Superintendent McKay to recommend Robert Rhodes as next Principal of Horace Greeley High School
Current Millennium High School Principal offers expertise in professional, team, program and communal development.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
CCSD PRESS RELEASE by David Hayes
Chappaqua, N.Y.—At the February 28th Board of Education meeting, Lyn McKay, Superintendent of the Chappaqua Central School District, will recommend the appointment of Robert Rhodes as the next Principal of Horace Greeley High School, effective July 1, 2012.
Rhodes is the founding and current principal of Millennium High School in lower Manhattan’s financial district. Established in 2002 in an effort to revitalize the area following the September 11th attacks, MHS is an inclusive college preparatory high school that provides a rigorous liberal arts academic program in a responsive and flexible learning environment. As founding principal, Rhodes was instrumental in reaching out to and creating an advisory board composed of students, parents, community members, local business officials and politicians; recruiting all staff and students; articulating curriculum in all subject areas; securing millions of dollars in grant funding; and he even had a hand in the school’s layout and design. He also established a four-year student/teacher advisory program, all of which has resulted in steady 98% graduation and college placement rates.
With a focus on writing, critical thinking, analytical skills, exhibitions, presentations, and service to community, Rhodes has created one of the top ranked and most sought after high schools in NYC. So much so that for the 2011-12 school year, 5,300 eighth-graders applied for only 150 openings, and several schools based on Rhodes’ model now are opening throughout the City.
“Mr. Rhodes has a passion for learning and for teaching students to pursue their own ideas,” commented Lyn McKay. “From budgeting and long-term planning to curriculum design and professional development, he is well versed in the many facets of school operations and has a proven track record of putting students first and creating a learner-centered environment where everyone can succeed.”
Rhodes has worked for 21 years in NYC public schools. He began his career in education in 1990 as a math teacher at a small alternative high school in Jamaica, Queens. In 1993, he joined School of the Future’s humanities department and five years later transitioned to the administration team serving as assistant principal.
Originally from Shaker Heights, Ohio, Rhodes graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science and in 1997 received a Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration from Fordham University. In 2003 he received Clark University’s Secondary Educator of the Year Award and in 2008 was awarded a Cahn Fellowship designed by Teachers College to recognize outstanding principals. He lives in Brooklyn and has two children.
Should the Board of Education approve Superintendent McKay’s recommendation, there will be opportunities in the near future for the Chappaqua community to meet Mr. Rhodes and to welcome him to the district.
David Hayes is Public Information Officer for the Chappaqua Central School District.
______________
Related: NEW: A peek at Lower Manhattan’s Millennium High School through its website, NCNOW.org, 2/16/12.
THere are many interesting differences between the two schools—HGHS and MHS—that I think will be make this new guy a very healthy experience for Greeley. Sizes very different. We have a gym! Hmm Music and Drama after-school only? Although we have it less now than with the former mod schedule, we still ahve it during the day, anyway.
I love the idea of having a person who’s been steeped in city schools experience an exemplary suburban one. He should have a lot to teach us about the world. I’m very pleased with this choice.
Congratulations to the District for a bold choice—I think Robert Rhodes will breathe new life into Greeley!
your other article mentions teachers at Millennial teaching close to contractual limits, 34 to a class in upper grades. I assume that’s because of budget cuts?
seems like an inspired choice.
In before the haters get here. Way to go! Lots of potential!
Millennium High School - started by Mr. Rhodes - has a great reputation in the City.
This is the school’s website: http://www.millenniumhs.org/about_mhs.jsp
This is the Times Schoolbook data page on the school:
http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/school/97-millennium-high-school/data
And here is an interview with Mr. Rhodes: http://www.dnainfo.com/20111017/downtown/millennium-high-school-reflects-downtown-rebirth-post911
I particularly liked his answer to the last question:
Q: What is the single most important thing you want Millennium students to learn before they graduate?
A: I would want them to always be thinking about what they really want to do — with their life, with the paper they have to write, with their friends — and make real choices. To lead a reflective life.
Exciting choice! Here’s hoping for an equally innovative selection for Roaring Brook.
Sounds good! He lives in Brooklyn. Will he move here?
Mr. Rhodes is certainly an interesting choice for the position. Yes, a practical question immediately comes to mind. After having a former school district superintendent who lived hours away in another state I hope the Lyn Mckay and the board consider the fact that Mr. Rhodes currently resides in Brooklyn and how that will affect his ability to become an integral part of the Greeley community? Does he plan to move closer to Chappaqua if he is hired for the position? If not, is it practical to recommend a candidate who lives at least an hour and half away (more with traffic and weather conditions)? My expectation is that the Greeley principal attend plays, concerts and sporting events as often as possible. These events generally take place in evenings and/or on weekends.
Maybe he can bring some Brooklyn hipster to the stuffed shirts here in Chappaqua!
I care that he does his job, not where he lives.
Please go all the way: Live where you work, and be a presence around here! It’s old-fashioned sounding, but it would be hugely beneficial—to you and to us!
The Board should consider where he lives because you have expectations that he regularly attend concerts?
A more important priority should be to make sure Mr. Rhodes supports the Board’s third strategic question related to our children’s’ social and emotional development. Did you know that we’ve had high schoolers suspended for anger management problems and violent behavior?
Doesn’t that seem to suggest that this important work (developing the emotional health of our children) is being bypassed in the home? A small conciliation for the healthy majority of parents should be the knowledge that the school will step in and do some of this parenting when no one else will.
A rigorous academic institution like Greeley can only be at its best when our students are grounded in the knowledge that they are safe and supported in learning how to be responsible and self-disciplined adults. I applaud this choice of an educational leader…despite map quest’s indirect route to Brooklyn.
The board has enough on its plate. Focus on the two existing St.Questions and all that’s targeted in the third will happen. Plus, with an honest and open relationship between principal and teachers, and a principal who gets to know Greeley’s kids, much will change at the h.s. that is intended by the 3rd question, social-emotional health of students.
For anger management probs and violent behavior we have in-house counselors who are wonderful. A 3rd strategic qustion will not make it any more possible to handle problem behavior. The state has regs. that must be followed. Better to address social-emotional well-being by making the h.s. into a great community. The new eyes we need are coming. Let’s see how that goes.
The stress that students put on themselves or that parents put on students is NOT the business of schools to question. A few years ago, there was a big push by administrators (and a few parents) to DECREASE homework. That would have been crazy! Come on. The nation, the world, depend now on letting kids’ develop their potential and to be the best they can.
@ A Bridge too Far:
Brooklyn is not “hipster” or hip, it is more yuppie than Chappaqua.
Obviously, you haven’t been there lately.
He sounds terrific. Hope he can move here.
Yuppie? Ha, have not heard that word since 1999.
This is indeed a bold choice, different and unique and full of potential. I’m excited about it and hope we let him spread his wings here. Let’s welcome Mr. Rhodes with open arms!!
Dude isn’t going to be driving he is going to be taking the train. The Q runs fine from Brooklyn to Min to GC. You think commuters would know that but I guess no chappaqua parents go into Brooklyn.
