Chancellor chooses Mims to head District 9 schools

Controversial selection process ends with acting superintendent tapped to head District 9

By Denae Brewer
Editor in Chief

Schools Chancellor Harold Levy has made his choice on who will lead District 9.

After an intense three-month selection process that saw parents and the community school board at odds every step of the way, Acting Superintendent Dr. Stanley Mims was officially handed the reigns.

“We have every confidence that Dr. Mims will be able to push forward the educational policy and imitative to spearhead the district to educational excellence,” Board of Education spokesperson Kevin Ortiz said.

“I am honored by the decision,” Dr. Mims said. “I have worked hard to ensure all of the students in the district get a quality education.”

The new superintendent faces an uphill battle. District 9 - which includes Highbridge, Morrisiana and the Tremont sections of the Bronx - routinely does poorly on state and citywide reading and math tests - 23 percent of the district's fourth graders passed the citywide English Language Arts exam last year. Parents groups such as the United Parents of Highbridge insist on improvements.

"It is time District 9 pulls up their grades," UPOH member Ana Garcia said through an interpreter. "I hope that he does better then the superintendents who were there before him. I expect improvements in reading, math and science over the next few years."

Most parents in Highbridge share that sentiment.

"What ever he [Dr. Mims] does, it better be soon," said Janice Woods, whose child attends C.E.S. 126. "Our kids deserve the type of education they get in Manhattan. This is supposed to be one system, yet we get the short end of the stick. It's time for someone to correct the wrongs."

Dr. Mims hopes to do just that. He has implemented bridge programs to help children succeed in every grade. Children entering middle school will now have to go to summer school. More like a pre-middle school academy for six-graders, the students will get an orientation to junior high while receiving a jump start on the more advance curriculum. Third and seventh graders will receive extra help in math and reading in order to prepare them for the standardized test they will take the following year.

Perhaps the biggest change will be the teachers approach. In an attempt not to pigeonhole a student, children, from kindergarten on, will have an assessment done to see where they stand academically. "We know from experience that each child's learning potential is different," said Dr. Mims. "If we change our approach to teaching we can find those who are faltering early on before it gets too late."

With all of the changes he wishes to apply in the schools, Dr. Mims welcomes parental involvement, "My door has always been open to parents and their ideas for improvement. I know we all have to work together for the sake of our children." One of Dr Mims plans is to have 90 percent of the children in the district read at or above level by the third grade. "The long history of failure has to end. I intend to hold everyone accountable, not just parents, but teachers and facility and yes even the children. We can make this district better."