WEST KENDALL
New Foster Ashe Elementary principal welcomes challenges
The new principal at Dr. Bowman Foster Ashe Elementary has several goals in mind for the school.
BY ISADORA RANGEL
IRANGEL@MIAMIHERALD.COM
For Eliseo Hernandez, science is both his area of expertise -- and his passion.
Hernandez became the principal of Dr. Bowman Foster Ashe Elementary School in West Kendall in July. One of his main goals is to improve the school's FCAT science scores, which have trailed the school's performance in other subjects.
Hernandez started his career in Miami-Dade public schools teaching science more than 15 years ago. He holds a master's degree in science education. As he takes on his new job, he wants teachers and students to understand the process of science.
``Throughout the district, science achievement is rather low and I want to bring its level back to elementary schools,'' said Hernandez, 43. ``The FCAT for science is not about memorization; it's about how science is conducted.''
Hernandez's other goals include keeping Bowman Ashe Elementary's ``A'' grade from the state. He also plans on bringing more technology into the classroom with computerized white boards.
``The biggest challenge is making sure every student makes progress,'' he said. ``That's difficult. We have students whose English is not their first language and from low social-economic levels.''
At Bowman Ashe Elementary, about 75 percent of the students are on free or reduced lunch, he said.
With enrollment dropping at the school -- around 800 students now compared to more than 1,200 in the 2006-07 school year -- Hernandez also wants to get the name of Bowman Foster back on the map.
``I want to go back to a public relations movement,'' he said about his strategy to organize events at Ashe and distribute bumper stickers with the school's name.
A native of Jersey City, Hernandez moved to Miami in 1981. He graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in biology and chemistry. His first job was as a science teacher at Joe Hall Elementary in Southwest Miami-Dade, where he later served as assistant principal for three years. In 1998, he moved to Riviera Middle School, also in Southwest Miami-Dade, and later to Ludlam Elementary in South Miami, where he met his wife, Monica, a third-grade teacher. They have four children.
His first job as a principal was at Gloria Floyd Elementary, where he stayed for five years before going to Ashe.
Being appointed to the new position is a big change, he said. Bowman Ashe Elementary is a bigger school, with two campuses and higher enrollment than Gloria Floyd, which has about 600 students.
Alex Martinez, region four superintendent, has known Hernandez for five years and said Hernandez was picked because of his leadership and personal skills to engage the community at the school.
``He's a consensus builder, and other principals look up to him,'' Martinez said. ``I want him to include all stakeholders -- businesses, homeowners, civic groups and parents -- as part of the education at the school.''
Hernandez will meet parents for the first time on Thursday, when the school, at 6601 SW 152nd Ave., will host an open house event.
``What worries me is the quality of the food and what my children eat,'' said Yesenia Perez, mother of a first-grader and a preschool student. ``But I like the school and the teachers are good.''
Maria Santovenia, who has a grandchild in the fifth grade, thinks the main problem is finding parking during dismissal. The school recently stopped allowing parents to park on the streets when they pick up their children.
``There is no parking,'' she said. ``Sometimes it takes me 25 minutes to find parking. They should let it be the way it used to be.''
But Hernandez said the procedure has had overall acceptance among parents.
Hernandez is also an adjunct professor at Florida International University's school of education.
``As a school administrator, you have the power to make decisions and you see results right away,'' he said. ``The best thing is that you get to do the paper work but also go outside and see the kids.''
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/12/1824210/new-foster-ashe-elementary-principal.html#ixzz14FhvbUyu
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