Proposal popped at Albany school
Students waved photos of teacher and her beau who then asked the big question
Christina Zontini, a sixth-grade teacher at Albany International Center, thought she was leading a normal school assembly. Then she was interrupted by her boyfriend, who came on stage with a bouquet and a ring.
Zontini was giving a presentation to the students when things took an unexpected turn: She was projecting slides about a school talent show, but then a picture of her dog popped up. The students began to yell the dog ’s name, “Hercules!”
That was the cue to her fiancé-to-be, Terry Burke, who went down on one knee as cheers erupted from the students. They waved signs with photos of Burke and Zontini, and some that read “#Burktini.”
Zontini found herself speechless — but nodded “yes.”
“I don’t really have any words, but I’m extremely happy,” Zontini said.
Burke sa id sur pr ising Zontini wasn’t easy — he descr ibed her as “ha lf detective.” But t he school assembly he decided, would be t he set ting least li kely to a rouse her suspicions.
Besides of fer ing t he element of sur pr ise, t he assembly a llowed Burke to sha re this moment wit h people Zontini ca red about.
“She loves her students; she loves what she does,” Burke said. “I fig ured there is no better place than here, in front of the kids and the people she spends 90 percent of her time with.”
Rachel Stead, Albany International Center ’s principal, said when Burke approached her with the idea, it made perfect sense.
Zontini “is incredibly dedicated to the school and the students,” Stead said. “I think in a lot of ways she considers the students family.”
Zontini’s former students agreed with that assessment: Gul Jamala Zadran, now in eighth grade, said Zontini taught her English and spelling, but most of all she appreciated the teacher’s kindness, including gifts during the holidays.
“She would never miss it,” Zadran said of Zontini’s attentiveness.
Eighth grader, Maulidi Majaliwa, who was in Zontini sixth-grade class, said the teacher even helped his family find a new home.
“She helped me get a new house and prepare,” Majaliwa said. “Sometimes she’ll come by and just say hi, but she helps with a lot of things.”
The students said they were elated after being part of the proposal.
“My heart is so full,” Zadran said. “It ’s just so happy.”