Jessie Streich-Kest Way (Brooklyn)
Present name:Argyle Road
Location:Between Albemarle Road and Church Avenue
Honoree: Jessie Streich-Kest was killed on October 29, 2012 by a falling tree limb while walking her dog. She was a committed social activist, an energetic public school teacher, a lover of animals, and a supportive daughter and friend. While at the University of Pennsylvania, Jessie worked in the first Obama campaign. After college, she took a job with the Schneiderman campaign, running the Brooklyn operation at just 22 years old. In September 2012, after receiving her Masters of Education, she began teaching 10th grade Special Education students at the Bushwick School for Social Justice. Her impactlingers to this day in the spirit she brought to the SPED department and the systems and changes she put in place to service BSSJ’s neediest students. Prior to 2012, SPED students passed classes at an average of about 55-60%. In the past two years, those rates rose to 75% and above in most classes and have stayed there since. In just a few short months, Jessie contributed to the lasting strength of the school community. Jessie was also a committed animal rights activist who fought to end to the abuse of carriage horses. She had most recently lent her passion to New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets. (Eugene)
LL:2017/237