At the Bensonhurst West End Community Council’s 48 Gala being celebrated at the beautiful El Caribe on Wednesday, November 19th where BWECC will honor its Man, Woman, Couple, Parent , Educator and Network Leader of the Year, the guests will be treated to the dry humor of Barry Fein for the last time, inasmuch as Barry will be retiring in December.
For an example of his clever wit, this is the biography he wrote for the BWECC Journal.
“Barry M. Fein was born at a young age. At the age of four he ran away with the circus, but his father made him bring it back. From that moment on he realized that he had to find a real goal. Living in Pennsylvania during his Elementary and Junior High School years, he played baseball and dreamed of becoming a center fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Moving back to Brooklyn in 1964, he graduated from Madison High School in 1966 without distinction, and from Hunter College in 1970. He started teaching almost immediately in District 13. Shortly thereafter, he won the only lottery in his life. The lottery was sponsored by the United States Government. He served two years in the United Stated Navy and returned to teaching in 1973.
In 1977, he was transferred to I.S. 96. Having difficulty holding onto a set position, he was a Social Studies teacher, Graduation Coordinator and Dean. As Dean, he implemented the Law Institute for Teens (Project LIFT). Project LIFT established a student court and a code of conduct established by students. This project was recognized by the United States Department of Education as an award-winning project and funded for replication throughout the District.
In 1989, he was transferred to the District Office as part of the funding from the United States Department of Education. The Law program was established in seven schools in the District. Two years later, Barry wrote the grant which established Project ADAPT, an alternative program for students suspended from school. While this project was mainly for Middle School students, it was expanded later on to include Elementary School students. During that time, he became the Grant Writer for District 21 and wrote successful grants including two Federal Magnet Grants, four Drug Prevention Grants, four Title III Grants, and numerous other programs which provided extensive Professional Development for staff, as well as programs to improve student learning.
In 2000, he was appointed as Principal and assigned to District 21. He was given the responsibility of Administrator of Funded Programs. When the District was reorganized, he was assigned to I.S. 96 as Principal, proving you can go home again. Barry has been very successful in implementing special after school Supplemental Educational Services at Seth Low for all students. These programs offer extra help in Math and English Language Arts to our at-risk students as well as any students who wish to improve their scores. The programs are offered every day including weekends. It is obvious to the entire Seth Low community that Barry has made a positive impact in the building. The tone of the school is upbeat and the students are benefiting from this new attitude. He never turns children away, making their challenges his own. He is grateful for the support that he receives from parents and the staff. “
There you have it, humor injected into his biography which made if fun to read. If you want to hear Barry live, come to the BWECC Gala and help us also honor Assemblyman William and Mary Colton, Iris Baum, Madelene Taub-Chan, Judy Gerowitz and Cecile Iocono, whose bios will be… or already have been spotlighted in this column. Each is a very deserving honoree. For dinner reservations contact me at 718 946-6667.
Screech at you next week!