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16 Education update ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ NOV/DEC 2010Marcy Syms Among Honorees atManhattan Chamber of Commerce AwardsBy Dr. Pola RosenThe Manhattan Chamberof Commerce, headed byPresident Nancy Ploeger,held its annual distinguishedBusiness Awards Breakfastcelebrating excellent entrepreneurs.Among the high profileNew Yorkers to receive accoladesfrom the sold-out breakfastwere composer StephenSondheim, restauranteur Jean-Georges Vongerichten, radiopersonality Joan Hamburgand Marcy Syms, CEO of theSyms discount stores, whosemantra has reverberated since her father foundedthe stores in 1959: “An educated consumer is ourbest customer.”Marcy Syms is a stylish, attractive brunettewho took the time to sit with me after the awardsceremony despite her busy schedule shepherdingBy Judith AquinoNew York State Regents ChancellorMerryl Tisch shed light on plans toimprove the state’s public educationsystem, including how it will spendthe nearly $770 million allotted to thestate by the “Race to the Top” federalschool-improvement competition.Hosted by the Women’s City Club,Tisch explained to members and guestsof the civic organization what changeslie in store for current state educationstandards and tests. She also spokeabout the effect that the federal Raceto the Top funds are expected to haveon New York’s public schools.“I hate to use the word reform,because every chancellor has a newreform that falls by the wayside,”Tisch said. “ I’d like topostulate for you that what we’regoing to do is take the $770 millionand we’re going to spend iton a few expensive things thatwill yield results in this state forgenerations to come.”In accordance with the requirementsof the $4 billion federalgrant competition, New Yorkwill open more charter schools,said Tisch, as well as set upan evaluation system that tiesteachers to students’ test scores.“I will tell you that the teachersunion came through for us ina very big way to help us designan evaluation system that willultimately allow school districtsto base 40 percent of the teachers’yearly evaluation on studentachievement,” Tisch said.Tisch expressed her supportfor charter schools, although sheacknowledged they were onlyan “option” and not a “panacea”for improving public schools.The Regents Chancellor alsosaid the state plans to builda statewide data system thatwill strengthen the accountabilityeducational institutions havetoward its students.“We are going to allow theentire network - city universities,state universities, schoolsof higher education in the privatesector - to talk to eachother about the teachers they’returning out and the quality ofthe students that their teachersare turning out,” Tisch said.50 stores, which now includeFilene’s Basement.A graduate of Finch Collegeand Boston College, Marcykeeps up with changes inclothing brands, customers’needs, and even changes inhealth care by reading 15newspapers daily. Currently,she is combining distributioncenters for greater economy inoperations since taking overthe bankrupt Filene’s in 2009.The “educated consumer”slogan was first televised in1974 and has been a hit eversince. Marcy’s advice to young women is to giveserious sacrifice to your job, have a work ethicthat includes working seven days a week, setgoals, have a passion for what you do, and havea five-year plan.Marcy Syms is a true New York success story! #Another area where the statewill spend money, Tisch said, willbe on turning around low performingschools.“If you are a schools superintendentand you come to us with a plan thatsays, ‘I would like to tell you howI’m going to improve these 20 schoolsover the course of three years,’… eachone of those schools will get $2 milliona year from the federal governmentfor 3 years,” Tisch said. “Thebig difference here is they’re goingto have to get approval for the typeof work they’re going to do and Ican sure assure you neither DavidSteiner or myself are going to sign offon mediocrity.” #Ruth Messinger, Presidentof AHWS is HonoredRecently, a gala was held by the venerableAmerican Jewish World Service (AJWS),a faith-based international human rightsorganization that works to alleviate poverty,hunger and disease in the developing world.Among the attendees was Carolyn Everett,a philanthropist and activist.In addition to its grantmaking to over400 grassroots projects around the world,AJWS works to promote global citizenshipand social justice through activism, volunteerservice and education. Ruth Messinger,assumed the role of president in 1998 followinga 20-year career in public servicein New York City, where she served for12 years on the New York City Counciland eight as Manhattan borough president.Messinger is continuing her lifelong pursuitof social justice at AJWS, helping peoplearound the world improve the quality oftheir lives and their communities.