After almost 29 years with the New York City Department of Education, attendance coordinator Yvette Reyes is saying goodbye to Townsend Harris. 

On May 1, after ten years at THHS, Ms. Reyes said goodbye to staff and students alike. A message read during the morning announcements shared the news of her retirement, thanked her for her dedication to the school, and wished her well.

“It is difficult saying goodbye,” Ms. Reyes told The Classic. “The announcement earlier made me cry. …I’m really going to miss everybody. This has been a hell of a journey, and I thank everybody for it.”

As attendance coordinator, Ms. Reyes managed all daily record-keeping on official class attendance, communicated with the families of absent students, excused students when on trips, and created daily attendance reports. She spent a lot of time with seniors, as many would sign in with her for official attendance each morning.

She said knew it was the right time to retire: “I want to be able to retire while I’m still able to walk around, be young, and stuff like that. I think it’s time. I’m excited but I’m nervous as well. It’s a different chapter of my life.” 

In addition to serving as attendance coordinator, Ms. Reyes often participated in and chaperoned various school events, including S!NG, FON, and several student trips. “I have so many favorite memories,” she said. “FON, S!NG, senior trips. I just did DECA. Just being with the kids and participating in everything [stands out].”

As a S!NG advisor, she played to win, hoping the team she advised would take the top spot each year. She said she was especially excited to win “against [physics teacher and S!NG advisor Michael] Quach in S!NG.”

“It was an honor to lose to her,” Mr. Quach said, overhearing Ms. Reyes. In a separate interview, Mr. Quach said, “My favorite memories with Ms. Reyes are the mornings we’ve spent welcoming students as they entered the lobby. …It was truly incredible to see how Ms. Reyes was able to make each student feel welcomed and recognized as they walked through the doors each morning.”  

Hillit Zwick, a THHS parent, said “Ms. Reyes has always been warm and welcoming to me as a THHS parent. Always cheerful, energetic, and helpful, she made me feel like a true part of the school community. …Her commitment to the school and her generous spirit have made an enormous impact on the community.”

“[She] has become a role model for me,” said Senior Nirjhana Paul. “I always ask her for advice and she’s always very supportive of me and my achievements. I’m very sad she’s leaving. She’s definitely a light in our community and we’re really gonna miss her.”

In a statement to The Classic, Assistant Principal of Organization Ellen Fee wrote, “Ms Reyes came to us like an angel from heaven. She jumped right into the attendance job with passion and kindness. She will be missed for her dedication to all students and staff.” 

School aide Monica Albarracin, who has worked in the main office alongside Ms. Reyes for the past two years, will be stepping into the attendance coordinator role. “I was in charge of helping [Ms. Reyes] by doing early morning entrance and working in the main office,” Ms. Albarracin. “[School aide Libby] Lushing and myself will be handling attendance together.” 

“The first thing I’m gonna do, if you’d ask me what I’m going to do tomorrow, is sleep late,” Ms. Reyes said, who normally would wake up at 4:30AM to be one of the first people at THHS each morning. “Afterwards, I’m going to travel. I’m going to Brazil. And I want to go to certain states. I want to drive around the country.”