Five Questions With… Wendy Peters

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Facilities Service Manager Wendy Peters has been on the Facilities team at Gaynor for 16 years, and has seen the school go through all kinds of changes, both architecturally and culturally. Wendy is a storyteller; over the course of our hour-long interview, the topics ranged from her family life in Trinidad to her working experiences before coming to Gaynor.

We sat down with Wendy for the latest installment of our “Five Questions With…” series, and learned more about her history with the school from the perspective of a staff member, and how deep her love of Gaynor is. 

1. How did you find yourself at Gaynor?

Before [I came to Gaynor], I worked for a couple right on 93rd actually, babysitting. And when I first came to Gaynor it was to help out Carlvin [Delfish, Gaynor’s Building Manager] when they had a Halloween party. It was being held in the gym. And I knew Carlvin because he was my neighbor. 

And then after seeing how much work it was just for that event, I think [Head of School] Dr. [Scott] Gaynor had realized that they needed help. So he asked Carlvin to look for somebody. Carlvin said, oh, well, I have my friend who was here to help us with the setup for this party. So he called me and I came back in and Dr. Gaynor interviewed me. And that’s how I started. 16 years ago, in November of 2007. 

And then, four months later, [the people I babysat for] called me back. They asked me if I would come back. I told them, well, I’m working at Gaynor, so I can’t come back. And I didn’t envision myself doing [babysitting] for the rest of my life. I said no, I’ll stay here. Because I needed to show stability, because I was also fighting to bring my daughter up [from Trinidad].

2. What keeps you coming back to work every day?

Oh, just because of how the school is, the whole concept of the school. I brag and boast to people about where I work. I tell them I work in one of the best schools in New York. It’s such an amazement every time I come to work. 

It always amazes me when I see kids who came in here, real little or, still little, but older. And [they came because] they were having difficulties, and to see [them] when they reach the age for graduation… You would ask yourself, why are they here? Because they have learned so much. And that’s because of the one-on-one [attention] they get and the time the teachers take to work with them. So that’s why even over the years, one of the things that I always try to do is to help out as much as I can with the teachers. Because I always have in the back of my head, it’s such a difficult job for them, having to work with the kids. So anything I can do to make life easier for them during the day? I would do it. If it’s within reason I would do it. [laugh]. And that’s one of the things I try to tell my team, they ask us to do things because they can’t leave what they’re doing, you know? So that’s why that’s your job. 

But it really has been really awesome working here, you know, like I said it to Dr. Gaynor once, I’m 150, 200 percent committed to this school. Because they have really, really been good to me over the years, especially when I’ve gone through some really, really, really tough times.

3. You recently were promoted to Facilities Service Manager. What did this change in position mean to you?

Well, it’s been really good because, before I couldn’t show what skills I have when dealing with certain things. A lot of people don’t know but before I came to this country, I worked in a law firm for 11 years. So I have office experience. I just need to update it. [laughs] I don’t pretend that I know this, and I know that, and I know what I’m supposed to do on the computer with a lot of things, because back then it was a whole lot different to how it is now; a whole lot of things have evolved since then. But being able to highlight the things I can do has been really great for me, and getting that promotion and stuff like that. After 16 years! That’s why they tell you, don’t give up. You’re not supposed to give up. My grandma would always tell me that “when it’s your turn, it’s your turn.” That’s one of my favorite things my grandmother used to say and I live by [it]. She would always say. “Wendy, if something is for you, it is not going to be for anyone else. If it’s for you, it’s for you. So when it’s your time, it’s your time.” And I’ve always believed that because it has always worked out that way. 

4. What has changed at Gaynor over the years, and what has stayed the same? 

Well, the only thing that’s different is the changes of the faculty every year. That’s the only change for me. The essence of the school has stayed the same, but it has gotten better. I would say it’s a bit more diverse. I think when I got here, there was only one Black kid, and no Black teachers. So it has gotten a lot more diverse. But the whole atmosphere of the school has stayed the same. 

I always said I would give this school my all because I’ve been through so many different things since I’ve been working here, and they’ve been so supportive. That hasn’t changed with them, with everybody, especially the teachers who’ve been here for a long time. So there’s a connection there with them because of that.

For what’s different, well, I saw the whole South Building built out. Every part of that process. Before the play deck, it had a wall there and I remember with the [North] building on the 4th floor, there was a wall before they built the bridge, and there was a window. So I saw the whole change. It’s mind blowing to compare how it is now to how it was.

5. What do you do when you’re not at Gaynor?

Well, I’m getting older, so all I do now is stay home, [go to] work, home, work, home. [laugh] For my entertainment either I will be playing video games on my phone, or I read books on my phone. Because all the books that I have [at home], I’ve [already] read all of them. I like to read mystery novels. So now I just download books on my phone.