An expert on the subject of English language arts, Marsha Grunberg Pollack initially wanted to be a psychologist many years ago. Her mother talked her out of it, helping her realize that she loves to teach and likes children. When she was a child, she would take the other kids outside, open a little school and teach them. Ms. Pollack wanted to be so many different things, but it all surrounded some form of teaching. At one point, she even wanted to work with convicts. Ultimately, teaching was the best, safest kind of profession with summers off.
Ms. Pollack began her professional career as a teacher with the New York City Department of Education in Brooklyn and Queens in 1968, remaining in this role for 34 years. Following this long tenure, she served the department as an assistant principal from 2003 to 2003, and teacher and coach for staff development from 2003 to 2006. Today, she teaches at the Solomon Schechter School of Queens in Flushing, NY, since 2006. In addition to these posts, Ms. Pollack was a L.E.A.D. teacher from 1998 to 2002, a professional developer for Jericho Middle School in 2003 and lesson plan abstract evaluator for the International Literacy Association from 2003 to 2005. She also served the New York City Department of Education as a national staff developer from 2000 to 2006.
Prior to the start of her career, Ms. Pollack pursued a formal education at Brooklyn College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY), earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1968 and a Master of Science in 1973. She then attended Queens College, also part of CUNY, where she attained a specialist diploma in administration and supervision in 2003. Additionally, Ms. Pollack became a certified teacher through the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in 2001.
Outside of her primary trade, Ms. Pollack was formerly a member of the American Federation of Teachers, the National Council of Teachers of English, Phi Delta Kappa, the International Literacy Association, and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. A CAL grantee through Chase Manhattan in 2001, she was also selected for inclusion in several editions of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who in the World.
A highlight of Ms. Pollack’s career is when students come back, and she finds out what they have done with their lives. Moving forward, she wants to go back to school for a doctorate. She also loves to write, and would like to write books and articles. Ms. Pollack attributes her success to loving what she does.