literacy.”
Q: Why did you decide to become an instructional coach?
A: “I enjoy building relationships with people. I think I have a talent or skill at coordinating things. I also enjoy supporting people in improving.”
Q: What does a typical work day look like for you?
A: “There is never really a ‘typical’ day for me, depending on the time of year. My days always look different. The beginning and end of the school year are always the busiest. I meet with teachers and students and do a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ work. A typical day for me starts every morning with a cup of coffee.”
Q: What is one of your daily goals? Weekly goal?
A: “To have every student in Brooklyn be the best they can be at reading and literacy. My daily goal is to communicate well with the people I work with and support them with what they need.”
Q: How would you describe yourself?
A: “I am always looking at the bright side of things. I would describe myself as ‘The glass is half full.’”
Q: What is a quote that you live by?
A: “Live in the moment and seize the day. You have to have fun.”
Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
A: “I have a super Type A personality. I am very organized and get flustered if what I have planned does not go the way it was expected to.”
Q: What are your plans for Summer vacation?
A: “I hope I can take a lot of little trips and get projects around the house done. My in-laws have a lakehouse in Michigan, and I plan to spend most of the Summer there to soak up the sun.”
Thank you so much for letting us interview you, Mrs. Valenza. We hope you get to do a lot of traveling and continue to do what you love. Enjoy your Summer!
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 