A Falcon’s Journey highlights alumni who have returned to serve the district where they once learned, giving back to the community that helped shape them. This profile features Jahneen Woodbury, a proud graduate of the Greenburgh Central School District, whose connection to Greenburgh has come full circle.
For Jahneen, some of her earliest memories as a student are rooted in a feeling that stayed with her throughout her time in the district: safety. “I remember coming to school and feeling safe,” she shared. “Everyone always looked out for each other, from the teachers to the students.” She recalls moments that made her feel seen and proud, like completing the Reading Dragons program at Lee F. Jackson and seeing her name displayed on the wall. At R.J. Bailey, participating in a school play pushed her out of her comfort zone, while her years at Woodlands were filled with sports, friendships, and the excitement of hearing her name called during pep rallies. “This district has always felt like family,” she said.
That sense of care became especially meaningful during difficult moments. Jahneen remembers experiencing a significant loss in her family while she was in fourth grade and the support she received when she returned to school. “Ms. Cherrico made sure I was comfortable and let me know she was there for me,” she recalled. “Every teacher I had formed a bond with their students. They made sure we were okay.”
After graduating, Jahneen worked as a substitute teacher in the Elmsford School District, but Greenburgh always felt like home. While she didn’t initially dream of becoming a teacher, she always knew she wanted to help children in some capacity. When she ultimately chose education, the decision of where to work was clear. “I wanted to return to work in this district because it is home,” she said. “I wanted to inspire the students of this district just how I felt inspired by my teachers. My students are my classmates’ children. It is all just a full-circle experience.”
Today, as a teacher in the Early Childhood Program, many of the things Jahneen remembers as a student remain. “The district has always had a strong connection with the community,” she shared. “Teachers still go above and beyond to make sure students are successful.” Her own experiences guide her work now. She remembers educators from every stage of her journey, from Pre-K at the Early Childhood Program with Ms. Mallory-Johnson to Woodlands High School teachers like Ms. Cinquemani, Ms. Lawanga, and guidance counselor Mrs. Jones. “I want my students to love their education the way my teachers made me love learning,” she said.
What Jahneen values most about working in Greenburgh is the same sense of pride and connection she felt growing up. “I love the diversity of the district and how we celebrate the differences of our students,” she said. “Teachers take the time to know students and their families, and they genuinely love Greenburgh.”
She hopes her students leave with what she once did: a feeling of safety, pride, and belonging that lasts long after graduation. “I want them to know their teachers will always be there for them,” she shared, recalling a recent encounter with her former Pre-K teacher decades later. “We remembered each other, and I felt just as safe as I did back then.”
For Jahneen Woodbury, Greenburgh isn’t just where she learned, it’s where she belongs, and where she now helps the next generation of Falcons grow.