I am a special education teacher currently teaching a life /career skills math program in our brand-new Academic, Career and Essential Skills (ACES) Program. Additionally, I am an Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) teacher in Algebra 1 and Algebra 3, where I provide students the opportunity to be educated alongside their non-disabled peers and to assist in adapting and modifying instruction.
This is my thirty-fourth year in education, where I have spent over twenty-five years as a special education classroom teacher in self-contained, resource room and integrated co-teaching programs. Also, I spent three years as a special education supervisor, two years as a special education director and four years as a NJ State monitor for special education at the New Jersey Department of Education. I taught previously in Brooklyn at IS 281-Cavallaro Middle School as well as New Brunswick High School in New Jersey. I began my teaching career as a Montessori certified preschool teacher in Manhattan.
I am originally from Coney Island and attended all District 21 schools, including going to high school right here at John Dewey High School (Class of ’77). I received my BA from CUNY-Brooklyn College, my Masters Degree from Long Island University (Brooklyn campus) and my advanced certification in Educational Administration from CUNY-Staten Island.
In the past, I have served as Council For Unity Advisor at IS 281 for eight years and I have run a sign language club for approximately ten years in various schools. I have also served as Parental Involvement Committee Chairperson for a number of years and I am a very strong believer in “parents as partners”, working collaboratively to support our students to achieve their maximum potential.
I am presently living near Princeton, New Jersey with my wife of twenty-five years, Andrea, and my son Ethan, who just began college at SUNY-Binghamton. I teach piano and guitar to students privately as well as providing academic tutoring. For fun, I enjoy hiking, swimming and camping, as well as acting and singing in community theater.
I am thrilled to be teaching at John Dewey High School, where I spent the best four years of my high school life!
Parents and students should feel free to contact me via e-mail at: rschweitzer@johndeweyhighschool.org or telephone at 718-373-6400, ext. 2410.