Thursday, January 13, 2011

Schools Chief Checks Out John Adams HS by Bryan Yurcan - Queens Chronicle

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John Adams High School Principal Grace Zwillenberg, left, Councilman Eric Ulrich and Cathie Black. PHOTO COURTESY ERIC ULRICH’S OFFICE


Schools Chancellor Cathie Black continued her tour of city schools with a visit to John Adams High School in Ozone Park on Monday.


Black toured the school with Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), Principal Grace Zwillenberg and some teachers and students, in an event which was closed to the press.

“I was glad I had the opportunity to meet with Chancellor Black and show her first hand some of the great programs offered at John Adams High School,” Ulrich said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to working with her on the many challenges currently facing public schools in my district and throughout the city.”

Ozone Park resident and community activist David Quintana, who is a member of Community Board 10 and former District 27 representative to the Chancellors Parents Advisory Council, hoped to organize a group of parents to rally during Black’s visit opposing her nomination as chancellor.

“For the mayor to appoint someone who lacks the necessary skills without a thorough search for a qualified candidate is a slap in the face to the 1.1 million students and their parents,” he said.

The DOE did not respond for comment as of press time.

Black was appointed by Mayor Bloomberg when Chancellor Joel Klein abruptly announced on Nov. 9 he was resigning to take an executive position at media giant News Corp., whose properties include the Fox News Channel and the Wall Street Journal.

Black, a longtime media executive was granted a waiver by state Education Commissioner David Steiner since she does not have the proper educational certification to serve in the post.

Her nomination survived three lawsuits seeking to nullify the waiver. She is the first female schools chancellor in New York City history.