A Brief History of 

   Williamsburg Prep

In the fall of 2004, Williamsburg Prep’s founding class arrived at its campus in Brooklyn. The 108 teenagers discovered freshly painted classrooms and six enthusiastic teachers. Both the students and the teachers (many of whom were just out of graduate school) were nervous. What would this new high school be like?  The principal reminded them that the school, founded in partnership with Long Island University, was dedicated to preparing every one of its students for college. 

Principal Kathleen Elvin and her hard working staff had planned all summer to create an interdisciplinary curriculum that was interesting and challenging.  But it wasn’t just academic work; some teachers cleaned their own dusty rooms. “We were building from the ground up” recalled a teacher. In addition to preparing for their regular classes, each of the teachers created a “mini-course,” a class in subjects like creative writing or computer animation that grew out of their own interests. It was a special way of sharing their love of learning with their students.

Everybody worked very hard. The teachers got to school early and many stayed after class too. The school was developing a
sense of place, a feeling of warmth, rigor and creativity. “We’re teaching the kids to think for themselves and we’re learning
along with them,” said a teacher. “It’s a wonderful day when I hear that collective, “Ohhhhh!” of understanding.”

In October, Williamsburg Prep students began their official preparations for college. The entire school took the subway into
Manhattan to attend Columbia University’s College Fair.  The students learned that colleges are large and small, near and far
away, urban and rural. They learned that college recruiters are interested in students just like them.

Everybody went back to Brooklyn and kept on working. The teachers met almost every day to discuss their students’ progress and ways to help them. In November, students tested what they knew by taking Practice Regents in Living Environment and Math A.  Then they went back to work.  By December, everybody deserved a break so the school took some field trips. They went to the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum ,   the Museum of Natural History, and  the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In February, there was wonderful news.  The school had a received a $400,000 grant from New Visions for Public Schools. Over 100 parents, students and teachers celebrated at a big party. The students, who had visited Christo’s “Gates” in Central Park, decorated the hallways with giant orange banners.  Basking in the golden glow cast by the banners, everyone felt like a big family. Parents learned about the Oral History Project. Their children would be researching their family histories. Through personal interviews, the students would figure out how their parents and grandparents, and by extension themselves, had been affected by bigger historical trends.

In March, everyone was excited when New York Assemblyman Joseph Lentol came to the school to join the Oral History Project.
The Assemblyman brought vintage photos of Brooklyn which the students viewed via their new computers, and lots of tickets to
 a BAM concert.  He explained that his mother’s family had fled Communism in Lithuania and his father’s family left Italy for
 jobs in America.  Students began to see how family stories were part of a bigger, worldwide story.

It was a theme they would soon hear again repeated in a slightly different way from Dr. Benjamin Barber, author of the bestselling Jihad vs. McWorld. Dr. Barber told students about global interdependence and his group, Democracy Collaborative. Because Dr. Barber is a very cool guy, particularly for a college professor, he brought along J Ivy, an intense, spoken word poet who performed a poem about his father that made students cry and cheer. Lots of kids began talking about their own poetry.

March was a very theatrical month.  Students saw the Controversy of Valladolid at the Public Theater and then talked to the
actors afterward.  The Media Production Class completed their own animated film and submitted it to a citywide competition.
he Creative Writing class wrote a play and watched professional actors perform it at a writer’s workshop.  It has been a very
busy beginning, but there are still lots of things to do.  After all, Williamsburg Prep is only getting started.