Meet Ashley Zerzog
Thornton Donovan class of 2003 Alum
Barbara: Hi Ashley, welcome to our T-D interview page. I am very pleased to meet you.
Ashley: Hi Barbara, thanks for inviting me. I'm very pleased to be here to tell you about myself.
Barbara: Let's start our chat... What was your "Graduation Year"?
Ashley: I graduated in 2003. I attended T-D High School from 9th to 12th grade.
Barbara: Where did you attend college or University?
Ashley: I went to Boston University. I really liked both the university and the city. Boston is a smaller city compared to New York City and Boston is a great city for university students. I liked it very much and I felt very comfortable there.
Barbara: What was your major in the College or University?
Ashley: My BA was in Early Childhood Education in 2007 from Boston University's School of Education followed by a Master’s in Students with Disabilities(Birth- Grade 2). When I finished college I came to live in New York.
Barbara: What is your goal and career or what are you doing now?
Ashley: I am currently the Special Education Manager at the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute. It is a public-private partnership that brings together a variety of city agencies, private funders and the City University of New York(CUNY) to build various systems for the early childhood field. For 10 years prior, I taught in both a general education and a special education preschool and was also an Administrator for Special Education in the Bronx for students who were attending NYC public schools.
Barbara: What are three adjectives with which you would describe your experience at T-D?
Ashley: The three adjectives that immediately come to mind are: unique, international and personalized.
Barbara: Who were the teachers who were helpful to you and of whom you have fond memories?
Ashley: Barbara, I had a wonderful teacher Mrs. Petrosino, who was an English teacher. She was a source of inspiration. She taught me a love of English, of writing, and she prepared me for college. She was a special woman. Other teachers who have been important in my life at T-D: Mr. Griffin, his passion for history and immense knowledge, Mrs. Bubesi and History of Art, and Mr. Johnson. While I wasn’t very good at math, he is a great teacher!
Barbara: What were the T-D courses that helped you in College or University?
Ashley: Definitely, without a doubt, Mrs. Petrosino’s. Her teaching of reading and writing made me very academically prepared to go to college.
Barbara: Which trip did you take with T-D and which country was your favorite?
Ashley: I went to Greece, New York State and Canada, Florida and Spain. My favorite is Greece because it was very special: art, architecture, the scenery, history and water.
Barbara: Who from T-D are you in contact with now?
Ashley: I have two good friends: Clara De Soto and Amanda Winters. They graduated with me in 2003.
Barbara: Have you recommended k-12 students to T-D? If yes, who?
Ashley: No yet, but in the future of course!
Barbara: Ashley, thank you for the time you dedicated to me, the school and I appreciate it.
Ashley: You are welcome Barbara. See you soon …