Retired Superintendent of Schools, Upper Darby, PA
M.A., Supervision and Curriculum Development - 1970

A Creative Beginning in the Most Unexpected Place

In the summer of 1965, long before he became a celebrated superintendent and respected author, Joseph J. Batory stepped into a role that would change the course of his life—and the lives of 22 preschoolers in North Camden. Fresh out of college and in need of a summer job, he accepted a Head Start teaching post with no idea what awaited him.

What he found, he explains, was “a ‘Third World neighborhood’ of impoverished humans… most living in great poverty and squalor.” It was the most challenging environment he had ever seen. And on top of that, he was expected to teach preschoolers—something he had never done.

“I was terrified,” he admits. “What did I know about teaching five-year-olds?”

But a spontaneous riverfront field trip would spark an idea that transformed his classroom into one of the most imaginative early-learning environments imaginable.

A Classroom Transformed: The Birth of the ‘Mirror Lake’

While walking along the Delaware River during orientation day, Batory noticed the children’s excitement as they watched fishermen reel in catfish, striped bass, and shad. That moment of joy—pure and unfiltered—became the catalyst for his now-famous early childhood innovation.

After reading Willie the Fish aloud and seeing the children’s animated discussion, he knew he had found his hook. Literally.

Over the next several days, Batory—with the help of old friends from his Philadelphia neighborhood—built an indoor “lake” unlike anything the teachers had ever seen:

• Gigantic restaurant mirrors formed the shimmering water.
• Sand, rocks, and artificial plants created a realistic shoreline.
• Hand-drawn fish (each with a paper-clip mouth) populated the lake.
• Broom-handle fishing rods with magnets became the students’ tools for learning.

When the delivery truck arrived—largely donated by “Wise Guy” acquaintances from a South Jersey restaurant supply warehouse—teachers gathered at the windows, stunned. Batory laughs about it now: “It looked like a Mafia tank pulling up to the school.”

But that lake became far more than a novelty. It became a teaching engine.

Learning Through Imagination

Over the summer, the Mirror Lake drove every part of the Head Start curriculum:

• Counting and sorting fish
• Storytelling and creative writing
• Science lessons on habitats and species
• Movement activities where students “swam” like fish
• Measurements and comparisons
• Guest speakers—local fishermen who shared basic angling skills

The classroom evolved into a vibrant, immersive world where children who had been denied so much finally experienced joy, curiosity, and dignity.

“Children can have great fun and learn big time with a bit of creativity by teachers,” Batory reflects. His pioneering hands-on, theme-based approach foreshadowed many of the experiential learning models now common in early childhood education.

A Career Committed to Equity, Imagination, and Children

Joseph Batory’s innovative Head Start experience was just the beginning. He went on to a decades-long career as Superintendent of the Upper Darby School District, earning national acclaim for leadership, community engagement, and a steadfast belief that every child deserves access to high-quality learning.

Though retired, he continues advocating for creative teaching and educational equity through his books, articles, and website: josephbatory.net.

His story also underscores a sobering truth—one he hopes today’s educators and policymakers will confront with urgency: “The USA lags far behind other countries in providing economic equality and universal Pre-K education for its children.”

Impact Across Communities

Throughout his career, Batory’s work has touched:

• Students, who benefited from innovative, child-centered learning experiences
• Teachers, who found inspiration in his imaginative methods
• Families and communities, who saw firsthand what educational equity can make possible

He notes that his website outlines these broader impacts and includes more of his writing on leadership, creativity, and the power of education.

Continuing the Legacy

Batory’s Head Start “Mirror Lake” remains a powerful example of what can happen when a teacher—no matter how inexperienced—chooses imagination over fear and possibility over limitations.

Today, he hopes educators will remember this: creativity is not decoration; it is transformation.

And sometimes, all it takes is a few mirrors, some broom handles, and a room full of children eager to learn.