LEADERSHIP
Mr. Saul Bruckner
Mr. Saul Bruckner created the school in 1974 and stayed on as principal for 30 years. He modeled Murrow on a college campus, allowing students to select their classes and move in and out of advanced coursework without regard to grades.
There were no bells or hall passes at Murrow High, and students were allowed to spend free periods as they pleased, including lying in the hallways. Even amid budget cuts, he insisted on keeping strong arts and music curriculums.
"Saul Bruckner was truly a legendary principal," said education scholar Diane Ravitch via email, adding: "Saul Bruckner was of the old school. A principal who worked his way into his job through a long apprenticeship and remained to train a generation of teachers and students. He was a master teacher and a master principal."
The school's many freedoms were shocking to some. Assistant Vice Principal Ronald Weiss, who spent 28 years at Murrow High, said his initial reaction when he arrived at the school in 1977 was that it was a "lunatic asylum." At least it was easy to find the man who ran it: A corridor in the building that led to his office sported a green-and-white "Bruckner Expressway" sign.
Mr. Bruckner was born in Brooklyn on Nov. 16, 1933. He graduated from Erasmus High School and then from Brooklyn College and went on to teach at Lincoln High School, where he met his wife Ellen, who survives him. They were married in 1963. After stints as assistant principal at two Brooklyn high schools, Mr. Bruckner created Murrow.
Some of the freedoms championed and protected by Mr. Bruckner have been abandoned since he retired at age 70 in 2004.
"When other schools cut out all the 'thrills,' as they called them, Saul said, 'I'm not letting go,' " said Mr. Weiss. He recalled the difficulties of keeping electives such as portrait drawing, investigative journalism, abnormal psychology and Java programming.
Throughout his years as principal, Mr. Bruckner continued teaching an Advanced Placement American history class to juniors. By 7:30 a.m., when the class started, Mr. Bruckner usually had a transparency of an article from that morning's newspaper that was relevant to the day's history discussion.
He spent much of his time in the school's hallways, standing slightly stooped in his inevitable gray suit. He stopped students to say hello and ask questions. And "he never minded picking up the papers" that the students sometimes left on the floor and tossing them into the garbage can, his wife said.
"A school is based on faith and trust. Most of the kids here can be trusted," said Mr. Bruckner in 2003.
Reported in the Wall Street Journal - May 3, 2010 (link to article below)
LINKS:
Wall Street Journal, "Murrow High Founder Dies"
New York Times, "Remembering an Omnipresent Force at a Brooklyn School"
New York Post, "Saul Bruckner, Murrow HS Founder, Dies"
Mr. Saul Bruckner created the school in 1974 and stayed on as principal for 30 years. He modeled Murrow on a college campus, allowing students to select their classes and move in and out of advanced coursework without regard to grades.
There were no bells or hall passes at Murrow High, and students were allowed to spend free periods as they pleased, including lying in the hallways. Even amid budget cuts, he insisted on keeping strong arts and music curriculums.
"Saul Bruckner was truly a legendary principal," said education scholar Diane Ravitch via email, adding: "Saul Bruckner was of the old school. A principal who worked his way into his job through a long apprenticeship and remained to train a generation of teachers and students. He was a master teacher and a master principal."
The school's many freedoms were shocking to some. Assistant Vice Principal Ronald Weiss, who spent 28 years at Murrow High, said his initial reaction when he arrived at the school in 1977 was that it was a "lunatic asylum." At least it was easy to find the man who ran it: A corridor in the building that led to his office sported a green-and-white "Bruckner Expressway" sign.
Mr. Bruckner was born in Brooklyn on Nov. 16, 1933. He graduated from Erasmus High School and then from Brooklyn College and went on to teach at Lincoln High School, where he met his wife Ellen, who survives him. They were married in 1963. After stints as assistant principal at two Brooklyn high schools, Mr. Bruckner created Murrow.
Some of the freedoms championed and protected by Mr. Bruckner have been abandoned since he retired at age 70 in 2004.
"When other schools cut out all the 'thrills,' as they called them, Saul said, 'I'm not letting go,' " said Mr. Weiss. He recalled the difficulties of keeping electives such as portrait drawing, investigative journalism, abnormal psychology and Java programming.
Throughout his years as principal, Mr. Bruckner continued teaching an Advanced Placement American history class to juniors. By 7:30 a.m., when the class started, Mr. Bruckner usually had a transparency of an article from that morning's newspaper that was relevant to the day's history discussion.
He spent much of his time in the school's hallways, standing slightly stooped in his inevitable gray suit. He stopped students to say hello and ask questions. And "he never minded picking up the papers" that the students sometimes left on the floor and tossing them into the garbage can, his wife said.
"A school is based on faith and trust. Most of the kids here can be trusted," said Mr. Bruckner in 2003.
Reported in the Wall Street Journal - May 3, 2010 (link to article below)
LINKS:
Wall Street Journal, "Murrow High Founder Dies"
New York Times, "Remembering an Omnipresent Force at a Brooklyn School"
New York Post, "Saul Bruckner, Murrow HS Founder, Dies"
Mr. Anthony Lodico
An era comes to an end. Mr. Anthony Lodico, Edward R. Murrow High School’s second principal, has been named superintendent for upper Manhattan and the south Bronx high schools. He will supervise six school districts consisting of approximately 80 high schools. Mr. Lodico leaves behind a legacy of commitment to the students of Edward R.Murrow HS often making the tough decisions that were needed to ensure that all students had a safe and engaging learning experience. Some of the changes under Mr. Lodico’s tenure:
We would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to Mr. Lodico for his dedication and commitment to the students of Edward R. Murrow High School. The Murrow community shares a deep appreciation for all that you have done to keep our community vibrant and strong! We congratulate you and thank you!
An era comes to an end. Mr. Anthony Lodico, Edward R. Murrow High School’s second principal, has been named superintendent for upper Manhattan and the south Bronx high schools. He will supervise six school districts consisting of approximately 80 high schools. Mr. Lodico leaves behind a legacy of commitment to the students of Edward R.Murrow HS often making the tough decisions that were needed to ensure that all students had a safe and engaging learning experience. Some of the changes under Mr. Lodico’s tenure:
- Closing the courtyard for safety concerns and reduce cutting.
- No hallway OPTAs for underclassman to reduce cutting.
- Building in a professional development session into our schedule.
- Bringing many of our classrooms up date with SMARTBOARDs and BRIGHTLINKs
We would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to Mr. Lodico for his dedication and commitment to the students of Edward R. Murrow High School. The Murrow community shares a deep appreciation for all that you have done to keep our community vibrant and strong! We congratulate you and thank you!
Mr. Allen Barge
Mr. Allen Barge first entered Edward R. Murrow High School in 1997 as a student teacher. He became a member of the Social Studies department in 1998, the Assistant Principal in 2007 and has been serving as Principal since 2012.
Mr. Allen Barge first entered Edward R. Murrow High School in 1997 as a student teacher. He became a member of the Social Studies department in 1998, the Assistant Principal in 2007 and has been serving as Principal since 2012.
