The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of many talented educators. One of them was Fatima Schmidt, a beloved elementary school teacher from New York City. Fatima passed away April 13, 2020. She was 57 years old.
This tireless educator devoted 18 years to New York Public Schools, where she worked at PS 152 and PS 335. Most recently she taught fourth grade at PS 333 in the Hunt’s Point section of the Bronx.
“She went above and beyond to meet her students’ needs, ” recalls colleague Jeana Ferraro. “She took the time to provide extra help and support to those that needed it, while still treating every student equally. She encouraged her students to work hard and be independent.”
Other teachers at PS 333 agree. “She was loved by many and was fueled with this strong-willed determination to show her students that failure was not an option,” remembers colleague Lissette Santana. “She had low tolerance for misbehavior and made it clear what her expectations were. In a world where anything goes, Ms. Schmidt made sure that was not the case in her classroom,” concluded Lissette.
In addition to her classroom duties, Fatima was active in the PTA, supervised numerous class trips, and attended countless sporting events. Friends and family describe Fatima was an adventurer. She loved to travel, visiting many countries abroad and venturing on numerous cruises. She enjoyed trying new foods, exploring new cities, and immersing herself in various cultures.
To read more about this amazing educator, read her obituary published on Ever Loved, Inc.