July 5, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Energy in Houston School principal’s office
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

Kim Newman

These days, you’d be hard pressed to find a more positive attitude toward the School District of Philadelphia than that of Kim Newman, the new principal at Henry H. Houston School in Mt. Airy.

Despite having been at the school for only four days, the 35-year-old principal confidently strolled the halls of Houston last Wednesday, giving the silent wave to excited kindergartners (silent wave is the up-and-down of the pointer finger) and reminding third graders gently, but firmly, that silence is needed in the hallways.

The students already recognize her, even if for now it’s only as “new principal,” as one third-grader greeted her.

“This is where I want to be,” Newman said moments later, sitting in Houston’s quiet library, with chairs set up for the Home and School meeting she’ll attend that evening to introduce herself to parents.

“I had choices,” she said, referring to the other Philadelphia schools she could have overseen as principal next year. But after observing the principal at Charles W. Henry School in Mt. Airy this past school year, the Lower Merion native wanted to be in the Northwest.

Newman began teaching in the Philadelphia school district in 1995 as a middle-school math teacher. She taught at the Edwin H. Vare middle school, took a few years away from the district to teach math at Girard College and then returned to the district with Amy 5 at the James Martin School in Port Richmond.

As a self-proclaimed life-long learner (she’s earning her doctorate now), Newman began training to be a principal at the University of Pennsylvania while teaching at Amy 5.

At first, her training was simply the next step in her education. But as a resident principal at Amy 5, where she spent time with principals and participated in each school’s operation, Newman realized that being a principal was her ideal job.

“I was always involved with leadership activities in the schools I worked at, but I was so motivated by what I was doing and the changes we were making [as principal],” she said. “You can really affect all your students, and being a principal went from something I kind of wanted to do to the job I really wanted to do.”

Teaching within the city was another important goal for Newman, so she applied to and completed training with the Academy for Leadership in Philadelphia Schools, the city’s principal training program.

“I’ve always been an urban educator,” Newman said, “and I’m proud to be in the [Philadelphia] school district.”

And her confidence in the district is unfailing, despite recent criticism of the School Reform Commission’s efforts to balance a budget with an almost $100 million deficit.

“The school district has always made good decisions,” she said. “Its priorities have always been the kids.”

Newman said because of Houston’s strong teacher base, a “seasoned staff,” as she referred to them, the district’s troubled finances “really isn’t an issue” for her right now.

“When you have great teachers, you can have a great school,” she said.

The school still has an art, music and physical education program, she said, and she hopes to bring more programs to the students based on the interests of the teachers, parents and students.

For example, at Houston she helped partner teachers with Weavers Way Cooperative to allow students to sell food with the proceeds going to charity, teaching them commerce and generosity. Another potential program could be ballroom dancing lessons provided in conjunction with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which was also done at Houston.

“That kind of stuff is real world experience,” she said.

But before implementing any additional programs, Newman said she’s just interested in getting to know the students, parents and teachers, and reiterated her delight in remaining in the Northwest’s schools.

“Coming to the Northwest last year … has made me the happiest person,” she said.