STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — After nearly 40 years working in education, Curtis High School Principal Gregory Jaenicke will retire at the end of the month.
It marks a full-circle moment for Jaenicke, whose interest in education didn’t start in the classroom — but on the basketball court as an assistant coach at Curtis High School, St. George.
After he graduated from Moore Catholic High School in Bulls Head, Jaenicke enrolled in Baruch College, Manhattan, intending to receive a business degree. During his freshman year, his former high school basketball coach and teacher asked Jaenicke to serve as a volunteer assistant basketball coach at Curtis.
“That was what sparked my interest in education,” he said. “So I had gone to college with the intention of pursuing business and quickly, coaching turned my attention to education.”
A grad fist bumps Jaenicke at the Curtis High School’s commencement ceremony on the school’s athletic field in St. George. June 25, 2021.(Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)
After graduation, Jaenicke began his career teaching at Notre Dame Academy on Grymes Hill while coaching basketball at Monsignor Farrell High School, Oakwood. After four years at Notre Dame, he was offered the head basketball coach job and a full-time teaching position at Farrell, where he stayed for six years.
In 1998, he started teaching at Curtis High School. By 2003, he left the high school to serve in various roles at the district level for Staten Island’s District 31. During that time, he was able to see elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools across Staten Island and New York City.
“It really gave me a good idea of the different leadership styles at the different grade levels and the different school communities across New York City. But all that said, the action happens at the school level. That’s where the teaching and learning happens, so I always felt like there would be a time where I would be back at schools. I’ll take the experience that I had and the things that I learned in my travels throughout New York City and beyond,” he said.
That’s when the opportunity presented itself for Jaenicke to become principal of Curtis High School in 2015.
“I’ve been blessed with that opportunity …,” he said. “When I retire at the end of the month, it will be a total of 38-and-a-half years working in education.”
Jaenicke said it was a “really hard decision” when it came to retiring and he still feels some mixed emotions. He said he doesn’t have any particular plans after he retires.
But he said he knows he’ll miss being at Curtis High School — stopping to see students perform, practice, or play a basketball game, and, of course, seeing students in the hallway, and talking to teachers.
His final day as principal will be on Monday, Jan. 26.
“I think ahead what’s going to happen on Tuesday, Jan. 27, when I wake up and I don’t have to report to Curtis. It’s a little bit of, ‘Oh, that sounds like it’ll be pretty exciting,’ but I don’t know how long that will last,” he said.
He recalled key moments he’ll always remember during his time at Curtis High School, and they mostly involve celebrating students.
“I would remember the graduations, the multicultural celebrations, the dances, the theater productions, the athletic events — those will all stand out to me,” he said.
He pointed to significant moments that occurred during his time as principal, like addressing the challenges of the pandemic as a school leader. He also remembered navigating construction when parts of the building were closed before the new school’s wing opened in 2017.
In this 2017 photo, Jaenicke stands with teacher Sarah McCoy, Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina.(Advance/SILive.com | Erik Bascome)
He also recalled accomplishments like expanding the International Baccalaureate program and raising the school’s four-year graduation rates.
“Just the effort, dedication, and commitment that the staff made, through the introduction of the 2017 wing, the pandemic, keeping our eyes on the graduation rate, and always, always trying to serve our students and families in the best way that we can,” said Jaenicke.
He said he hopes Curtis High School will continue to serve the community for another 120 years. Like the previous appointed principals, Jaenicke’s own portrait will soon grace the wall of the school’s main lobby.
“I hope my legacy is that I just tried as hard as I could, I did as good a job as I possibly could in the time that I was here,” said Jaenicke.