Student Q&A: Two Seventh Graders Learn More About Dr. Toro

There is a new principal at Blue Mountain Middle School, and curious seventh graders Jackson and Romel were eager to learn more about him. While they could learn about Dr. Toro by simply “Googling” his name, they wanted to meet and speak with him in person.

First, the students crafted some thoughtful questions with the help of a teacher and School AI. Then they practiced asking their questions several times before the interview. Finally, they sat down recently with Dr. Toro in his office to get the scoop on his life.

Some seventh graders might find the principal’s office to be an intimidating place. However, Jackson and Romel did not at all! Dr. Toro made them feel right at home, even giving them a tour of his office, including his wall of family pictures and a small statue of a bull (“toro” in Spanish), which was handmade in Colombia where his parents were born. 

While searching someone on the internet is a quick way to learn about them, sitting down face-to-face for a real conversation proved to Jackson and Romel that technology can’t replace the in-person experience of getting to know someone. 

Here is their interview with Dr. Toro:

Romel: Welcome to Blue Mountain! What did you do before you became the principal of Blue Mountain Middle School?

Dr. Toro: Before I was at Blue Mountain, I was at Peekskill Middle School for about four years as an assistant principal. Before that, I was a high school assistant principal at Peekskill High School for three years. Prior to that, I was a high school assistant principal in the Bronx at Bronxwood Preparatory Academy for about two and a half years. Before those jobs, I was a math teacher.

Jackson: Why did you want to become a principal?

Dr. Toro: I became a principal because when I first started teaching 18 years ago, and first walked into the building as a student teacher, I saw the principal and I said, “I want to do that one day. I want to be him.” Every job I have ever worked, I’ve always moved into leadership positions. I'll give you an example: I was a waiter at 16 years old. I started serving tables at IHOP. By the time I was 19, I was the assistant manager at IHOP. By 20, I was the acting general manager. I was still in college so I couldn’t take the job full-time. The general manager is like the “principal” of the restaurant, so I was the boss at 20 years old. I've always moved up and I’ve always liked leadership. Over the years, when I worked as a math teacher, once I grew comfortable at teaching math, I said, “Let me go into leadership.” So I became an assistant principal. After doing that for 9-10 years, I said, “It’s time to become a principal.” So I became a principal. I like leading. I like making changes. I have more of an impact as a principal than I did as a teacher. I like the big picture. I can reach more kids at the principal level than I could at the teacher level. The decisions I make affect every student in the school.

Romel: What is the hardest thing about being a principal?

Dr. Toro: Responsibility! Every decision I make affects everyone. And the problem is, every decision I make affects everyone! So the hardest part is making sure I make the right decisions and that I make the right decisions based on my years of experience, as well as talking to a lot of other people so that I can make the most informed decision I can. Making decisions by myself doesn't always go well. I don't always know best, but with a whole bunch of people giving me their advice and feedback, I can make the better decision. Accepting the responsibility for every decision is probably the hardest part about being a principal.

Jackson: What was your favorite subject when you were in middle school?

Dr. Toro: Math. I was always a math teacher. That’s an easy one! I love math! I breathe math. I was actually an engineering major. I earned a bachelor’s degree in math. I earned a master’s degree with a concentration in math. I taught everything from seventh grade math all the way up to calculus. Math was always my favorite by far — that and social studies. I always found social studies very interesting.

Romel: Do you have a favorite memory from when you were in middle school?

Dr. Toro: In seventh grade, I really enjoyed being a part of the Science Club because we got to dissect a frog. I really enjoyed that. Another memory was being part of the soccer team in the seventh grade. I wasn't very good, but I enjoyed playing. Another great memory was my eighth-grade dance. I actually had a really good time! It was in the gym. I remember recess a lot! We played a lot of pogs. It was a game we played with these little coins and you had to flip them. Those were some good memories.

Romel: What is an activity or tradition you would like to start at Blue Mountain Middle School? 

Dr. Toro: One activity or tradition I would like to start at Blue Mountain Middle School is called PBIS. It’s already been done in the past. I want to get a good PBIS system up and going in the next year or so. PBIS is Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. It rewards students for doing the right thing by encouraging them to do the right thing. You get a reward, activities or privileges for doing the right thing. Instead of looking at negative behavior, I want to look at positive behavior. When you start doing that, people start doing a lot better. So that is something that I would love to get up and running at Blue Mountain Middle School by the end of the year or next year. I’ll give you an example: If you do well, you go up to eat first or you get to go to the school store and purchase something with your tickets. Fun stuff like that.

Jackson: Do you have a favorite sport? 

Dr. Toro: In ninth grade I joined the football team, and I played football from ninth grade until 12th grade. I was very, very, very good at football. I was on the varsity team in 10th grade. I started playing lacrosse in seventh grade. I learned how to play and then I became very good at lacrosse. By ninth grade I was brought up to varsity lacrosse. Those are my two favorite sports — football and lacrosse. I still play lacrosse now. I play with my little girls.

Jackson: Why are those your favorite sports? 

Dr. Toro: As a young boy, you have a lot of energy, so I did enjoy being rough. What I loved about football was not so much the hitting and the aggression of the sport, but the whole team part. The team was the best part about playing football because we were a family. Every Friday, we would eat together — the entire team with our parents. They would cook us a huge meal that we would eat with them every Friday night during football season. The reason I like lacrosse so much is because it's the fastest game on two feet. It’s faster than any sport you could ever imagine. I really enjoy the speed of the game, the aggression of the game, and the technical skills involved to play the game.

Romel: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Dr. Toro: My favorite ice cream flavor by far is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with sprinkles. Extra sprinkles!

Jackson: Do you have any hobbies?

Dr. Toro: I enjoy weight training. I have a full gym in my basement. I enjoy running. I have a treadmill, so even though I don’t really play sports anymore, I still enjoy running and lifting weights. I work out at 4:30 every morning.

Romel: We hear you are a dad. We would love to hear a little about your family and pets if you are comfortable sharing that information. 

Dr. Toro: I have a wife, Nichole. I have three little girls. I have a 4-year old (Valentina), a 3-year old (Cassandra) and a 6-month old (Serafina). I have a dog, Rex. He’s a shelter dog. And I have another shelter dog, Carmella. They keep me busy and young!

Jackson: Thank you for your time! We are so excited to have you here!