Cindy Schneider

Breaking News: NYC School Gives Kids New Opportunities

Follow Principal Cynthia Schneider (MA ’89) around the World Journalism Preparatory School she created and you’ll see how close she is to her teachers and students. “She knows every student by their first and last name,” one student readily offered. “She knows if you’re not here, and when you return she walks into class to be sure you’re okay.”

Schneider, who never pictured herself as a principal, recounted how her professional path morphed around media literacy. She began her education career as a teacher in a small Iowa high school in Alton and ended up as the originator and principal of a successful, cutting-edge school in Queens, New York. Along the way she went from teaching drama, speech, debate, and AP English to using closed circuit TV that led to starting a broadcast program with meaningful curriculum.

As a doctoral student in Secondary English Education, she discovered ways to teach critical literature by integrating media studies. After teaching for more than two decades, a chance encounter with a New York City ABC network staffer gave her journey an unexpected turn. Schneider left the Tall Corn state for the Big Apple, and by combining her teaching and administrative talents found employment as a literacy specialist training and coaching principals throughout the city. It didn’t take long before she began to see the challenges New York’s schools faced as an opportunity. She thought, “If I had my own school, I would make changes.” So, she completed New York City’s intensive Leadership Academy, a fast-track program for high-need education jobs, earned her principal licensure, and submitted a proposal for her own school where she would begin making those changes for the kids.

The World Journalism Preparatory School, opened in 2006, educates a diverse group of students in grades 6 through 12. Beginning with 160 students and 11 staff, enrollment doubled by 2008, and this year, some 445 students are enrolled with a staff of 40 teachers and counselors. The students—comprised of 30 percent Hispanic, 30 percent Asian, 30 percent white, and 10 percent Black—come from Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens—and some as far away as a two-hour bus ride—all because they want to learn at her school.

In addition to their regular subjects of math, science, language arts, and social studies, the students take courses in journalistic reporting and writing. “The kids love it,” she said. “When the school’s water pipes broke, they were right there reporting the breaking news.” They also learn about broadcast production, which includes work as a writer, editor, anchor, videographer, and producer. The students are already supplying broadcast content to syndicate affiliates at NBC where they give news stories a teen perspective.

Her students are enthusiastic when they talk about what makes their school special.
“Bringing journalism into school makes school fun,” one student said. Another student agreed, “This school opened my eyes not only to journalism, but to going to college.”
And it isn’t just the students who are impressed with the school. New York City’s Quality Review defines the school as “well developed,” and a review from a member of the British Cambridge Group said it is “unique and successful.”

Schneider’s students believe she is the best principal in the world and are eager to share the reasons why. “She supports us in everything we do, helping us achieve our goals,” one student said. “Her office is always open,” said another. “She is always here for us.” “When we have to stay late, she lets us and stays late with us,” another commented. “She opens our eyes to new things,” another added.

Schneider says the best things about her job are the kids and the creative process. “Watching the things I believe in filter down and around and through every heartbeat of the school is indeed an amazing feeling. This is a place where we are all learning.”