A common experience many older Cardozo students might be able to relate to is hearing the jingling of keys followed by a loud voice screaming, “Get to class,” while wandering the school’s third floor. But, who is the man behind this distinctive voice? The voice belongs to none other than Mr. Georgatos. Despite common belief amongst many students, Mr. Georgatos is not a dean at Cardozo, but the Assistant Principal in charge of Social Studies, Music, and Naval Sciences.
Despite commonly being seen as scary or mean, Mr. Georgatos is quite the opposite. He’s friendly, very talkative, and even sprinkled a few jokes throughout our interview. So, why does this personable and funny admin come off so strict? The answer is simple: to help students. “I do not think I’m hard on anyone, but I believe I have high expectations,” he explained. “It’s like being a parent; correcting their mistakes behind closed doors.”
While he is part of Cardozo’s Cabinet, the assistant principal didn’t set out to be an AP originally. “I’ve wanted to be a social studies teacher for a long time, but I initially went into St. John’s as a pre-law student because it was my father’s dream, but I hated it and eventually became a social studies teacher instead,” he shared. The reason he became an administrator was due to influence from his own teachers and assistant principals back when he, himself, was a student.
Mr. Georgatos has a lot of thoughts and input when it comes to making changes in schools. For one, he believes that the emphasis on data can sometimes kill creativity. “You can’t have the same expectations you have for math students as you do with music students. Everything needs to be differentiated,” Mr. Georgatos added.
When he’s not teaching, Mr. Georgatos enjoys spending time with his family, as he’s a very family-oriented man. When asked who his greatest influence is, he answered easily; his father. “He taught me to put my name on anything with pride and to always work hard. He taught me to not just be a person who took from others, but a person who often gave back. He’s the most selfless person I know,” he reflected.
Alongside his father, Mr. Georgatos’s wife and children are people he loves and adores most, even stating his proudest moments to be when he married his wife. “I love my wife. We’ve been married for 20 years. She’s the best and my best friend,” he gushed.
In addition, Mr. Georgatos shared that he’s proud of all of his kids and what they have accomplished so far in their lives. He also is extremely proud of the department that he heads. “But overall, I’m most proud of the fact that I work with good people and that we’re the best department,” he shared, smiling.
Mr. Georgatos is a firm believer in hard work and giving it your all. When asked if he had any advice to offer the students of Cardozo, he said, “The most important thing to do is to make wise decisions about what you’re gonna do in the future.” The AP is aware and behind the idea that college may not be for everyone, but, added: “no matter what others say, you should do what you love.”
