Message from the Principal

Welcome to WHEELS!

Whenever we have visitors in the building who are trying to get a sense of the school, they invariably ask the question “What’s your favorite thing about WHEELS?” The answer I hear most often is “WHEELS is family.” As a Pre-K through 12 school, we have the opportunity to create and nurture strong bonds with our students. In fact, many of our rising seniors have been with us since kindergarten, and families often have multiple siblings enrolled across the school. Launched in 2006 with the goal of increasing college access in Washington Heights, WHEELS still has founding staff members in the building. Several WHEELS alumni have returned to teach here. I have been at WHEELS since 2010 and am proud to call it my home.

WHEELS believes in the power and potential of our children. We show our respect for students by challenging them intellectually, planning engaging work, and giving them meaningful feedback that moves them forward. As an Expeditionary Learning school and a member of the NYC Outward Bound Schools network, we believe that our students do some of their best learning outside the building, whether that’s in the Washington Heights community, all around New York City, or way out in the woods. That learning is not complete until students can share what they know with authentic audiences. Sometimes that audience includes WHEELS families attending culminating events. Other times, it includes experts in the field attending scientific presentations or presiding over mock trials.

Teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff at WHEELS are constantly working on their practice and thinking about how we can do school better. This spirit of continuous learning is at the heart of our ongoing professional development. Students and families provide feedback about what they love about WHEELS and where they think we can grow. It’s thrilling to work in a place that is always moving toward excellence. I hope that as you explore our website, you get a sense of this spirit. I’m honored to be here doing this work with the WHEELS family every day.

Continuamos,

Jon Koenig