The school's annual Multicultural Festival began after the ceremony. But even as the celebration unfurled outside the school, in fittingly brilliant sunshine, two Fowler teachers were looking ahead. Judy Fusco and Sara Montgomery-Lee were focused, as usual, on where they want their students to be, and what it will take to help them get there. Those tests are being phased out, and students will have to pass tougher new Regents-level exams to graduate. The recognition is a morale booster, but another round of work is about to begin, said Fusco, an English teacher.
Regents exams are three weeks away.
Such focus on achievement is what pushed Fowler forward, Area Superintendent Jaime Alicea told the crowd. Until September, Alicea was principal of the school. When he arrived as Fowler principal four years ago, the goal was academic excellence for all students - with no excuses, he said. Fowler has the highest rate of student poverty of any high school in a four-county region. When Principal Gregory Walker took over in September, he kept pushing for the magnet program.