Colin Lerner
Where do you live? Brooklyn, NY.
Current company and position? New York City Public Schools, High School Special Education Teacher.
First job and what it taught me? My first job was as a bus boy in a restaurant on Long Island when I was in high school. I worked with my cousin and it taught me what it meant to actually work. Things moved fast and for the first time I had real responsibility and people relied on me. Granted, it was for bread, but still, I played a role and people's night out suffered if I didn't do my job. I won't say I enjoyed that job but I am grateful for the responsibility and life lessons that it taught me at a young age!
How do you embrace your Irish heritage? I embrace my heritage by trying to always remember the sacrifices that were made to allow me to lead a good life. The importance of honesty, hard work and humor were taught to me and I try to pass these beliefs to my students and hopefully one day to my own kids. Also... my wife and I had our first date on St. Patrick's Day.
Something people would be surprised to know about me... My wife and I have a tradition of always trying to visit an Irish pub in every country we travel too. We have been to Irish pubs in Morocco, Vietnam, Germany, Indonesia and Japan!
Biography: Colin has taught special education in the NYC public schools for 12 years. He also serves as the chapter leader for his school’s UFT chapter and works after school for the UFT doing pension consultations for retirees. A second-generation teacher, Colin has dedicated himself to helping the youth of New York City in whatever way he can. He is a lifelong New York Rangers fan and hopes to one day watch a Stanley cup parade with his father. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner where they enjoy watching Jeopardy and eating cheesecake.
