Generally Speaking: Local high school superintendent bumped up to new post

March 19, 2015 Theodore W. General

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Ted General

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Brooklyn native Aimee Horowitz — who served first as Brooklyn and Staten Island high school superintendent, then under the Carmen Farina school regime, as high school superintendent for only Staten Island, was recently tapped by Farina and Mayor Bill de Blasio to the new post of executive superintendent for the School Renewal Program.

She will be overseeing improvement and overall changes at 94 failing schools. In his announcement of her appointment, the mayor said, “Aimee Horowitz is a leader with a track record of turning around troubled schools and raising student achievement.” Hizzoner also stated, “Many of these schools have been broken for years, and they won’t be fixed overnight.”

In additional school news, Chancellor Farina has appointed Brooklyn directors to head her new Borough Field Support Centers. Cheryl Watson Harris will be responsible for school districts 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22, Bernadette Fitzgerald for district 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 23 and 32.

With the retirement of NYPD Chief of Brooklyn South Owen Monaghan — who has moved over to New York City Transit as vice president of security — Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has selected Deputy Chief Steve Powers to serve as commanding officer of Brooklyn South.

Betcha didn’t know, Brooklyn South has the distinction of supervising 13 Brooklyn precincts, making it the largest patrol command in the city. Under its aegis are NYPD precincts 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 76 and 78. Chief Joseph Fox — who now is the NYPD top gun at New York Transit — for many years was the top honcho at Brooklyn South.

There was another terrific annual Brooklyn Irish American Parade along Seventh Avenue and Prospect Park West. This year’s grand marshal was John Dunleavy, who is at the helm at the granddaddy of St. Patrick Day Parades, the Big Apple’s big march up Fifth Avenue. Still going strong as one of the founders of the Park Slope-based march, now in its 40th year, is Kathleen McDonagh, the lady in charge!

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Ted General

This coming Sunday it’s Bay Ridge’s turn to keep the Irish heritage alive and kicking with bands, marchers, dancers and floats. The neighborhood’s parade steps off from Third and Marine Avenue at 1 p.m. One of the highlights should be the award-winning Fort Hamilton High School Marching Band which just returned from a Disney World competition in Orlando, Florida with top honors.