STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Longtime New York City educator Elizabeth Ann Sciabarra, 70, who touched the lives of thousands of children, has died after a two-year-long bout with many serious health issues.
Sciabarra — who was principal of New Dorp High School in the 1990s — died on Saturday, Nov. 26, in the comfort of her home in Gravesend, Brooklyn, according to her brother and primary caregiver Chris Sciabarra.
“I posted it [her passing] on a blog, and Facebook blew it up. There must be thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people who have been reaching out. This woman made an impact that is just astounding,” said Chris Sciabarra. “She’s been in education for 50 years. Just an astounding legacy. Not to mention, just being the greatest sister in the world.”
She became seriously ill two years ago and had to undergo extensive spinal surgery in March 2021. By October that year, she began receiving in-home palliative care.
With a pension from her service as a New York City educator and a Social Security retirement check, Sciabarra did not qualify for Medicaid, which would cover her at-home care. According to her brother, she qualified for a single Medicare home health aide, four hours a day, four days a week — despite needing round-the-clock care.
A GoFundMe page was created in March 2022 to help with medical expenses, nicknamed “GoFundSki.” The goal of $150,000 was exceeded in just 10 days after it was created. As of Tuesday, more than $202,000 was raised in total to help support Sciabarra’s at-home hospice care.
Sciabarra died at 8 p.m. on Saturday after a steep decline over the last week, according to her brother.
Since then, Chris Sciabarra said there have been thousands of tributes pouring in and commented on the impact his sister had on many people throughout her life.
“It goes to show you that, you know, a person’s mere existence is like a pebble thrown in a still pond, and it’s this ripple effect that just goes on and on and on. And I just cannot imagine how much bleaker this world would have been without her presence in it. An amazing human being,” he said.
CAREER IN EDUCATION
Known as “Ms. Ski” to her students, Sciabarra began her career with the city Department of Education (DOE) at Brooklyn Technical High School as an assistant teacher in 1971. She moved up the ranks over the years, eventually earning the title of assistant principal at the high school by 1986.
She served as principal at New Dorp High School from 1990 to February 1999. Chris Sciabarra explained that his sister laid the foundation for what was to come — preparing now-retired longtime principal Deirdre DeAngelis, who took over the role from Sciabarra in March 1999.
“It was a lot that needed work at that school,” said Chris Sciabarra. “A terrific, terrific legacy, as I said, no matter what changes no matter where she went, no matter what school, what students she touched, things were never the same -- in a positive direction. Always improving, always doing something. It was all about the kids always.”
During her time at New Dorp High School, Sciabarra took on another role in the Staten Island education community. She was a teacher at the College of Staten Island (CSI), Willowbrook, from 1995-1996.
She taught a writing seminar in the College Discovery Program for high school students to prepare them for the Westinghouse Science Talent Search — now known as the Regeneron Science Talent Search, which recognizes and empowers the nation’s most promising young scientists who are developing ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.
In 1999, Sciabarra became deputy superintendent of high schools in the area of program development of schools under state re-registration for Staten Island and Brooklyn. Two years later, she became superintendent of high school admissions.
By 2003, she founded and was appointed chief executive of the Office of Student Enrollment for the city DOE. She was tasked with overseeing enrollment services for students in pre-K through high school, including admissions for students in all grades, gifted and talented placement, transfers and more.
She retired from the DOE in 2010 — after 37 years of service — announced by then Schools Chancellor Joel Klein.
“We are grateful that Liz will continue to support this enrollment cycle and remain connected to our work. Liz has shown an unrelenting drive to put children first, and has been an inspiration and a model for all of our staff. She has served as an ambassador for reform and a dedicated advocate for students,” said Klein in an email to DOE staff in 2010, according to Chalkbeat.
Following her retirement, she returned to Brooklyn Technical High School as the executive director of the alumni foundation. After decades of service to the education community, she stepped down from the position in June 2021 due to her health challenges.
“Our public schools are great because of dedicated educators and public servants like Ms. Sciabarra,” said Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. “From educating and leading schools in Staten Island to building the structures of the nation’s largest school district during a period of immense change – Ms. Sciabarra’s impact on New York City will be felt for generations.”
In 2017, Sciabarra received one of the Lifetime Service Awards during New Dorp High School’s Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony. During Brooklyn Tech’s 100th anniversary gala earlier this month, Sciabarra was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was able to watch the presentation before she died.
“When you consider that she started as an assistant teacher of English in 1971, she moved up through the ranks. She absolutely adored her students. She never had kids of her own, but she probably had tens of thousands of them,” Chris Sciabarra recalled.
He explained that there will be small arrangements for close family and friends, but a larger memorial will be planned for spring 2023.
In addition to her brother, Chris, she is survived by her brother, Carl, and sister-in-law, Joanne.
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