Irini Belitsis

About Me

Hi! My name is Irini. I grew up in Flushing, Queens then Manhasset, Long Island. I attended Hunter College for four years and had the opportunity to dorm in the city. I majored in history and had a minor track study in Italian. I have always been passionate and curious about history and languages. I can speak/understand Greek, French, Italian, and a very little bit of German. My interest in interacting with kids began in ninth grade as a volunteer Sunday school teacher’s assistant. During my time at Hunter, I was able to expand on my passion as an observer at Long Island City High School in Astoria.

What about the residency are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to interacting with all types of students in NYU's immersive school community. I am excited to familiarize myself with students and their backgrounds and communities, which is especially important in social studies education. I also look forward to helping my students analyze historical events and figures in order to better comprehend their society on a local, national, and global scale. Above all, I hope to have a long-lasting and constructive effect on my students.

Did you have a teacher who made a lasting impression on you?

My 11th grade AP US teacher, Mr. Madden, always remains one of the most impactful teachers I've had. He approached history in an attractive and amusing way. He expressed the importance of causality in history and emphasized it over the memorization of specific dates and names. He helped me solidify my love and growing interest in history.