Principal Stanley Teitel selected Interim Acting Assistant Principal (AP) Chemistry and Physics Scott Thomas as the permanent AP for that position as of Monday, November 26.
Thomas, whom Teitel appointed as Interim AP in June 2007, was one of several applicants for the position.
Students, teachers and administrators partook of the Chancellor’s Regulation (C-30) committee, a group that advises the principal in the AP selection process, as defined by Department of Education (DOE) regulations.
At a meeting on Thursday, November 15, the committee interviewed candidates who applied for AP Chemistry and Physics.
Although the committee can offer Teitel its opinion on the candidates using a ranking system, Teitel makes the final decision.
Members of the committee signed a contract that prevents them from discussing the selection process with The Spectator.
The process began last school year when, according to DOE regulations, Stuyvesant posted vacancy notices on the DOE Web site.
Though there were multiple applicants, Teitel said he did not have much choice. “There were a fair number of applicants,” Teitel said. “However, most of them had little or no experience in high school.”
According to Teitel, some of the applicants were junior high science teachers who were qualified to be APs. Applicants must have state certifications as School Administrator/ Supervisor or School District Administrator.
Teitel made the final decision after receiving the committee’s recommendations.
“I am sure [Thomas] will do a wonderful job,” he said.
Teitel informed the physics and chemistry departments of the decision on Monday, November 19.
Had a decision not been reached, Thomas would have remained interim AP for at least one more year because of DOE regulations that prevent the hiring process from continuing on. If the school were to decline all the applicants, it would have to wait a year to restart the process.
This position was left vacant following the 2006 spring term, when former AP Chemistry and Physics Olga Livanis became principal at New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math (NEST+m), a high school in lower Manhattan. Assistant Principal Biology Elizabeth Fong took over the two science departments for the entire 2006-2007 school year.
“Ms. Fong was given an enormous job,” said chemistry teacher Samantha Daves. “You don’t normally see an AP managing that many teachers in that many subject areas.”
Since Thomas is only managing the chemistry and physics department, “He’s had more time to spend with the department,” said Daves.
Teitel asked Thomas, who had applied for the permanent position, to fill in as interim AP, for which a C-30 committee was not necessary, and take over the two departments from Fong.
“I look forward to the challenge of meeting the high expectations that we have here at Stuy,” Thomas said. “It’s an encouraging opportunity.”
Thomas worked as an engineer until he began teaching at Dewitt Clinton High School in 2002. After one year at the Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction, he came to Stuyvesant in the fall of 2005.
“He has the whole portfolio for administrating over the physics and chemistry departments,” said physics teacher Ulugbek Akhmedov.
Thomas said his goals for his department include improving instruction and “meet[ing] the demands of the 21st century.”
“I look forward to working with him,” said Daves. “Everything he’s done [as Interim AP] has been positive.”
As an example, Daves said, Thomas worked out the schedules of the teachers this term “efficiently and logically.”
“I like the way he communicates with the faculty. He’s teacher-friendly,” Akhmedov said. “And at the same time, he’s demanding to bring a quality education here.”
Akhmedov said Thomas is working with the department to “improve opportunities for students to do research inside and outside school.” The department is also looking to bring scientists to Stuyvesant on a regular basis to give lectures to students.
“His main concern is always what is best for the students,” physics teacher Jamal Ali said.
“He’s very friendly,” Ali said. “You can ask him any questions.”
Ali, who began teaching at Stuyvesant this year, said Thomas helped him get accustomed to the new school. “He said, ‘you can come to my office anytime,’” Ali said.
Senior Richard Huang, who had Thomas for Regents Physics, said he was easy to approach. “He is definitely very friendly to students and teachers alike,” said Huang.
Coordinator of Mathematics Maryann Ferrara is fulfilling the duties of AP Mathematics until a permanent AP is chosen in the spring.