Ms. Eileen Falls, the Family & Consumer Sciences Department Chair, will be retiring at the end of the 2016-2017 school year.  Falls has taught in the department for 33 years, and has been a department chair for 12 years.

 “I always wanted to be a teacher, specifically an English teacher, but I realized in my junior year in college that I loved fashion and cooking.  I really wanted to teach students how to do everyday needs and to feel the way I do about FACS,” explained Falls.  After deciding to focus specifically on teaching FACS, Falls started her teaching career at Elmwood Park High School, as a culinary teacher, but shortly after transferred to teaching Leyden.  

“When I first arrived at Leyden, I taught the Work Program,” said Falls. She now currently teaches Child Care Practicum at both East and West Leyden, which features high school students working with preschoolers.  Falls said, “I love seeing the interaction and connection when the high school students work with the preschoolers.  It’s a great environment to work in.”

Since starting at Leyden, Falls has not only been teaching several FACS classes, but leading the Family and Consumer Sciences department.  “I was put into the place of being department chair in 2004,” explained Falls.  Being a department chair comes with a great number of responsibilities and tasks.  A typical day for Falls includes starting her morning at East Leyden and then traveling to West Leyden.  Falls has to manage both her classes and the department.  “I have to make sure the curriculum is up to date, control the budget of the department to use for supplies and equipment at both

campuses, attend meetings, evaluate teachers, and also hire teachers,” explains Falls.  

Being a teacher in the classroom and having the role of department chair greatly impacts not only the students, but the teachers as well. Leyden Alum and current FACS teacher, Ms. Dana Thomas adds, “She (Falls) is an excellent leader and always incorporates humor into our meetings and interactions, which is appreciated by everyone. She is very passionate about her content area, and it rubs off on her students.”

Irma Tovar, a student of Falls, explained, “I like that she really cares for her students and always makes us smile and laugh.”  Falls’ dedication and commitment to teaching for the past 33 years has tremendously added to the successes of many Leyden students over the years.  Falls explains that the transition into her retirement will be to “relax and travel,” but she will truly miss what she loves doing most: teaching.