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New Schools Chief for Ridgewood

May 12,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Rkidgewood Nj, The Ridgewood school district has hired a longtime schools chief from Long Island as its new superintendent, capping a yearlong search by Bergen County’s largest school system.Martin Brooks, 59, who has been superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District for the past seven years, will be introduced to Ridgewood residents at a school board meeting Monday night.

Brooks, previously headed the Valley Stream Central High School District and Valley Stream Union Free School District 13, began his career as a teacher and guidance counselor in the South Bronx. He also has served in various administrative positions, including principal and assistant superintendent for curriculum.

Brooks co-authored  the book “In Search of Understanding: The Case for Constructivist Classrooms,” with his wife, Jacqueline, Brooks earned his doctorate in educational administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.

He will be paid a base salary of $212,000, $35,000 less than his current salary in Long Island. Brooks plans to take up residence in New Jersey during the week and commute home to Long Island on weekends. He will have use of a leased car paid for by the district.

Brooks succeeds Superintendent John Porter, who was paid $195,000 a year and was in the fourth year of his five-year contract when he accepted a superintendent’s post a year ago in San Jose, Calif.The board’s meeting on Monday will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Education Center.

21 thoughts on “New Schools Chief for Ridgewood

  1. >as always the BOE does a crap job !

  2. >Five sick people. Poor Michele, she’s now one of them!

  3. >So who is paying for the rental residence he’ll be using when he stays in Ridgewood? The taxpayers or him?

  4. >In addition to having use of a leased automobile paid for by Ridgewood’s taxpayers, Dr. Brooks’ fuel and toll expenses will also be paid for by the School District.

  5. >i love bombace quote “What we need to do is continue to provide a good education to our students.”

    we dont pay for ‘good” we pay for excellent …this is terrible

  6. >Well there you have it; Dr. Brooks has no intention of moving his family to Ridgewood. I can’t remember the last time we had a super who didn’t live in Ridgewood. Does anyone remember if this ever happened before?

  7. >”Anonymous said…
    Five sick people. Poor Michele, she’s now one of them!”

    What do you mean now? She has been a part of the group for many years. Who do you think help to start the Advocating for the Budget Committee? She drank the kool-aid years ago when her group advocated for the budget that eliminated driver’s ed. As a matter of fact, regarless of what the budget has in it or how much it costs Michele will support it.

  8. >bamboose sound like a big BSer in this article

  9. >I can’t remember the last time we had a super who didn’t live in Ridgewood…

    of coarse he wont the schools suck …

  10. >The superintendent that left our school district and went to San Jose is now using McGraw-Hill math in his new school district. Too bad for us since our new superintendent has “no intentions of overhauling” the math curriclum.

    Wonder if he thought that in Plainview-Old Bethpage (POB)?

    Then again, its what they are working on in Plainview-Old Bethpage now that Brooks has left

    Now that Brooks brings his fine qualities to Ridgewood.

    Tradition of Excellence?

    More like medocrity masked by the affluence of the residents.

    Welcome to New Jersey, Mr. Brooks.

    I wonder, will Mr. Brooks be leaving early on Fridays to miss the traffic back home?

  11. >I expected a lot more parents from Travell and Orchard expressing their opinions about constructivist teaching. Based on the silence, I can only surmise that these parents like this program even though the scores are low compared to other elementary schools in the district…and only a few thoughtful, thinking, concerned parents oppose it. How did one resident describe them? The LF. In my opinion, courageous LF!

    AN IDEA!
    How about Ridgewood parents can choose which school their child goes to?

    Those in favor of TERC and CMP goes to the school that would like to implement it. The other kids go to the school that has programs other than TERC.

    Very democratic. Teachers and parents will be happy…let’s make this a village ordinance!!!

  12. >Here’s the problem, step by step:

    1. The proponents of Everyday Math and TERC Investigations in our district claim that they are appropropriate for every student.

    2. Parents are full of stories about how this isn’t true for their individual children.

    3. The parents with these problems are not being heard. Why?

    Some of them quietly get special arrangements made with the teacher
    Some of them think the problem is their kid, not the curriculum
    Most of them fear speaking up out of not wanting to rock the boat or lack of confidence about their ability to advocate, or lack of confidence about their own math skills, or an understandable difficulty believing that our school could make such a mistake.

    So the few of us who have dared to be public are being told story after story, prefaced by “Don’t tell anybody but…”

    What are we supposed to do? I’ve even heard from teachers, “Don’t tell anybody but I don’t like the curriculum either.”

    How can we ever boot the curriculum out of the district if everybody’s getting protected?

  13. >What are we supposed to do? I’ve even heard from teachers, “Don’t tell anybody but I don’t like the curriculum either.”
    …time to step up your childs future is at stake!

  14. >sorry “concerned” but if you were really concerned you would not put up with this crap !

  15. >All I can say is thank God I bought a house… in Pennsylvania. Bye bye Ridgewood.

  16. >The fact there is any outcry over the selection of Brooks should tell us all that his in not a good choice.

    Remember, only 1/3 of the population supported our independance from England.

    Just because we don’t have HUGE numbers, doesn’t mean we are wrong.

    It has always been the few in history who have made a differnce, not the masses. As long as they have food in theri bellies, they will remain content. Even with servitude.

  17. >”of coarse he wont the schools suck …”

    Do you like ANYTHING about the education your children receive(d) in Ridgewood? If not, put an editorial in the local paper. Get it out there. Think of every teacher and principal your child or children have had, and let them know personally you do not believe in them and do not believe they have tried to do their very best as trained educators for your children. Tell them to leave and make way for people you would like to replace them with who will do a much better job. Tell them they’re “crap.” That’s what you believe, right? Then tell them. Put your face out there and take a stand. Go ahead. Do it. And while you’re at it, tell all the Ivy league and other colleges that accept our students that they’re wrong. Tell them the education in Ridgewood “sucks.” Tell parents not to believe the scores our students continue to get on the State tests. Tell our students who enter and win competitions regionally, and on the state and national level not to bother – they suck because the schools have failed them and they can’t possibly win with and education that’s “crap.” Tell the parents that love and support the schools and the teachers that they’re all insane. Let them know who you are and what you think!

  18. >Yesterday Plainview Old Bethpage threw out 3 School Board members and elected 3 parents who lead the charge against TERC math and Dr. Brooks. We are all quite excited that Brooks and his sycophants have been shown the door. Hope he has a short contract in your district.

  19. >You go, anonymous 1:46! I, too, am tired of this “outcry” (and by the way whoever called this an outcry was seriously delusional). People are so negative, it’s so easy to complain here “in the dark”…the truth is it’s HARD to actually work for positive change…guess what folks, blogging anonymously ain’t gonna cut it. I hope there is more to your plan.

  20. >blogging anonymously ain’t gonna cut it. I hope there is more to your plan.
    11:45 PM

    sign the petition…
    http://www.vormath.info

    speak up at boe meetings

    write to your kid’s teacher, principal, the boe

    gegt involved and don’t go away!

  21. >Martin Brooks was the worst superintendent in POB .. he did not care about the students nor could he handle any of the current situations that were going on in any of the schools especially the middle school. He was not well liked by the parents or staff..

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