Yasuko Fujioka, M.A., a doctoral student and lecturer at Aichi Prefectural University in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, visited New Haven August 15-20, 2011 as a part of her research on the Comer School Development Program (SDP) for both her dissertation and a research project funded by the Japanese National Ministry of Education.
Fujioka has been studying the Comer SDP for ten years. She became interested in Dr. Comer's work after reading his 1988 Scientific American article, "Educating Poor Minority Children." "I have been deeply impressed with Comer's philosophy, holistic approach along with 6 developmental pathways, and the Schoolhouse model of the Comer Process," said Fujioka.
"I believe that SDP has a lot of potential as a child-centered District Leadership Model that empowers children, teachers, parents, and all participants," said Fujioka. I believe it has been proven that the consistent efforts of the SDP have provided the attractive learning opportunities for all children. I also believe that a holistic approach to whole child development might be realized in real education and can empower all students to become knowledgeable, active citizens. Such school climates might have the possibilities to seek further enlightenment that surpasses the policy trend toward judging by test scores."
She was also impressed with the Social Skills Curriculum for Inner City Children, developed by the SDP pilot project at King School and also Jackie Robinson Middle School when Dr. Reginald Mayo, the superintendent of the New Haven Public Schools, was the principal. Fujioka interviewed Dr. Mayo to learn more about his early involvement with Dr. James P. Comer and what was then called the New Haven Intervention Project. Dr. Mayo had spent a sabbatical year as a Fellow at the Yale Child Study Center studying with Dr. Comer. Mayo was the first principal in the United States to implement the SDP in a middle school and established New haven's first in-house suspension program in the early 1980s.
Fujioka and Dr. Mayo also discussed the Comer Renewal in New Haven which is a major focus of her dissertation and research for the Japanese National Ministry of Education.
In addition to Dr. Mayo, Fujioka also interviewed Dr. Abie Benitez, principal of Columbus Family Academy; Lucia Paolella, principal of Nathan Hale School and three members of her staff: administrative intern, Raeanne Reynolds, teachers, Larissa Giordano and Krista Bergin. She also interviewed three members of the SDP faculty: Dr. Fay E. Brown, Camille Cooper, and Cynthia Savo Fujioka plans to return to New Haven in April 2012 so that she can see the Comer SDP in operatio