*Brooklyn School Intervention Specialist*
By: Grace Paul and Andrew Starr
November 13, 2026
For this week’s Staff Spotlight, we have Ms. McCoy, a first-year intervention specialist in the Brooklyn City School District. She attended Bowling Green State University for her undergraduate degree and Cleveland State University for graduate school. A fun fact about Ms. McCoy is that she is engaged.
Q. What is the most enjoyable aspect about your job?
A. “One of my favorite parts of my job is being a safe space where students feel comfortable, supported, and encouraged to learn and grow. I also love being part of such an amazing team! Having coworkers who are always willing to collaborate, share ideas, and work through challenges together makes my job so enjoyable.”
Q. How do you organize your workload?
A. “I am a very visual person, so having my tasks and reminders somewhere I can easily see them is a must. I rely on a combination of Google Calendar, notifications, lots of to-do lists, and sticky notes everywhere to keep myself organized and on track.”
Q. Why did you choose to become an intervention specialist?
A. “When I went back to school, I actually got both my general education and intervention specialist licenses. Throughout that experience, I fell in love with the individualized focus and attention to detail that comes with being an intervention specialist. I like to think of my role as finding and filling in the missing pieces of a big puzzle, helping each student build the skills and confidence they need to succeed.”
Q. What do you do to unwind after work?
A. “I love taking long walks with my dog, Clover. It’s my favorite way to unwind and decompress after a busy school day.”
Q. If you could eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A. “Mac ‘n’ Cheese has always been my favorite food, so I would definitely have to go with comfort food. I don’t think I could ever get tired of it.”
Q. What is your feel-good show?
A. “Modern Family because it’s one of those shows I can watch over and over again and never get tired of it.”
Q. What is a childhood memory that always reappears in your mind?
A. “Growing up alongside my cousins. We were all close in age and spent so much of our childhood together. Some of my favorite memories are the simplest ones, like making up dances, playing outside for hours, and baking together. I feel so lucky to have grown up with them and to share so many special memories.”
Q. What would you say is your most valuable experience throughout your life?
A. “I would say pushing myself through college and graduate school. Both experiences challenged me in so many ways and were far from easy, but they also taught me so much about perseverance, hard work, and believing in myself. Looking back, completing both degrees has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding accomplishments of my life.”
Thank you for your responses, Ms. McCoy. We wish you all the best in your first full-year as an intervention specialist here in the Brooklyn City School District.
