Shimon Waronker

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 [Today Show, NBC http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=hKnRumG-GME ] 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. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/nyregion/08principal.html?pagewanted=2&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/T/Teachers%20and%20School%20Employees&_r=1 In Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival - New York Times ] ] 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. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/nyregion/08principal.html?pagewanted=2&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/T/Teachers%20and%20School%20Employees&_r=1 In Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival - New York Times ] ]

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. [ Denver Post, 2006-01-02http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3363544 ] There were active gangs, attacks and fights that led to serious hospitalization, drug use and alcohol on campus. [ [http://www.insideschools.org/fs/school_profile.php?id=237 C.I.S. 22 Jordan L. Mott School ] ] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/nyregion/08principal.html?pagewanted=2&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/T/Teachers%20and%20School%20Employees&_r=1 In Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival - New York Times ] ] 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. [ [http://www.insideschools.org/fs/school_profile.php?id=237 C.I.S. 22 Jordan L. Mott School ] ] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/nyregion/08principal.html?pagewanted=2&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/T/Teachers%20and%20School%20Employees&_r=1 In Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival - New York Times ] ] 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. [ 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 ] [ [http://www.insideschools.org/fs/school_profile.php?id=237 C.I.S. 22 Jordan L. Mott School ] ]

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