January 29, 2012
Learn more about Brett Kimmel, founder and principal of the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School.
GET TO KNOW THE WASHINGTON HEIGHTS EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING SCHOOL
The Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) is a grade 6-12 district school grounded in a culture of high expectations coupled with tremendous support. WHEELS was founded by Principal Brett Kimmel (Houston ’96) in 2006, and Teach For America corps members and alumni make up over half of the 40-person faculty.
In 2008, entering sixth graders were reading, on average, at a fourth-grade level. After three years at WHEELS, these students read, on average, at grade level—representing five years of growth in three years of school. Currently, 95% of WHEELS seniors are on track to graduate, and the staff is committed to helping the remaining five percent excel.
In 2012, WHEELS’ first ever senior class marched from the school to the post office to mail out the final pieces of their college applications.Younger students made posters and cheered, encouraging the seniors as they exited the school. One senior who had applied to 22 schools said, “I’m most proud of actually getting to this point, because most people would not expect it. I’m also proud of how many kids in our school made it.”
Region Timeline
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The New York Public School Society forms to provide education for poor children. Schools are run on the "Lancasterian" model, where one "master" teaches hundreds of students in a single room.
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The Education Reform Bill passes, centralizing control of schools under a Board of Superintendents comprised of 20 professional civil servants.
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The Carnegie Corporation of New York founds the American Association for Adult Education.
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African American parents and white teachers clash in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville area over the issue of community control of the schools. The community organizes freedom schools while the public schools are closed due to strikes.
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After a series of strikes, New York City Mayor John Lindsay relinquishes mayoral control of schools, and organizes the city school system into the Board of Education and 32 community school boards.
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Charter schools become a component of New York State’s public education offerings, with the passage of the NY State Charter Schools Act of 1998.
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Michael Bloomberg is elected mayor of New York City.
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Control of the school system is given to the mayor, who begins reorganization and reform efforts. Community school boards are abolished and the Board of Education is renamed the Panel for Educational Policy.
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Michael Bloomberg is re-elected as mayor of New York City.
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Teach For America corps members begin teaching in the Greenburgh-Graham Union Free School District for the first time; Michael Bloomberg begins his third term as mayor.
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President Obama announces Race to the Top, a competitive grant program designed to spur efforts in states that are creating conditions for education innovation and reform.
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Dennis Walcott is appointed as New York City Schools Chancellor.
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Special education reforms roll out citywide, while 100+ schools participate in a Talent Management/Teacher Effectiveness pilot.
Overheard
A NYC public school education leveled the playing field for me. I was the first on both sides of my family to graduate with a 4-year degree. I want to give every child that opportunity.
New York Corps 1998
Press
May 10, 2011
New teachers most likely among the 4,100 New York City teachers scheduled to be laid off.
April 28, 2011
"Alan is joined by Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America, to discuss the state of education in America and around the world."
