Career Day at Grimes Elementary School, hosted by ENL department, inspires students with real-life lessons

Grimes Elementary School students enjoyed an inspiring Career Day filled with professionals, community leaders, business people and first responders who shared real-world stories that showed the children how many paths they can pursue.

One of the most popular guests was Ashley Bady, owner of Ashley’s Sweet Treats, who instantly won over students with her warm personality and a giant container of chocolate cookies.

Ms. Bady spoke about growing her home baking hobby into a thriving bakery after being inspired by long nights creating goodies alongside her grandmother.

“I like seeing customers’ smiles when they pick up from the bakery,” she told second-graders while handing out the cookies to children who asked questions. “Because I know that they’ll enjoy it. I know it’ll be very, very tasty.”

Ms. Bady said her grandmother’s pound cake remains her most cherished recipe.

“It’s the number one seller at the bakery. Usually when we make that, it’s gone by the end of the day,” she said.

When asked what she doesn’t love about her job, the baker admitted, laughing, “I don’t like waking up early. I’m not a morning person. I’m just so tired, you know? I just can’t get up early sometimes. I am here just so I can be early for you guys.”

The teacher, Janees Monterrosa, said exposing young children to the guests is invaluable.

“Having the speakers is something different for the kids,” she said. “They get to meet a person whose business is in the same community and get to ask questions at a young age.”

Meanwhile, Mount Vernon Police Officers Chancy Johnson and Xavier Effort met with another class of kindergarteners and gave them a brief introduction to law enforcement.

“It is such a pleasure to be here with you guys today,” Officer Johnson said. “I’ve been a police officer for about 10 years now, which is older than all you guys.”

She said her job “can be very fun and my job can be very scary at times. As police officers, we put the bad guys in jail, we protect our city, we protect everyone. If someone has a problem, they can call 911.”

The highlight of the visit came when Officer Johnson posed for a photo with little Smiley Peña, who dressed up in a police uniform for the occasion.
In Valerie Runge’s fifth-grade class, students met two physicians training at Yale New Haven Hospital: Dr. Shuaibu Ali, an orthopedic surgery resident, and Dr. Derrek Edukugho, an anesthesiology resident.
 
Dr. Ali, who grew up in Harlem and attended public schools, told students that their dreams are totally within reach.

“The long and the short is that I started off where you guys are and now I’m doing crazy surgeries,” he said.

The physician shared how his path took him from Public School 18 to Ithaca College, to working in the Harlem Children’s Zone, to medical school, and ultimately to orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Edukugho told the students about growing up in Toronto and Yonkers before studying biology at SUNY Albany. He explained how he prepared for medical school in Ohio, worked at an urgent care center and eventually entered his residency.

Fifth-grader Gianna Rivera said the duo opened her eyes.

“I learned a lot from them,” she said. “Some things I knew but other things I didn’t — like how they make people sleep for the operations.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Demario Strickland also visited Grimes, speaking candidly with students about teaching, leadership, hobbies and even his bowling score.

Dr. Strickland, who shared that he used to be a fifth-grade math and science teacher, was asked which grade he would never teach. He said he prefers working with older students, and emphasized how strong leadership in schools helps reduce conflict and support positive behavior.

“When I was a principal, you could never find me in my office,” Dr. Strickland said. “I was always in a classroom. I was always walking around. If you really make sure that the bigger kids are in control of themselves, then everything becomes more calm.”

Asked about his hobbies, he said he is fond of bowling (with a proud 171 average), watching WWE wrestling and cheering for his Buffalo Bills -- even when “we find ways to lose games.”

Later, sixth-graders heard from Khendra David, deputy chief of staff for the City of Mount Vernon, who described her education at Howard University and her career working at the federal, state and city levels.

She explained her current role overseeing operations across several departments — from public works and water, to fire, police, finance, law and parks.
 “The biggest part of my job is solving problems,” she said. “When your teacher gives you an assignment, it’s because they want you to use your critical-thinking skills. I answer a lot of questions from constituents — people who live and work in Mount Vernon.”

Another speaker, Travis Williamson, shared his experience as both a school bus driver and the founder of Haircuts for Success, his youth-focused barbering program.

He said the in-person nature of Career Day helps children understand the real world.

“We’re in an age of TikTok, Instagram, television,” he said. “What they get out of this is seeing and talking to real people in real time. Real people are presenting, real people are answering questions.”

He emphasized that dreams and passions start at a very young age.

“I just came from a classroom where a young man named at least five different things he’s doing right now — content creating, all sorts of things. If you have support from home, you’re on your way,” Mr. Williamson said.