Public Schools New Regions Of Learning

Schools Chancellor Joel Klein visited Queens and listened to concerns about the new school system over the past few months. Tribune Photo by Shams Tarek
It’s important to understand the city’s public school system, particularly given the widespread changes that have taken place in the past year. The Department of Education’s web site, www.nycenet.edu, provides great resources for parents.
The school system is now organized into 10 Regions across the city — each one including approximately 120 schools — with Queens divided into Regions 3, 4 and 5.

Each Region has a Learning Support Center which houses the instructional leadership team for the Region as well as a full service Parent Support Office. Six of the Learning Support Centers also house Regional Operations Centers which provide operational support to schools.

The Basics
The Regions are led by 10 Regional Superintendents who serve as the senior instructional management team for the school system and report directly to Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning Diana Lam.

Within each Region, the Regional Superintendent supervises 10 to 12 Local Instructional Superintendents (LISes), each of whom has supervisory responsibility for a network of about 10 to 12 schools and principals. The LISes are to provide schools in their networks with instructional leadership while supporting principals and their teachers in implementing the new instructional approach and improving the quality of teaching and learning in their schools.
Principals within each network report directly to the Local Instructional Superintendent assigned to lead that network. According to the DOE, the new structure is designed so that each school will receive greater individualized support and supervision.
–Shams Tarek

Region 3
Superintendent: Judith J. Chin
Regional Operations Center: 30-48 Linden Place, (718) 281-7650
Learning Support Centers: 30-48 Linden Place, (718) 281-7575; and 90-27 Sutphin Blvd., (718) 557-2600
Director of Student Placement, Youth and Family Support: Ginay Marks
Supervisor of Parent Support Office: Marsha Tom

Region 4
Superintendent: Reyes Irizarry
Regional Operations Center: 28-11 Queens Plaza North, (718) 391-8222
Learning Support Center: 28-11 Queens Plaza North, (718) 391-8300
Director of Student Placement, Youth and Family Support: Jaime Cobham
Supervisor of Parent Support Office: Aparna Tambar

Region 5
Superintendent: Kathleen M. Cashin
Regional Operations Center: 82-01 Rockaway Blvd
Learning Support Center: 82-01 Rockaway Blvd, (718) 642-5800.
Director of Student Placement, Youth and Family Support: Marjorie A. Elliot.
Supervisor of Parent Support Office: Judith Dean.