EDUCATION
Principled
Pedagogues
ding teacher takes more than being
He looks 10 years younger than
punctual to class, attending faculty his almost 50 years. "The students
meetings and roughly checking keep me young;' he says.
students' essays.
Gary Faber likes to consider
Oak Park High Principal Gary himself a risk-taker. How was he
Marx says, "He's so good in so many chosen as a Principal of Leadership?
ways. His relationship with the It came as a surprise, he says, and as
students is terrific. His knowledge of an outcome of West Bloomfield High
the subject matter is excellent. He is School's being recognized - as an ex-
heavily involved in professional emplary high school among 200 in
matters.
_ the country by the National Associa-
"As a teacher, he is very creative. - tion of Elementary School Principals
He employs different instructional ap- (NAESP), the National Association of
proaches. He has used computer Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
simulations of international affairs, and the National School Safety
for example. He was a Fulbright Center.
scholar and went to Israel last year.
The various committees screened
He's involved in state and county the principals of those 200 schools
workshops."
and identified 25 as being special in
Gutman at work is energetic, some way. They then contacted the
Oak Park High School and The
dynamic, constantly demanding his principals, did reference checks and
Center for Advanced Studies and the
students to think, to follow through delved into their philosophies on
Arts (CASA), they'll tell you it's a
on even a fragment of an idea. He education and their accomplishments.
combination of personality, a
throws concepts at them, asks them Ten were chosen at the end of the
thorough knowledge of the subject
to role play on the spot.
process.
material, a care for the students, as
"I realy like teenagers," says Gut-
Faber's special actions that
well as knowing when to roll with the
punches. Being creative is the domi- man. "I like teaching them. I like brought him to the judging commit-
working with this age. I want my sub- tee's attention were the setting up of
nant factor.
"He brings things to life and ject matter to mean_ something to a special suspension class and a
demerit system as well as incentives
makes them relevant," comments them.
But also I don't like to approach to get students to accept responsibili-
Julie Cain of Berkley High Schol,
who attends CASA for advanced It as though the students don't have ty for their own behavior. An offer
classes. CASA is a cooperative ven- input. I want them to care about what recently to take on a job as an ad-
ture offered by the school districts of they are learning. They need to sup- ministrator behind a desk — and
Berkley, Clawson, Ferndale, Madison port or defend arguments. They need away from the bustle and drama of a
to learn how to use the content, not real school — a position that meant
Heights and Oak Park.
just
to memorize it for a test."
a promotion, made Faber realize he
Gutman is department chairman
wanted
to make a difference as a prin-
His
methodology
is
varied.
"I
of social studies at Oak Park High
School, teaching there in the morn- believe in going beyond the school cipal. He turned down the position.
ings, and afternoons at CASA. Among day. I took some of this year's students
"While I understand the impor-
the subjects he teaches are law, to the USSR Space Bridge which was tance of administrators in central of-
American political process, global a teleconference between American fices, at this stage I want to be with
issues and advanced placement U.S. and Soviet students. One of my kids and teachers. I want to be there
students' questions was submitted to to affect change and make immediate
history.
lb be recognized as an outstan- the Soviet team to answer?'
decisions."
Two Detroiters won awards for giving
education a good name
ROBYN KLEEREKOPER
Special to The Jewish News
H
e doesn't treat students
as though he's their su-
perior. It's not like the
average teacher-student
relationship. It's more
like we are on an equal footing and
that our opinions and views count,"
an Oak Park High SChool student
says of her global issues teacher, Jerry
Gutman.
Gutman, and West Bloomfield
High School's principal, Gary Faber,
have recently been honored by their
peers for being excellent educators.
Gutman was chosen the WDIV
Outstanding High School Teacher of
the Year for Oakland County, and
Faber one of 10 "Principals of Leader-
ship" selected from across the
country. _
What makes these two men
notable?
If you ask Gutman's students at
Oak Park High's Jerry Gutman.
44
FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1988
.
West Bloomfield High's Gary Faber.