The New American Academy is an innovative schooling model created in partnership with The United Federation of Teachers, The New York City Department of Education, and The Harvard Graduate School of Education. Launched in Crown Heights, Brooklyn as a unionized public school in 2010, TNAA is a choice school within the NYC Department of Education.
Headmaster Shimon Waronker began to develop the ideas behind The New American Academy while principal of the Jordan L. Mott School (MS 22) in the South Bronx. The seventh principal in three years, Shimon faced considerable challenges. Upon his accession in 2004, MS 22 was one the twelve most violent schools in the New York Public School system. Together these twelve schools accounted for 60 percent of crime in New York schools. At the start of Shimon’s tenure, gangs controlled the school and there was violence and fighting in the halls and classrooms.
Although Shimon adopted a tough, zero-tolerance stance with the gangs, true change occurred as he slowly changed the structure and culture of the school. Instilling a new sense of inclusion and community, Shimon slowly broke down the walls of isolation and depersonalization that are so prevalent in many of our failing urban schools. Teachers began to loop (move up grades with their students) and nurture deep relationships within the classroom. Shimon also hired guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, and family workers to support both students and staff. Together, they created a system of one-on-one and small group tutoring that provided additional support for students in need.
After four years of Shimon’s leadership MS 22 was transformed. Inspiring a learning community, he completely eliminated violent crime and reduced overall crime by 90 percent. In 2008, MS 22 received an “A” grade on its school report card—garnering citywide media attention.
Impressed by these results, Joel Klein, then Chancellor of NYC Schools, sent Shimon to the Urban Superintendents Program (USP) at Harvard. It was there, studying for his doctorate, that Shimon delved into the educational theories that underpin our current public school system.
Over the next year, Shimon, working in conjuncture with his fellow doctoral students, created a new model for public education. Frustrated by American public schooling they examined the history of its creation. Who designed our current system and to what purpose? Amazed by their findings (a summary of which can be found in the “Our Philosophy” section of this website, under the “About Us” tab.) they engineered a new educational model specifically designed to support and inspire learning.
Unsatisfied with theory alone, Shimon left Harvard to implement this visionary educational design. Under the mentorship of Joel Klein, Shimon returned to New York City and the initiated the process of starting a school. Seeking a building with large open spaces suited for The New American Academy model, he was astonished to find a building that fit all of the qualifications in his own neighborhood of Crown Heights. Shimon doesn’t believe it is a coincidence that the New American Academy is located at Lincoln Terrace Park—named after our sixteenth president. Just as Lincoln fought for freedom for all, The New American Academy aspires to empower those who remain disenfranchised. Only knowledge and education can break the cycles of poverty and violence that plague our nation.
The New American Academy completed its first school year in June of 2011. Like all learning communities, the school is growing and changing as we continue to reflect and improve our practice. As The New American Academy flagship school, our goal is not only to perfect one school, but to generate the innovations that will transform education nationwide.
Empowering students and teachers, we are taking the first step towards a better world.
