Samuel Gompers Vocational

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Samuel Gompers Vocational Technical High
School 1991- 2003

• Breaking the Cycle in the South Bronx
• Mary Ann Hawthorne,
• Instructional Superintendent, Region 2

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Overview of the South Bronx, NY(Lowest Income
Per Capita Congressional District in the U.S.)

• 60 of all households with children are headed by
  a female (compared to 6.4 nationwide)
• 43.2 of the persons in the South Bronx
  Empowerment Zone live below the poverty level
  (13.1 nationwide)
• 43 of the households have yearly income below
  10,000
• 62 of the households have yearly income below
  20,000
• 15.41 of the working age population are
  unemployed
• 48.2 of working age youth are unemployed

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Samuel Gompers H. S.1991
X

• Slated for Closure
• Unsafe environment (violence, drugs gangs, etc)
• Poor Attendance - 67
• Dropout Rate 8.5
• Teachers afraid, unmotivated
• Poor Academic Performance
• 60 of incoming students below 60th Percentile in
  reading at grade level
• 66 below average competency in Math

Founded in 1935
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Margaret Mead
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
committed people can change the world indeed,
it is the only thing that ever has.
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Samuel Gompers H. S.Today

• Highly Regarded Nationally
• School Morale - High
• College enrollment UP
• Attendance - UP 88 average
• Dropout rate - Down 4.4
• Student job Prospects Favorable
• Role Models in the High School Business
  Community
• Support System From Business Community

• 1,500 students
• 119 teachers
• 90 employees (with support staff)

• Hispanic 61.5, Black 36.3, White 1, Asian and
  others 1.2 
• Gender
• 82.5 male 
• 17.5 female (was 8 in 1991)

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High School Transformation

• High Standards/Rigorous Curriculum

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High Standards/Rigorous Curriculum- Course
Offerings -

Samuel Gresham
We have to prepare young people not only for
jobs as they exist today, but also for jobs as
they will exist in the future

• Establish
• Flexible, creative programs that respond to
  changing business, industry, student and
  community needs
• Training and professional development for
  teachers and staff to ensure quality instructions
• Development of partnerships between business
  industry, the community and universities

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High Standards/Rigorous Curriculum- Course
Offerings -

Computer Aided Design
Desktop Publishing
Electronics Technician
Electronics (Pre-Engineering
Copier Repair
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Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Grades
Exploratory Electronics/Computers
9th
10th
Computer Science
11th
Basic CAD Applications
Advanced CAD Applications
12th
10
Desktop Publishing
Grades
Exploratory Electronics/Computers
9th
10th
Computer Science
11th
Basic Desktop Publishing
Advanced Desktop Publishing
12th
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Electronics (Pre-Engineering)
Grades
9th
Electronics, DC Circuits
Basic Robotics Solid State Engineering 1
10th
Int. Robotics Solid State Engineering 2
11th
Microprocessors Basic Robotic Engineering
12th
Computer Engineering Internet Network
Engineering
Advanced Robotic Engineering Cisco
Certification
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Copier Repair
Grades
Exploratory Electronics/Computers
9th
10th
Basic Electronics
11th
Copier Repair I
Copier Repair II
12th
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School to Career Programs

• Career/Jobs Coordinator position
• Major Co-Op and Internship Programs
• Cablevision installing cablevision products
• Con Edison (Electric Gas Co.) Summer fulltime
  and school year Co-Op part time employment
• IBM 6-week summer enrichment program with
  fulltime employment and professional development
  offerings while staying on college campus
  (Program model expanded nationally)
• Verizon Summer employment installing telephones
• Annual Career Fair Over 30 companies stage a
  career fair where students submit resumes,
  conduct mock interviews and, prepare for
  professional exposure

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School to Career Programs (contd)F.I.R.S.T.
Foundation (For Inspiration and Recognition of
Science Technology) Robotics Competition

• A Non-profit organization founded by Inventor,
  Dean Kamen dedicated to Science technology
  education
• Project-based learning by team of students and
  volunteer engineers from companies universities
  to construct functioning robot from basic kit
• Cost Expenses raised by supporting community
  businesses
• Competed past 4 year (2nd place and 2 trophies)

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AP HistoryNY State AP History Study Guides

• Samuel Gompers High School's Global History
  developed study guides and other multimedia
  techniques that have helped them achieve 100
  passage rate for the last 3 years. The Special
  Education passage rate has improved to 85.
• Created by Mr. Matthews (2002 2003 NYS Teacher
  of the Year) 9th and 10th grade students applying
  a technology-based solution
• Global History III and Global History IV Regents
  Study Guides provide New York state students
• The ability to out understand thematic and
  document-based essays
• Visually connect the outline format with needed
  Global History Regents information.
• Being used to help high school students state
  wide prepare for the New York State Global
  History Geography Regents exam.

