Shimon Waronker

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Shimon Waronker is the former Principal of the Jordan L. Mott School in New York City, also known as Junior High School 22.

Waronker came to public attention[1] because of his success in taking a failing school in a tough neighborhood, Junior High School 22, in the South Bronx, also called the Jordan L. Mott School, and turning it around.[2] This drew especial attention because Waronker, a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch sect of Hasidic Judaism who wears a conservative suit, a beard, a black hat and a velvet yarmulke, had to overcome prejudice both in getting the job and in gaining the trust of the parents, teacher and students at the school.[3]

Waronker, a former intelligence officer in the United State Army, took over a school listed as one of the 12 most violent in New York.[4] There were active gangs, attacks and fights that led to serious hospitalization, drug use and alcohol on campus.[5][6] Waronker’s methods included expelling and suspending large numbers of students, adding guidance counselors, a psychologist, social workers,and family workers, to the staff and finding ways for more teachers to attend advanced educational seminars. Students get one-on-one or small group tutoring one to three times a week. There are frequent field trips and the school has books in every classroom, a new library, new science labs, and laptop computer carts. The school is divided into eight small academies, so that small groups of teachers can focus on small groups of students.[7][8] Mott teaches such subjects as math and science in a choice of Spanish and English or French and English with the aim of producing students who can compete in the global economy.[9][10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Today Show, NBC http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=hKnRumG-GME
  2. ^ In Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival - New York Times
  3. ^ In Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival - New York Times
  4. ^ Denver Post, 2006-01-02 http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3363544
  5. ^ C.I.S. 22 Jordan L. Mott School
  6. ^ In Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival - New York Times
  7. ^ C.I.S. 22 Jordan L. Mott School
  8. ^ In Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival - New York Times
  9. ^ More U.S. schools begin to teach subjects in two or more tongues; Programs take global approach to early education, By Verena Dobnik, The Associated Press , 9/4/07
  10. ^ C.I.S. 22 Jordan L. Mott School