#(L-R) Carolyn Everett & Ruth MessingerNYS Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch Announces Plans for Education FundsYork Preparatory School(L-R) Dorothy Wilner, Eleanor Stier, Co-Chairs of the Education Committee & Merryl Tisch40 West 68th StreetNew York, NY 10023www.yorkprep.orgYork Preparatory School“An Intimate Place to Learnin the Heart of a Great City”40 West 68th StreetNew York, NY 10023www.yorkprep.org“An Intimate Place to Learnin York the Preparatory Heart of a School Great City”Dear Parents:You are cordially invited to attend one of ourOPEN HOUSES at York Preparatory School.York Preparatory 40 West 68th School StreetYork PreparatoryNew 40 York, West 68th NYSchool10023 StreetDear $ Thursday, York Parents: September PreparatoryNew 40 www.yorkprep.org30th York, West 68th NYSchool 9:30 10023 Street AM – 11:00 AM$ Wednesday,York PreparatoryOctoberYou are cordiallyNew 40 6thinvited www.yorkprep.orgYork, West 68th NYSchool9:30to attend10023 Street AM – 11:00 AMone of our$ Wednesday, October New 40 www.yorkprep.org13th York, West 68th NY 10023 Street 5:30 PM – 7:00 PMOPEN HOUSES at York Preparatory School.“An Intimate Place to Learn$ Tuesday, October 19th New www.yorkprep.orgYork, NY 10023 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM$ “An Wednesday, Intimate Octoberwww.yorkprep.org27th Place 9:30 to AM Learn – 11:00 AM$ “An Thursday, in the Intimate November September Heart 4th 30th Place of Great 9:30 to 5:30 AM Learn PM City” –– 11:00 7:00 AM PM“An in the IntimateOctober Heart Place6thof Great to Learn$ Wednesday, November 10th9:30 AM City”– 11:00 AM PM“An Wednesday,in the IntimateOctoberHeart Place13thof Great to Learn$ Tuesday, November 16th5:30 PMCity”– 7:00 PMDear in Parents: the Heart of Great City”$ Tuesday, October 19thYou Dear in Wednesday, are Parents: theNovemberHeart30thof a Great5:30 PMCity”– 7:00 PM$ Tuesday, cordially January October 11th invited 27th to attend 9:30 5:30 AM PM one –– 11:00 of 7:00 our AM PMOPEN You Dear Thursday, are Parents:HOUSES cordially November at invited York 4th Preparatory attend one School. of ourOPEN You Dear $ Tuesday,are Parents: January 25th5:30 PM – 7:00 PM$ Wednesday, HOUSES cordiallyNovember at invited York 10th Preparatory attend one9:30 AM – School. of our11:00 PMOPEN You Dear are Parents:$ Tuesday, HOUSES cordiallyNovember at invited16th York Preparatory attend one5:30 PM – School. of our7:00 PM$ OPEN You RSVPThursday, are toHOUSES cordially the AdmissionsSeptember at invited Office30th York Preparatory attend at:9:30 AM one – 11:00 School. of our AM$ Tuesday, November 30th 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM$ OPEN 212-362-0400 Thursday, Wednesday, HOUSES September ext.October at 1336th 30th York admissions@yorkprep.orgPreparatory 9:30 AM – 11:00 School.AM$ Tuesday, January 11th5:30 PM – 7:00 PM$ Thursday, Wednesday, September October 6th 13th30th9:305:30 AMPM –– 11:007:00 AMPM$ Tuesday, January 25th5:30 PM – 7:00 PM$ York Thursday,Tuesday, Wednesday, Prep isOctobera September coeducational October 19th6th 13th30th college preparatory 9:30 5:30 AM school PM – – for 11:00 7:00 grades AMPM6-12.$ Thursday,Wednesday, Tuesday, Wednesday, SeptemberOctoberOctoberOctober 19th6th27th13th30th9:309:30 5:30 AMAM PM – – 11:0011:00 7:00 AMAMPMRSVP to the Admissions Office at:$Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, Wednesday,OctoberOctoberNovember October 19th6th27th13th 9:304th 9:30 5:30 5:30 AMAM PM PM – – 11:0011:00 7:00 7:00 AMAM PMPM212-362-0400 ext. 133 or admissions@yorkprep.org$Wednesday, Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, Wednesday, OctoberNovember OctoberOctober 19th27th13th4th 10th9:309:30 5:30 5:30AMAM PM PM– –11:0011:00 7:00 7:00AM PMPM$Wednesday, Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, OctoberTuesday, NovemberNovember October 19th27th16th4th 10th9:309:30 5:305:305:30 AMAM PMPMPM – – 11:0011:00 7:007:007:00 AMPMPMYork Prep is a coeducational college preparatory school for grades 6-12.$Wednesday, Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, NovemberNovember October 27th30th 16th4th 10th9:309:30 5:305:30 AMAM PMPM – – 11:0011:00 7:007:00 AMPM$ Wednesday, Thursday, Tuesday, NovemberNovember January 11th 30th4th 10th 9:30 5:305:30 AM PMPM – – 11:00 7:007:00 PM$ Wednesday, Tuesday, November November January 25th 11th 30th 16th10th9:30 5:30 AM PM – – 11:00 7:00 PM$ Tuesday, November January 25th 11th 30th 16th5:30 PM – 7:00 PM$ Tuesday, November January 25th 11th 30th5:30 PM – 7:00 PM