Full-circle journey from student to teacher

For Jess Engelman, walking through the gates of Mount Sinai College each morning is a little like stepping back in time.

“I’m instantly transported back to being that little girl,” she said.

“I still find myself looking around with that same sense of warmth and connection.”

Today, Engelman is a teacher at the school she once attended as a student – a place that has been part of her family’s story for generations.

Her grandfather, Harry Taibel, served as the school’s principal from 1990 to 2002, and his influence continues to shape the way she approaches education.