Anne McIntosh Pejovich
MIDDLE SCHOOL MEMORIES
ANNE MCINTOSH PEJOVICH, PARENT COORDINATOR
January 9, 2021
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Anne McIntosh Pejovich
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Anne Pejovich with husband, Ted.
How’d you turn a volunteering passion into a career?
I was actually one of the first parent coordinators to be hired by the city in August, 2003. My job at Booker T. is now an official Department of Education (DOE) position. When the news of the position was publicized, a few of my son’s teachers (he was an 8th grader at Booker T.) said since I was volunteering at school all the time—class parent, running bake sales, cooking for auctions—I might as well get paid for it! And I stayed on at the school after he graduated.
What was your initial goal here?
To strengthen communication between the parents and the teachers, and parents and the administration. Making parents feel that their input into their child’s educational experience is valuable is crucial to what we have done as a team! We’ve opened up many channels from the administration, the teaching staff and our parents that support our students. The first was starting a newsletter, and our parents became more engaged with the information that was e-mailed to them on a weekly basis.
How do you get parents involved with the school?
Maybe my energy is infectious! I am definitely a “people person” and a Pied Piper in disguise. I’m also fanatical about answering e-mails as soon as I receive a question—I’m a customer service operator that never sleeps. Also encouraging is the fact that more parents are attending our Zoom PTA meetings. It’s one of the most positive outcomes during the pandemic.
The auction. There had never been an auction through the PTA here, but I had worked closely on the P.S. 199 auction. When a 199 parent I’d worked on it with entered Booker T., I suggested we get a group of parents together and start our own auction. I knew it would work. Not only was the auction a success, 15 parents volunteered to make it happen. The auction raised $30,000, and since that time, the MS54 PTA has depended on this event to meet their budget goals. I believe the 2019 auction raised close to $125,000!
And how do you work with the students?
I coordinate the after-school program and the spring musicals, which I love. Producing a musical and opening the world of the theater to our students is truly a wonderful experience. Maybe because I started my life in NYC as an actor.
Do tell!
I started as an intern at a Shakespeare festival and then moved to NYC. I did a few small parts on soap operas and commercials, then met Dustin Hoffman while waitressing at a Columbus Avenue restaurant where he dined often. On one visit, he told me to call a casting director to be an extra on Tootsie and when I arrived on set, he was responsible for me getting to do a scene with him! We had a blast and it should be known that he is a very generous actor. I later had a small part in the Broadway production of Death of a Salesman, so yes, I’ve done two projects with Dustin Hoffman!
Not sure, unfortunately. Normally, I produce the musical, working with director Alison Merkel. I do the costumes, help decide on casting, hire the music director and choreographer, publicity, you name it. But this magic couldn’t happen without the help of my actor husband, Ted Pejovich, who designs the sets and props. We spend most weekends galavanting around the Tri-State area for props and costumes! Hopefully the school talent show in May will happen.
What about your own middle school years?
I went from country girl to suburbanite! I lived in West Virginia in a small town until I was four, then moved to Nutley, New Jersey through high school. My parents regularly took us to the city to see plays and to go to museums, and we spent summer vacations on my grandparents' farm in West Virginia. I had the best of both worlds: theater and cows! My fondest memory was when I saw The Beatles at Shea Stadium at age 12. My siblings and I were Beatle-freaks and my father got us tickets. I still love them! I wanted to marry George until I married Ted!
What is different about middle schools (or Booker T.) today than when you attended?
My middle school was pretty rigid and serious. I don’t remember having a lot of fun in school which is a shame because I liked school very much. I think our students are very lucky to have such a devoted staff who not only strive to enrich our students but do so in such a supportive and engaging way.
Can you share a favorite quote?
Maya Angelou famously said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."