Session 22: Making Middle School Work

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Located in a working-class enclave in New York’s wealthy Westchester County, Port Chester’s middle school for years had a long tradition of low academic performance and weak discipline. Today, however, it is a bustling and purposeful school, and its students—mostly Latino, mostly poor—meet state standards at a higher rate than Westchester County as a whole. Learn how Port Chester fulfills the promise of middle school by using teams, interdisciplinary curricula, and a willingness to subordinate the needs of adults to the needs of students—but without sacrificing academic rigor.

Presenters:
Carmen John Macchia, Principal; Michael DeVito, English/Language Arts Coordinator;
Laurie Morra, eighth-grade Team Leader and Special Education Teacher;
Regina Shaw, Sixth Grade Team Leader and Social Studies Teacher;
Ida Tino, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grade Art teacher, Port Chester Middle School, Port Chester NY

Strand 3: Transforming Secondary Schools

DISPELLING THE MYTH AWARD RECIPIENT

School Contact Information:
Port Chester Middle School
113 Bowman Avenue Port
Chester, NY 10573
914-934-7930
Carmen Macchia, Principal