Bennett High School (Buffalo, New York)

Bennett High School
Optima Futura The Best is Yet to Be
Address
2885 Main Street Buffalo, New York 14214 Starin Central
Coordinates	42°56′38″N 78°49′56″W / 42.94389°N 78.83222°W / 42.94389; -78.83222Coordinates: 42°56′38″N 78°49′56″W / 42.94389°N 78.83222°W / 42.94389; -78.83222
Information
Funding type	Public
Opened	1925
Status	Priority School
School district	Buffalo Public Schools
School number	200
Principal	Bert L. Stevenson
Grades	12
Color(s)	Blue and Orange
Mascot	Tigers
Yearbook	Beacon
Website	Bennett High School

Bennett High School is an American high school located in the University Heights section of Buffalo, New York. The current principal is Dr. Bert Stevenson. It is named for Lewis J. Bennett, who donated the land for the school and for All High Stadium. Portions of the movie The Natural were filmed in All High Stadium, although it was filmed as Wrigley Field. Bennett High School is now fully an Exam/Magnet school with three College Prep programs, they are the Academy of International Law (Similar to Pre-law) Business and Computers (similar to Information Systems), and Education and the Arts.^[1]

History

Bennett High School was built in the 1920s. It has four stories with 270,000 square feet (25,000 m²). It is named for Lewis J. Bennett, who donated the land for the school and for All High Stadium. Portions of the 1984 movie The Natural were filmed in All High Stadium, although it was filmed as Wrigley Field.

The school was renovated in the summer of 2005 and the summer of 2006. During this time, some students were housed at Bennett while others were housed at nearby School 63 on Minnesota Avenue.

In 2014, the school began phasing out, not accepting incoming classes, due to low academic performance. The school is being replaced by Middle Early College High School and the new Computing Academy of Technological Sciences.

Former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

• Dr. Charles E. Rhodes–1925-1933 (Vice Principal - Lafayette High School, retired^[2])
• Mr. Emmons B. Farrar–1933-1942 (Vice Principal - Bennett High School, entered military service^[2])
• Mr. Raymond W. Spear [interim]–1942-1944 (Vice Principal - Riverside High School, named Principal of Riverside High School)
• Mr. Emmons Farrar–1944-1958 (Administrator on Leave - Bennett High School, retired)
• Mr. Lloyd A. Miller^[2]–1958-1969 (Vice Principal - Bennett High School, retired)
• Mr. Leonard S. Sikora –1969-1975 (Assistant Principal - Bennett High School, named Principal of Seneca Vocational High School)
• Mr. Ronald J. Meer–1975-1980 (Principal - Grover Cleveland High School, assigned to Central Office)
• Mr. Henry J. Klee–1980-1984 (unknown, named Assistant Principal of Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts)
• Ms. Marilyn C. Wittman–1984^[2]-2004 (Acting Director of Business Education - Buffalo Public Schools,^[3] retired^[4])
• Mrs. Ramona Y. Thomas-Reynolds–2004^[5]-2009 (Principal - West Hertel Academy,^[6] named Principal of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Institute^[7])
• Dr. David Mauricio–2009-2012 (Principal - Lorraine Elementary, named Community Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools)
• Mr. Carlos R. Alvarez, Jr.–2012-2013 [interim] (Assistant Principal - Bennett High School, named Assistant Principal of West Hertel Academy)
• Ms. Teena M. Jackson–2013 [interim] (Assistant Principal - Bennett High School, named Principal of S.T.A.R. Academy)
• Dr. Terry D. Ross–2013-2014 (Consultant - New 21 Frontiers, named Principal of Kingsbury High School)

Selected former assistant principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

