Rob Magliaro, ’08 B.S. (Econ, IR, & PSt)
Assistant Principal
The Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management

Rob Magliaro is an Assistant Principal at The Urban Assembly
School for Emergency Management in New York, NY. Rob completed his B.S. in
Economics, International Relations, and Policy Studies at Maxwell, graduating
in 2008. He then went on to earn his M.A. in Mathematics Education from Lehman
College, graduating in 2010.
The Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management
(UASEM) is a public career and technical education high school in New York
City. “Our mission at UASEM is to put students in the shoes of emergency
managers to hone the communication, collaboration, high-stakes problem-solving
and complex reasoning skills they will need to succeed after high school in
college or employment,” Robert says. By constantly applying what they learn in
the classroom to disaster preparation and response scenarios, students develop
the confidence to pursue their dreams and the character to serve their
communities. “In short, we prepare students to be ready for college, career,
and citizenship.”
Rob has been involved with the school since
its inception—he did everything from helping write the initial proposal, hiring,
and training staff, to working with partners such as The Office of Emergency
Management, FEMA, the American Red Cross, NYPD, and FDNY. On a
typical day, he leads a majority of daily school operations, provides
instructional support to his teaching staff through classroom observation and
professional development, and also teaches courses: Algebra II and Math
Enrichment. Moreover, he also works with the school’s principal on much of the
programming and issues related to compliance with city and state department of
education regulations. “My real passion is in the longer term strategy of
the school and using student achievement data to make instructional and
operational decisions to support student learning and social emotional
development,” he says.
Previously, Rob worked at a school in the
South Bronx, where he helped create a robust student data tracking system
which, in part, resulted in school-wide improvements in student
achievement. In the 2012-13 school year the school went from a
"C" on the School Report Card to a "B," a goal the school
had been striving towards for several years. He also helped create an
Advanced Math Program, which has resulted in nearly 40 students advancing two
years in mathematics. These students are now on a trajectory towards high
school Calculus. Additionally, as a member of Educators for Excellence Rob helped
to write a policy paper on principal evaluation in New York State.
Rob says that his internships, community based
projects, and data work at the Maxwell School had the largest impact on his
career by far. “My mentor, Bill Coplin, used to say ‘data is everything,’
and that couldn't be truer in almost every field,” Rob says. “I attribute
almost all of my success in education to my ability to collect and analyze data
to make decisions in the classroom and at the school level.” Most of this
experience came from Rob’s internship with Syracuse Community Geography and a wide
array of other internships, from the Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Health
Care Reform, Lovell's International Law Firm in Hong Kong, and the Syracuse
Mayor's Office.
“In schools there are always a thousand and
one things going on, so the ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time
is essential,” he adds. “I acquired many of these skills as a member of
OrangeSeeds Leadership Empowerment Program and as a Leadership Intern in The
Center for Public and Community Service. Both of these activities gave me
invaluable experience working and leading teams, project management, and networking.”
Rob also says studying abroad in Hong Kong was not only a once in a lifetime
experience but also provided for excellent conversation with potential employers. Additionally,
Rob received the Remembrance Scholarship and was a University Scholar. “The
Remembrance Scholarship was a moving experience and has provided critical
context for my work now as I help to launch the first Emergency Management High
School in the country,” he says.
Rob’s advice for current Maxwell students? “Maxwell
offers an array of opportunities both in and out of class to acquire practical
skills and obtain valuable internships and work related experiences. Many
students get stuck on ‘collecting academic badges’ and working towards graduate
school,” Rob says. “While both are crucial, what employers value most
is meaningful experience and the ability to solve problems. Working with
data and the ability to communicate its meaning are the two most powerful
skills you can bring to almost any profession.” He adds that interesting
experiences in student organizations, study abroad, work study, and internships
are equally as important as success in the classroom. “Figuring out what you
are not passionate is just as important, if not more, than determining what you
are passionate about. Maintain ongoing relationships with your
classmates. They are an invaluable asset post-college, both in your
transition to the professional world and as resources in the job market,” he
says. “You will be surprised how difficult it is to maintain these relationships,
even with Facebook and other social media. Making your Syracuse
friendships and network a priority will lead to success on many levels
post-graduation.”