Photo by Denae Brewer/Horizon
CC9 hopes to get lead teacher per every grade in each of the 10 schools they represent. Pictured CES 73.

Parents present petition to chancellor

By Denae Brewer
Editor in Chief

In an effort to ensure that New York City’s public school children get the best education possible, parents and other members of the Community Collaborative to Improve District 9 Schools will unveil their Lead Teacher campaign to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein along with 10,000 signatures of support.

“For more than 20 years, they [education officials] have siphoned out resources from schools,” said Community Collaborative to Improve District 9 Schools (CC9) member, Denise Moncrief. “The lead teacher program is one way to bring resources back.”

The lead teacher campaign has three goals: 1. Strengthen and stabilize the teaching force within each of the schools 2. Attract highly skilled teachers from other parts of the city and 3. Provide opportunities to highly qualified teachers for professional advancement while remaining in the teaching profession.

Parents who were unsatisfied with their children routinely failing city and statewide-standardized tests formed CC9. Since its inception, they have presented education officials with various ways for educational improvements. The lead teacher campaign is just another step in their three-point plan. “We’re looking for teachers who’ve proven they can raise academics,” said CC9 member Ocynthia Williams. “We want to be active in our children’s education and we know that supporting our teachers is very important.”

Research finds that most of the teachers in low-income communities like Highbridge have a high turnover rate—a majority of which has three years or less teaching experience—CC9 feels a lead teacher can be beneficial.

“Academics will not increase if every two years there is a new teaching staff.” Ms. Williams said. “We need to create stability.”

CC9 hopes the implementation of the lead teacher will foster a greater bond between teachers and the community they work in. “There’s no guarantee they’d stay,” Ms. Williams continued. “But this way they can see they have the support of the community, parents and other teachers who would take the time to advise, council and listen to them.”

The lead teacher’s role will be as mentor and supporter. They are expected to not only teach children, but also offer their expertise and best practices to other teachers. CC9, which represents ten Region 1 schools—C.S 4 28 C.E.S. 35, 53, 73, 88, 90, 126, P.S. 64 and C.I.S. 166 —intends to have one lead teacher per grade in each school.

Although the lead teacher campaign kicked off last month, CC9 has garnered great support. Along with collecting 10,000 signatures, the United Federation of Teachers—the city’s teachers’ union that recently honored CC9’s efforts—and Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. have been vocal in this cause.

“We are honored and proud to work with CC9 in this campaign,” said Herb Katz District 9 United Federation of Teachers representative. “It show the commitment of CC9 and parents to ensuring children in the city receive a quality education.”

The movement has also gained the financial support from various groups. Estimating the cost of implementation for the lead teachers in those ten schools at $2 million, CC9 has actively sought funding. “We want to put our money where our mouth is,” Ms. Williams said. Recently the Booth Ferris Foundation — a subsidiary of JP Morgan Chase —pledged $400,000. . “Before we go to the chancellor and Mayor, we want to show them that we are willing to help in anyway possible to get this program off the ground.”