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College-bound Programs

• Full-time staffed College Office
• SAT/ACT Prep
• Scholarship Grants
• College Feeder Programs
• Polytechnic University
• Lehman College
• Bronx Community College
• College Visits
• College Application Prep Seminars

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Key Components

• Each program must be rooted in a rigorous
  curriculum at every grade level
• Course curriculum must be sustained and supported
  by its school structure and organization. When
  funding is restrictive, Community support can
  offer alternative funding support
• Practical real life experiences must be
  infused throughout the curriculum and
• The curriculum must meet the needs of industry
  employers

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High School Transformation

• High Standards/Rigorous Curriculum
• Effective Committed Workforce

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Effective Committed Workforce
Our Vision Statement
Each student at Samuel Gompers will be successful
in a vigorous instructional program, our
teachers, assistant principals administrative
staff will be valued, will hold themselves
accountable, will be rewarded for their
professionalism
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Staff Commitment

• Incompetent Teachers rated Unsatisfactory
• Removed clock-watching Assistant Principals
• Revitalized Teaching Staff using scarce funds for
  professional development
• Initiated Saturday Tutorial Programs
• Brought in 2 new programs
• Desktop Publishing
• Computer-Aided Design and Drafting
• Enhanced Pre-Engineering Electronics program to
  include Cisco A Certification
• Professionalism was demanded from all teachers
  and staff members

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High School Transformation

• High Standards/Rigorous Curriculum
• Effective Committed Workforce
• Parent Community Support

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Parent Community Support

• Active School Leadership Team
• Meet monthly
• 6 parents, 4 teachers, 2 students, AP Principal
• Support school current and future needs
• Active Parent-Teacher Association
• Average attendance 100-200 parents
• Parent workshop topics
• Distribute report cards
• How to help your child in Math
• How to Obtain and Use a computer
• Tips on how to keep your child in school
  focused
• Cablevision developed online homework program
• School Advisory Board
• Membership of 20 business community leaders
• Provide Jobs Internships
• Alternative Funding for Special programs
  equipmt
• Scholarships
• Curriculum Enhancement/Industry Perspective
• Volunteer Professionals for School Programs

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High School Transformation

• High Standards/Rigorous Curriculum
• Effective Committed Workforce
• Parent Community Support
• Focus on Student Needs

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Focus on Student Needs

• Self Awareness
• Self Assessment
• Career Information
• Exploration
• Academic Planning
• Reduction of Biases
• Vocational Orientation

• Future Trends
• Employability Skills
• Goal Setting Decision Making
• Community Involvement
• Economics/Personal Finance

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Conclusion

Joel Barker
Vision without action is merely a dream, Action
without vision just passes the time, Vision with
action will change the world.
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Summary response to 5 questions (contd)

• Question 1 70 year old building
• Support from businesses
• Air conditioned the auditorium (cost 700,000)
  Bronx Borough President sponsored
• Furniture and computersCon Edison
• Classroom wired (T1 lines Fiber optics) -
  Cablevision.
• Separate the school into houses (i.e.)
  Pre-engineering house (Functional)
• Per Scholas Donated Computers
• Professional Development Staff also had 70 year
  old mindset from VCRs to DVD/CD
• Question 2 Late funding
• Developed an advisory board
• Offered support where necessary
• Plan although the funding not ready
• Creditors gave material on good faith (payment
  ASAP
• Have to have realistic and positive attitude
  Multi-strategic planning Innovate
• Question 3 Attendance
• Addressed the needs of the children
• Provided breakfast
• Provided coats, shoes and housing ?
• Developed classrooms that were student centered.

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Summary response to 5 questions (contd)

• Question 4 Consulted the business communities
• Internship coop students monitor feedback from
  these programs
• As prepared these children are
• College as well --Visited the school and offered
  insight as to the preparation they have had and
  how well they were prepared
• Advisory Board Internships Positive Feedback
• Question 5 Gratification
• Do a little and it goes a long ways
• Support from the parents (workshops) If you
  build they will come
• Students returned to be teachers. Also students
  are related to each other (brothers, cousins,
  friends)
• Companies came out of the wood work to help
• Politicians gave their support i.e., Take on
  the challenge and help will come to you. Always
  thinking Innovate Constantly Building - 24/7
  - Open Doors - Tough Love Oasis - Police Ally