• Mr. Emmons Farrar–1925-1933 (Teacher - Bennett High School, named Principal of Bennett High School)
• Mr. Herbert S. Lein
• Mr. Abraham Axelrod–?-1952 (Science teacher - Bennett High School, named Assistant Principal of Kensington High School)
• Mr. Carl S. Walz–1952-1956 (Vice Principal - East High School, named Principal of Buffalo Evening Schools)
• Mr. Lloyd Miller–1956-1958 (Vice Principal - East High School, named Principal of Bennett High School)
• Mr. Morris Raiken–1958-1962 (Assistant Principal - School 87, named Principal of Fillmore Middle School)
• Mr. Leonard Sikora–1962-1969 (unknown, named Interim Principal of Bennett High School)
• Mr. James J. Foley–1964-1966 (Guidance Counselor - Burgard Vocational High School, name Federal Program Coordinator of Buffalo Public Schools)
• Mr. Anthony R. Vetrano–1966-1968 (unknown, named Principal of Fillmore Middle School)
• Mr. Franklin R. Weitz–1967-1971 (Assistant Principal - Riverside High School, unknown)
• Mr. Adam D. Dzimian–1968-1984 (Vice Principal - Clinton Junior High School, retired)
• Mr. Paul J. Ludwig–1969-1970 (Guidance Counselor - Hutchinson Central Technical High School, named Vice Principal of Eden High School)
• Mr. John H. Davis–1970-1983 (Earth science teacher - Bennett High School, named Principal of Grover Cleveland High School)
• Dr. Daniel M. Kublitz–1971-1973 (Assistant Principal - Grover Cleveland High School, named Assistant Principal of Kensington High School)
• Mr. John F. Robinson–1975-1977 (Assistant Principal - Riverside High School, named Principal of Fosdick-Masten Park High School)
• Mrs. Deborah L. Lowe–1983-1984 (Physical Education teacher - Waterfront Elementary School, named Principal of Buffalo Traditional School)
• Ms. Crystal A. Boling–1984-1985 (Counselor - Buffalo Urban League Structured Support Center, named Assistant Principal of South Park High School^[8])
• Mr. James G. Christmann–1984-1986 (Art teacher - Bennett High School, named Assistant Principal of City Honors School)
• Mr. John J. Vella–1985-1987 (Chemistry teacher - Bennett High School, named Principal of Riverside High School)
• Mr. Calvin Baxter–1986-1987 (Social Studies teacher - South Park High School, named Assistant Principal of South Park High School)
• Ms. Constance Pace–1987-? (Assistant Principal - McKinley Vocational High School, named Curriculum Coordinator of Niagara Falls City School District)
• Mr. David M. Greco–1987-1988 (unknown, named Principal of Buffalo Traditional School)
• Mr. Timothy M. Shannon–1988-1990 (unknown, named Assistant Principal of Buffalo Traditional School)
• Mr. Robert M. Barton–1988-1990 (Assistant Principal - Emerson Vocational High School,, named Principal of Buffalo Alternative High School)
• Ms. Louise A. Klier–1990-1995 (Math teacher - Buffalo Public Schools, named Assistant Principal of Buffalo Traditional School)
• Mr. Andre C. Smith–1990-1994 (Special Education teacher - Lafayette High School, named Assistant Principal of Millbrook High School)
• Ms. Geraldine Horton–1994-1998 (Administrative Aide - Buffalo Traditional School, named Principal of Seneca Vocational High School)
• Mr. Daniel J. Manley–1995-1997 (unknown, retired)
• Mr. James G. Graczyk (Physical Education teacher - Grover Cleveland High School, named Director of Athletics of Pioneer Central School District)
• Mrs. Lula L. Herring–1998-2003 (unknown, named Assistant Principal of Waterfront Elementary School^[9])
• Ms. Julie L. Horn–1999-2009 (unknown, named Assistant Principal of Lafayette High School^[7])
• Mr. Randy G. Muldrow–2002-2008 (Guidance Counselor - Riverside Institute of Technology, placed on medical leave)
• Ms. Robin Monham–?-2005 (Assistant Principal - Leonardo da Vinci High School, retired)
• Mr. Craig M. Brodnicki–2004-2005 (Mathematics teacher - Lafayette High School,^[10] named Assistant Principal of Opportunity Center at 331^[11])
• Mrs. Denise L. Grochowski-Luka–2007^[12]-2009 (unknown, named Principal of Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet^[7])
• Mr. William A. Boatwright (interim)–2008 (Visiting Lecturer - Medaille College,^[13] named Principal of Harriet Ross Tubman School^[14])
• Dr. Bert Stevenson–2008-2014 (Vice Principal - Burgard High School, named Interim Principal of Bennett High School)
• Mr. Carlos Alvarez–2009-2012 (Business Teacher - Bennett High School, named Acting Principal of Bennett High School)
• Ms. Teena Jackson–2009-2013 (Assistant Director - South Buffalo Charter School, named Acting Principal of Bennett High School)
• Mr. Richard W. Rittling [interim]–2013 (Special Education teacher - Bennett High School, returned to position)
• Ms. Lizzy C. Crispin–2013 (Assistant Principal - Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy, named Assistant Principal of Burgard High School)
• Mr. Daniel J. Bass–2012-2014 (Math teacher - Bennett High School, named Assistant Principal of McKinley Vocational High School)
• Ms. Jamie L. St. John [interim]–2013-2014 (Special Education teacher - Bennett High School, returned to teaching)
• Mrs. Geraldine D. Velez-Lopez [interim]–2014 (Dean of Students - Bennett High School, named Assistant Principal of Highgate Heights Elementary School)
• Mr. Carlos J. Villaroel–2014-2015 (Interim Principal - Frank A. Sedita Academy, retired)
• Dr. Martin E. Lyonga–2014-2016 (Principal - Southwestern Classical Academy, named Assistant Principal of International School)

Selected former administrators

*Denotes interim appointment

Notable alumni

• Michael Bennett (1961), who wrote the Broadway musical A Chorus Line dropped his last name, DiFiglia, when he went to Broadway.
• Sorrell Booke, who played Boss Hogg in the Dukes of Hazard TV show was a 1948 Bennett grad.
• John Elliot (1914–1972), songwriter
• Don Gilbert, CFL player
• Reed Hadley, actor
• Karla F.C. Holloway, James B. Duke Professor of English, Professor of Law, Duke University. Dean, Humanities & Social Sciences. Was Karla Clapp at Bennett, led debate team to state wide championship.
• Catherine Ryan Hyde, novelist, author of Pay It Forward
• Rick James (1948-2004), funk superstar, played in the Bennett High School Band.
• Beverly Johnson, fashion model, was a graduate of Bennett High School. She was the first Black cover model for Vogue (magazine).
• Bob Lanier, Basketball Hall of Famer, graduated from Bennett in 1966
• David Lucas (born David Helfman), music producer and jingle writer, attended Bennett in the 1950s but then transferred to a school in Florida.
• Dick Offenhamer, former University at Buffalo football coach
• Robert E. Rich, Sr., founder of Rich Products Corporation, was the starting center for the Bennett High School football team which lost the 1930 Harvard Cup to South Park 13–2.
• Antoine Thompson, former New York State Senator

Academics

Schedule

School 63, where selected Bennett students were housed while Bennett was renovated.

References

External links

• Buffalo Public Schools homepage
• BHS university community page
• "Thousands say goodbye to 'Super Freak' singer Rick James" article from the August 14, 2004 North County Times
• BHS renovation project to add additional 30,000 square feet (2,800 m²) of space