City Removes John Dewey High School Principal

New York City's Department of Education removed the principal of a Brooklyn high school from his position on Friday, a decision that caught school staff by surprise and fueled complaints that the city was trying to quash protests against Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's education policies.

In a letter sent home with students at John Dewey High School, the superintendent, Aimee Horowitz, wrote that Barry Fried, the principal, was being replaced by Kathleen Elvin, the founding principal of Williamsburg Preparatory High School.

City officials said that Mr. Fried agreed to resign and that the school, which has struggled in recent years, was in need of new leadership. The school, which is in Gravesend, has 2,600 students and received a C on its last progress report.

Officials said Mr. Fried's departure was unrelated to Dewey's status as a "turnaround" school -- schools that the city plans to close and reopen this summer, removing half of the staff and some of the principals.

Of the 33 turnaround schools, Dewey has been the loudest in its objections to the policy. Teachers have publicly opposed the city's plans and students staged a walkout last week to protest the school's possible shutdown.

After news spread on Friday of Mr. Fried's departure, teachers wondered if it was timed to tamp down the opposition movement they had created.

Michael Soto, an art teacher at Dewey, said that the news caught teachers by surprise because many of them had been asking the city to replace Mr. Fried for years.

"We for years have felt that we needed a change in leadership," he said. "We have been reaching out to the D.O.E., political allies, politicians who we felt we were close with, and we were asking for a change in leadership, and for years that was not taking place."

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am writing to inform you of a change in leadership at John Dewey High School. Today, I have named Kathleen Elvin as Acting Principal of John Dewey High School. I want to thank Principal Barry Fried for his many years of service to the John Dewey community. Please join me in wishing Principal Fried success in his new endeavors.

You will have an opportunity to meet the new principal and learn about her wealth of experience at an upcoming meeting at the school. More information about this meeting will be provided next week. I look forward to spending time with you as we welcome Kathleen Elvin into our school community.

Sincerely,
Aimee Horowitz
High School Superintendent