April 2009
Spring Ahead For Public Schools
Welcome to the April edition of Keeping It Going, the monthly e-newsletter of The Fund for Public Schools. Spring is here, and it's a great time to get involved with the progress our schools are making.
Each year, New York State identifies schools as being under "registration review." These schools are those farthest from meeting State performance standards, and face the possibility of closure if they do not improve. In 2002, there were 77 New York City public schools that were under registration review by the State.
Since then, the Department of Education has embarked on an ambitious school reform program—emphasizing accountability for all schools, raising the bar on student achievement, and creating new and better options for students and their families. These bold efforts have resulted in real, positive change for our city's 1.1 million public school students. This year, only 20 schools were placed into review status by the State—the lowest number since the 2001-02 school year. In fact, 13 New York City public schools were removed from the list this year. These schools, and their students, are on the path to success. This month's newsletter features the story of one such turnaround school.
We hope you're enjoying the warmer weather, and that April will be the month you show your support for our city's public schools.
How to Keep It Going In April
April is another great month to help keep the progress going in our city's public schools! If you know of a volunteer opportunity not listed here, please let us know by emailing info@fundforpublicschools.org.
Save the Date for the Madison Avenue Gallery Walk
 On Saturday, May 16, you can take free tours of some of the world's most renowned art galleries, and support arts education for public school students at the same time! Hosted by the Madison Avenue BID, the Second Annual Madison Avenue Gallery Walk promises to be a great event for all New Yorkers. This special day will include free tours, family-friendly activities, and an all-day silent auction of donated artwork to support the Summer Arts Institute, a comprehensive arts education program sponsored by The Fund for Public Schools. For further information, click here. We hope to see you at the walk!
Poem In Your Pocket Day is April 30th
 April is National Poetry Month, which concludes with a special opportunity to volunteer in a public school! Poem in Your Pocket Day celebrates poetry and highlights the power of poetry as a creative and emotional tool to increase literacy and allow adults and children alike to express themselves. Nonprofit organizations will be sending volunteers into public schools across the city to share poems with students and encourage creative expression. Visit http://www.nyc.gov/poem to find some of the nonprofits in New York City that focus on literacy and reading skills. Sign up as a volunteer reader, tutor, or mentor, and help spark a student's interest in poetry and literature.
Volunteer With Girls Quest
 Be a mentor to girls in New York City public schools! Girls Quest seeks committed, professional women (21 and older) to mentor girls from low-income families. Volunteers participate in one-on-one mentoring relationships with girls ages 12-17, providing guidance and support during the transition to young adulthood. Twice a month for a minimum of one year, volunteers and their mentees participate in fun and enriching activities throughout the metropolitan area. For more information on how you can be a Girls Quest Volunteer Mentor, contact Susan Thomas, Director of Mentor Programs, at 212-532-7050, x18 or at sthomas@girlsquest.org.
Stay Updated with The Fund for Public Schools
Stay informed about exciting opportunities for involvement with our public schools. Add yourself to our mailing list, and each month you'll receive a copy of our e-newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! Just click here. |
Destination: Excellence
Principal and Staff Raise The Bar
As Jacob Michelman arrived for his first day as principal of Junior High School 13 in East Harlem, a book thrown from one of the school’s windows landed near his feet.
“That was my first impression,” he says now, chuckling. The school had been in turmoil, with a revolving door for principals and poor student performance for as long as anyone could remember.
Brittany Nixon, currently an eighth grader, remembers her first days at the school similarly. “Students were wild, jumping on desks, cursing at teachers,” she says. “It made me feel unsafe.”
Brittany and her mother were nervous about the unruly school, but somehow the poised, confident 13-year-old knew that change would eventually come.
Two years ago, JHS 13 was placed on the SURR (Schools Under Registration Review) list, which the State uses to identify troubled schools at risk of closure. It also received an F on its Progress Report. The fate of the school seemed sealed.
“It was a hard hit,” says Michelman, one of the first graduates of the NYC Leadership Academy, a key initiative supported by The Fund for Public Schools. “It was a blow. No one here was satisfied with that.”
Rather than resigning himself to defeat, the new principal got to work. Using the DOE's data inquiry tools, Michelman and his staff devised a plan for focusing on students who were just barely missing cutoff scores for the next-highest level on reading and math tests, and worked to bring those students to grade level.
“We didn’t wait. We got started immediately,” he says. “Being placed on the SURR list really forced us to focus on instruction.”
Michelman also worked to increase collaboration among his staff, a fact not lost on Daughn Lee.
“It was clear we had a new leader who demanded a lot from us, but also from himself,” says Lee, the school’s social worker. “We had an awesome staff, but without strong leadership we could only do so much.”
Lee, who has been at JHS 13 since 2000, says that Michelman’s arrival was greeted with skepticism from teachers accustomed to turnover and inconsistency. Eventually, Michelman proved himself to be a committed principal who was willing to work with his staff. “This was the first principal I’ve seen who works harder than I do,” Lee says—quickly emphasizing, “And I work very hard!”
“He brought out the best in us,” she adds.
The school’s turnaround has been noted by teachers, students, and parents. This year, 15 eighth graders applied to the city’s ultra-competitive specialized high schools—a record number for JHS 13. And naturally, everyone was overjoyed when the school was received a B on its most recent Progress Report—and was removed from the SURR list.
“It felt fantastic,” says Lee. “And I know we earned every bit of it.”
Today, Brittany is on track to graduate—she’s a contender for valedictorian—and will head off to high school this fall. Principal Michelman is pleased with his school’s progress, but isn’t resting on his laurels.
“When you get to the top of the mountain, you can turn around or keep going,” he says. “We’re going to persevere." |
