Chad Altman (HS'02, HNZ'03) is one of the youngest principals in the history of New York public schools. He is now in his third year at P.S. 100 in the Bronx, what he describes as "a successful school in a lower-income area."
Did you always want to be an educator?
I've always enjoyed teaching. At a fairly young age, I earned extra money babysitting. From there, I followed my brother Jason Altman's (HS'99, HNZ '00) footsteps and became a ski instructor. After college, I worked at an investment bank on Wall Street but quickly realized that being in a school system was more engaging for me.
You knew, of course, education isn't as lucrative as Wall Street?
I wouldn't mind a larger check, but being in a school every day makes you more sensitive to others who get by with much less. When I was a teacher for three years, I certainly felt the pinch while trying to maintain an active lifestyle in New York City. I lived with my wife—then my fiancée—Lauren and another couple, all in a one-bedroom apartment! Of course, creating a budget and sticking to it tends to be the only advisable course of action, no matter what your salary.
How did your education prepare you for the challenges of public education?
I had opportunities to experience problem solving in real-world settings. In a management consulting class at Heinz, my team analyzed best practices at a public library. ...Another class—I think it was called Physical Technical Systems—my group examined the effects of recycling in an urban setting.
Any new perspectives stemming from your experiences at P.S. 100?
I noticed that students really respond well to consistent and positive feedback. It's not enough to just say "good job"—students benefit the most from specific and authentic feedback related to their specific skills and abilities.
—Shannon Deep (CMU'10)
