By: Richard L. Smith
On this cold Thanksgiving morning, while Irvington Township and the surrounding communities wake up to family tables filled with food and warm kitchens, something just as meaningful has taken place inside Rita L. Owens STEAM Academy.
In classrooms where microscopes glow and young minds stretch far beyond their years, a group of seniors and their dedicated teacher are quietly building futures rooted in academic excellence, confidence, and possibility.
The school’s Biomedical Science program—supported by a strong partnership with NJIT—has become one of the most powerful engines for student growth.
For our November edition of this year-long “Road to Graduation” series, I had the chance to explore this program through the eyes of its teacher and three scholars who are truly making their mark.
Principal Tyisha Bennette speaks often about “exposure,” not as a buzzword, but as the life-changing ingredient she believes will open doors her students may have never considered.
During my interview with her , she remembers her own high school journey, filled with solid classes but nothing like the rigorous, real-world, lab-driven curriculum her scholars now receive.
Today’s students move through courses such as Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, and forensic science—material that challenges them to think deeply, act independently, and see themselves as future professionals, whether in medicine, research, engineering, or public health.
And guiding them through these four demanding years is Biomedical Science teacher Gayatri Anike, who trained at night to become certified, built the lab from scratch, and brought the curriculum to life through hands-on investigations.
Every unit begins with a real-world scenario, a death scene, a medical mystery, a disease pattern, to teach students how to think like analysts, researchers, and problem solvers.
“I’m thankful for these students every day,” Anike said. “They work hard, they recover from setbacks, and they keep showing up. That alone is success.”
Among the many scholars thriving in this program, I had a chance to speak to three seniors—Kayla Morales, Samuel Gabriel, and Jean Francois—reflect exactly what Rita Owens STEAM hoped to create when the Biomedical pathway was introduced.
Their stories are different, but they share one powerful theme: each discovered confidence, direction, and purpose through their academic journey.
Kayla Morales: Quiet Strength, Clear Purpose
Kayla entered Rita Owens STEAM from University Middle School already standing out. She was one of the few students in the entire state assessment group to score proficient in science.
Principal Bennette recognized her potential immediately.
But Kayla didn’t choose STEAM because of test scores. She wanted something new—something that challenged her.
“I heard about the Academy and thought, let me try something different,” she said. “As the years went by, I realized this is really what I’m interested in.”
Kayla began the program without a specific career in mind. Biology? Maybe biochemistry? But as she moved through each biomedical course, the pieces clicked into place: dentistry.
“It helped me understand how the whole body works, and why one problem affects another,” she said. “Now I know this is what I want.”
She hopes to attend Rutgers, earn her undergraduate degree, then continue to dental school—a path that once seemed distant, but now feels grounded in real preparation.
“Proficient means you try,” she said. “Even when it’s hard, you keep going. That’s what this place helped me do.”
Samuel Gabriel: Where Athletics Meets Academic Drive
Samuel’s path to Rita Owens STEAM didn’t begin with academics—it began on the football field and basketball court. Sports run deep in his family, and he has excelled since elementary school.
But when it came time to choose a high school, his parents and Principal Bennette challenged him to think beyond athletics.
“I wanted the fun high school experience,” he admitted. “But my parents reminded me: you can play sports, but you need something bigger to stand on.”
Once he arrived at STEAM, Samuel quickly carved out a space where his competitive spirit thrived—not only on the field, but in the classroom.
“I was always interested in science,” he said. “In second grade, I dressed up as a doctor because my mom was sick, and I didn’t want other people to go through that.”
The biomedical program rekindled that early calling. Today, he’s drawn toward cardiology or forensic science—two very different fields, but both driven by his curiosity and his sharp, analytical mind.
He’s also candid about the role adults have played in his growth.
“I haven’t always been perfect,” he said. “But they held me accountable. They pushed me. They saw something in me. That made me want to be better.”
For a family that came to America to build something new, Samuel’s next steps—college, a medical track, real options—represent more than a dream. They represent legacy.
Jean Francois: A Scholar Forged Through Hard Work and Hope
Jean’s journey began thousands of miles away in Haiti, where he lived before coming to the U.S. at age six. Adjusting was difficult at first, but teachers and mentors saw his potential long before he saw it himself.
By middle school, a teacher encouraged him to apply to Rita Owens STEAM—an invitation he credits with changing his academic direction. For his application essay, he chose the most challenging prompt, a decision that foreshadowed the work ethic that would carry him to a 3.8 GPA today.
“When I started the biomedical program, it was a lot,” he said. “So much information, week after week. But I learned how to study, how to push myself, how to ask more of myself.”
He studies by tackling the hardest material first, testing his recall, then revisiting it until it sticks—a rhythm that has helped him develop the discipline needed for college-level science.
Now, as graduation approaches, Jean has chosen the pre-med path, with dreams of becoming a doctor.
“When I was younger, I said I wanted to be one because it sounded impressive,” he admitted. “But now it’s real. Now I know I can work hard enough to get there.”
A Thanksgiving Message of Gratitude and Growth
This Thanksgiving, while families gather and give thanks, Rita Owens STEAM Academy is celebrating something beautiful: the growth, resilience, and brilliance of students who have embraced rigorous academics and transformed their futures.
From Principal Bennette’s commitment to exposure, to Ms. Anike’s dedication in building an entire program from evening classes to full lab experiences, to the students who continue to rise to every challenge—they are creating something special in Irvington.
The Biomedical Science program isn’t just preparing scholars for college. It’s helping them discover who they are, what they’re capable of, and what is possible when a school community believes in them wholeheartedly.
And as these seniors inch closer to graduation, the lessons they’ve learned in the lab—problem-solving, persistence, teamwork, humility—will carry them far beyond the classroom.
Today, on Thanksgiving, we honor the young people who wake up eager to learn, the educators who guide them, and the families who support them.
Warmth, gratitude, and excellence fill the halls of Rita Owens STEAM Academy—and the future looks bright.