Nathan Quinones
Encyclopedia
Nathan Quinones was an American educator and administrator who served as the New York City School Chancellor
from 1984 to 1987, where he led efforts to improve educational standards and cut the system's dropout rate.
solely because friends of his were applying there. He graduated from City College in 1953 having majored in classical and romance languages while working six nights a week at a hospital. He served in the United States Army
in South Korea
after graduating from college. While in the Army, Quinones was given the responsibility of helping his fellow soldiers earn their GED
, an experience that led him to pursue the field of education. After completing his military service, he attended Columbia University
, where he earned a master's degree in Hispanic literature in 1965 and a Master of Education
degree in 1967 at Hunter College
.
In 1955, he got a job with the New York City Department of Welfare as a caseworker, where he lasted 18 months. He was hired by the New York City Public Schools in 1957, where he was initially assigned to teach Spanish language
at Thomas Jefferson High School
. Quinones worked his way up to head the foreign languages department at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School and was named principal of South Bronx High School in 1977. Incoming School Chancellor Frank J. Macchiarola dismissed Samuel Polatnick as Executive Director of High Schools and named Quinones to the $43,000 a year position as Polatnick's replacement, naming him to the position without having advertised the post and bypassing principals with far more experience than Quinones had.
resigned as School Chancellor in May 1984 in the wake of professional misconduct charges, Quinones was selected as Chancellor, having served in the position on an interim basis after Alvarado placed himself on leave two months earlier. While Quinones had been relegated to a minor role under Alvarado, once Quinones became acting Chancellor he removed several administrators tied to Alvarado and restored the structure of high school administration that Alvarado had eliminated. Quinones set higher standards for math and reading, and established an all-day kindergarten program, while undoing efforts Alvarado had made at developing high schools with special themes. Test scores rose and overcrowding was addressed during his tenure, and oversaw the creation of the Harvey Milk High School
, which was designed to be a safe space for students regardless of sexual orientation.
He was criticized for his management of the district and its finances, with mayoral candidate Carol Bellamy
saying that he "consistently failed to provide the leadership or sound management we need". Pressured to resign as Chancellor in 1987, six months before his contract expired, Mayor Ed Koch
called Quinones "a first-rate chancellor" and regretted "that others were not supportive of him" saying that Quinones' "sedate kind of style" had hurt him from a political standpoint. Quinones expressed tremendous relief that he no longer had the burden of leading the school system, saying "I felt like a little bird" singing to himself as he walked down the street.
from a stroke
. He was survived by his wife, the former Romana Martinez, three daughters and three
grandchildren.
New York City School Chancellor
The New York City Schools Chancellor is the leader of the New York City Department of Education, the agency that handles New York City's public schools. The current Chancellor is Dennis M. Walcott, who began his tenure on April 18, 2011 after the resignation of Cathie Black on April 7, 2011...
from 1984 to 1987, where he led efforts to improve educational standards and cut the system's dropout rate.
Early life
Quinones was born on October 12, 1930, in East Harlem and attended the High School of Commerce. He decided to attend college "by chance", as he had never received any formal college guidance and had applied to City College of New YorkCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
solely because friends of his were applying there. He graduated from City College in 1953 having majored in classical and romance languages while working six nights a week at a hospital. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
after graduating from college. While in the Army, Quinones was given the responsibility of helping his fellow soldiers earn their GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
, an experience that led him to pursue the field of education. After completing his military service, he attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he earned a master's degree in Hispanic literature in 1965 and a Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
degree in 1967 at Hunter College
Hunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
.
In 1955, he got a job with the New York City Department of Welfare as a caseworker, where he lasted 18 months. He was hired by the New York City Public Schools in 1957, where he was initially assigned to teach Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
at Thomas Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School (Brooklyn, New York)
Thomas Jefferson High School is a former high school in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York. The New York City Department of Education closed the school and broke it into several different schools in 2007, owing to low graduation rates....
. Quinones worked his way up to head the foreign languages department at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School and was named principal of South Bronx High School in 1977. Incoming School Chancellor Frank J. Macchiarola dismissed Samuel Polatnick as Executive Director of High Schools and named Quinones to the $43,000 a year position as Polatnick's replacement, naming him to the position without having advertised the post and bypassing principals with far more experience than Quinones had.
New York City Schools Chancellor
After Anthony J. AlvaradoAnthony J. Alvarado
Anthony John Alvarado is an American educator and administrator who served from 1983 to 1984 as New York City School Chancellor, overseeing the operation of the largest public school district in the United States as the school system's first Hispanic Chancellor...
resigned as School Chancellor in May 1984 in the wake of professional misconduct charges, Quinones was selected as Chancellor, having served in the position on an interim basis after Alvarado placed himself on leave two months earlier. While Quinones had been relegated to a minor role under Alvarado, once Quinones became acting Chancellor he removed several administrators tied to Alvarado and restored the structure of high school administration that Alvarado had eliminated. Quinones set higher standards for math and reading, and established an all-day kindergarten program, while undoing efforts Alvarado had made at developing high schools with special themes. Test scores rose and overcrowding was addressed during his tenure, and oversaw the creation of the Harvey Milk High School
Harvey Milk High School
Harvey Milk High School is a public high school in the East Village of New York City designed for, though not limited to, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender young people, as well as those questioning their sexuality...
, which was designed to be a safe space for students regardless of sexual orientation.
He was criticized for his management of the district and its finances, with mayoral candidate Carol Bellamy
Carol Bellamy
Carol Bellamy has been Director of the Peace Corps, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund , and President and CEO of World Learning. In April, 2009, Bellamy was appointed as Chair of the International Baccalaureate Board of Governors...
saying that he "consistently failed to provide the leadership or sound management we need". Pressured to resign as Chancellor in 1987, six months before his contract expired, Mayor Ed Koch
Ed Koch
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch is an American lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989...
called Quinones "a first-rate chancellor" and regretted "that others were not supportive of him" saying that Quinones' "sedate kind of style" had hurt him from a political standpoint. Quinones expressed tremendous relief that he no longer had the burden of leading the school system, saying "I felt like a little bird" singing to himself as he walked down the street.
Death
Quinones died at age 79 on July 25, 2010, in Manhasset, New YorkManhasset, New York
Manhasset is a hamlet and neighborhood in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 8,080....
from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. He was survived by his wife, the former Romana Martinez, three daughters and three
grandchildren.