Teitel to Appoint Permanent Math Head by June

October 18th, 2006

By Glenn Kim
Principal Stanley Teitel said he will appoint a new Assistant Principal (AP) Mathematics at the end of the school year. Coordinator of Mathematics Maryann Ferrara is currently filling the vacancy left by former AP Mathematics Danny Jaye, who left the school at the end of last year.

“Ferrara will remain as the Coordinator for the year,” said Teitel. “And then I’ll eventually look for someone.”

Teitel, who has the power to appoint faculty to such temporary positions by himself, decided on the appointment of Ferrara.

One teacher in the Mathematics Department, Joy Schimmel, has the requisite certification needed to become an AP. Despite knowing that Schimmel “has the credentials,” Teitel said, he did not select her for the position. “It was my choice,” he said. “No one objected to my selection.” Teitel declined to provide reasons behind his decision and Schimmel chose not to comment.

Unlike Schimmel, Ferrara does not have a valid New York State Supervisory Certificate and a New York City Certificate of Eligibility for Supervisory Placement. Both documents are required to become a school administrator. In addition, Schimmel also has a Mathematics-specific supervisor certification.

Before the February 1, 2006 update to Chancellor’s Regulation C-30, the Department of Education document that stipulates the AP selection process, an AP had to be selected if there was a staff member with the requisite certificates willing to take the position; only if none are available or willing could a Coordinator position be created. Since the update, however, principals are given more autonomy and can create a Coordinator whether or not State and City qualified candidates are available.

Mathematics teacher Gary Jaye said, “[Ferrara] is highly respected by her colleagues for her professionalism and for her willingness to give a helping hand. The selection was based on who[m] the principal felt was best for the students and for the staff. […] Credentials have little to do with finding and determining the best candidate.”

Fellow mathematics teacher Sixiong Chen said, “[The Coordinator position] is only temporary. So it’s not a big problem. Ferrara’s done a good job so far.”

As Coordinator, Ferrara is responsible for all the duties of an AP, except one. “I can do everything but observations of teachers,” she said, referring to the periodic assessment AP’s conduct on teachers in their department. When an AP observes a class, he or she sits in for a period and later completes a written evaluative report.

Though Ferrara does not have the certification to officially assume the position of Assistant Principal, she is currently pursuing the certificates, and will apply for AP Mathematics once Teitel begins the search for Danny Jaye’s permanent replacement.

In order for Teitel select an AP, he will have to follow the processes mandated by Chancellor’s Regulation C-30. According to Regulation C-30, the process begins with the posting of vacancy of an AP position on the Department of Education’s Administrative Bulletin for 15 days, during which eligible candidates may apply for the position online. Teitel said that the search will include candidates from outside the school.

Teitel will then be in charge of selecting candidates whom he believes are suited for the position. “I will then form a committee of all of the constituencies, and ask it to interview those candidates that I’ve selected,” he said, referring to a committee of students, parents, faculty and administration representatives. This committee then gives Teitel “its recommendation in rank-order.” Finally, he will appoint a candidate to the position. “I’m under no legal obligation to take the [committee’s] first choice,” he said.

The entire selection process must be completed within three months of first posting the position.