Andrea Feldman: A Teacher’s Real-World Lessons

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) created "Empowering Teachers, Inspiring Students," a contest that offered free entry to the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon to 50 deserving teachers. The winners included Andrea Feldman, a science teacher at IS 145 Joseph Pulitzer Magnet School of Innovation and Applied Learning in Queens. Feldman was thrilled—she gets to run the race of a lifetime and pass along some valuable lessons to her students.

Teaching the Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle

“Fitness and science go hand in hand,” says Feldman, who has taught science at IS 145 for 10 years. “My goal is for my students to always see the ‘real world’ aspect of everything I teach. Kids won’t be interested in school if they think it’s something they never use. Everything from breathing and muscle use and overuse to properly fueling your body has to do with science.”

Feldman started a mileage challenge with some of her fellow teachers. “I am definitely hoping to show my students and school community the benefits of a healthy lifestyle,” she says. “Once my mileage goes up, it will inspire them to get moving even more.” She also hopes to start a running club for students at the school.

The 2018 TCS New York City Marathon will be Feldman’s first 26.2-miler, but she’s hardly a novice runner. The lifelong fitness enthusiast started out five or six years ago and quickly progressed from 2- to 3-mile runs to half-marathons. Feldman has since made it her goal to run a half-marathon in every state before she turns 50. She recently finished one in Alaska, bringing her total to 26.

When Worlds Collide

As she makes her way through the five boroughs, Feldman is sure to hear cheers from friends, family, fellow teachers, and students.

“This race is special to me for so many reasons,” she says. “It’s like my worlds are colliding, my running world and my teaching world. I always talk to my students about the running and races and exercise that I do, but now that they can actually be a part of it is priceless.”

She continues, “It also will help me show them how setting goals that you think are impossible are not, and to never set the bar low. I never even thought I could run 13 miles and now I’ll be running 26.”