We have featured Vinegar Hill’s PS 307 many times over the last two years. Many exciting things have happened at the school under the leadership of principal Roberta Davenport, who just retired at the end of June. Among these noteworthy changes, there was the new Magnet program for STEM studies, the expansion of their Pre-K program, the Mandarin, violin, Autism Spectrum programs and much more!
With a possible rezoning of DUMBO – in order to to address PS 8’s overcrowding-looming – even more eyes are now on PS 307!
The superintendent of District 13 has appointed Stephanie Carroll as interim acting principal of PS 307 as of July 1st. Stephanie Carroll who has two daughters in New York City public schools was born and raised in the city. She has shared with us some insight on her career and what she loves about PS 307:
“My teaching career began in 2001. Most of my years of teaching have been spent in Brooklyn working as a 5th and 6th grade teacher in Red Hook. I had the opportunity to coach and focus on improving literacy outcomes for students, while collaborating with teacher teams to build our repertoire of best practices around assessment and instruction. I devoted three years to being an Assistant Principal; two in a K-8 school in Harlem and one year in a middle school in Queens. Most recently, I was an Instructional Coach for DOE network. My decision to join a network team was fueled by the desire to get a wider perspective on education, including learning all I could about the challenges and progress that schools were encountering.
I was assigned as the Interim Acting Principal of P.S. 307 as a result of having spent quite a bit of time working with Ms. Davenport and teachers, in my role as Network Instructional Specialist. I came in to support literacy planning as well as professional development.
We have a responsibility to be attentive and responsive to the well-being of the whole child; personally, socially, and academically, while ensuring that learning is rigorous, meaningful and relevant.
There is so much to love about P.S. 307. First, you have a smart and committed staff that is truly on board. The commitment goes way beyond getting high test scores. Academics is important, but not in the absence of building character.
P.S. 307 is a community school in the true sense of the word. Children and families have access to a ton of resources such as health services and tools to support parenting. They have established a number of community and business partnerships because they understand that educating our children in the 21st century cannot be accomplished alone, or by being isolated in a school building.
I love that we are a STEM school, made possible by the Magnet Grant the school secured two years ago. How much more relevant can you get in 2015? I am reminded by my own children everyday how rapidly the world is changing with regards to technology and innovation in general. For educators today, coming from a vastly different schooling system, the challenge is to not get stuck in a fixed mind-set. The staff at P.S. 307 gets that and understands the significance of STEM in today’s world providing students opportunities every day to innovate and develop the skills that will secure their important role in the future.
I believe that for a while, the tendency was for schools to focus their efforts on the testing grades, for accountability reasons. Ms. Davenport led the school guided by a different philosophy that placed equal emphasis on the critical early years of childhood, which I share with her wholeheartedly. Getting it right early on, using what we know about early childhood development is instrumental in setting the stage for a lifetime of successful learning. Assistant Principal, Maria Guzman and the Pre-K to 2nd grade team have been working hard to create an Early Childhood Academy, starting this September that will nurture and provide every child with a holistic approach to development. It is a special initiative that only a dedicated and strong staff can make happen.
The children at P.S. 307 are amazing children. I have had the chance to see them collaborate to solve problems, to show off their talents, and to celebrate their successes. It is evident that they feel safe to take risks and to share what they are learning every day and it is very comforting to see.
I see the growing diversity at the school as yet another strength and asset. I truly believe, coming from a diverse background myself, that when the school reflects the world and students have a chance to be exposed to different ways of thinking and being, they gain an appreciation and respect for diversity – giving them an advantage and a wider perspective on everything.
My hope, of course, is that I am appointed Principal of P.S. 307, since there is a real commitment there. The selection process is formal, as it should be, and includes participation from the School Leadership Team, which consists of teachers, staff, parents, and of course, the district Superintendent. Ultimately, it’s going to be about whether I am good for the school and if they’ll have me.
I am not walking into a school in need of a “turn around.” They have been doing amazing work and I am not under any illusion that they need me to come in and tell them what to do. I hope to continue to build strong relationships with students, staff, and the community. I want to support the deepening of our work with STEM to ensure its sustainability beyond completion of the Magnet Grant funding. I have always valued literacy. The school forged a partnership with Teachers’ College and The Reading Writing Project so you can expect that literacy will be a huge focus. Important to note, that in addition to reading and writing, speaking and presenting will be equally important. Always keeping in mind whether what we are doing is relevant and reflective of what careers will look like and what employers will need.
I consider myself pretty lucky to get to be part of this. Frankly, I am looking forward to welcoming the students on September 9th.”
The school has open spots for Pre-K 2015. If your child was born in 2011, you can still apply for free Universal Pre-K at PS 307 every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in July from 9 am to 1 pm. You must bring your child, birth certificate, immunization records and proof of residence.
