The distinguished educator Frank N. Mickens believes, "No matter who you are, you want the same things for your kid. Whether you're in Buffalo or Brooklyn, you want a good academic and a safe environment for your kid."

In the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant, one of New York City's toughest neighborhoods, Frank N. Mickens is principal of Boys and Girls High School, the 17th largest high school in America with a student population of 4,000. In 1984 Boys and Girls High School was characterized as the worst school in the city, plagued by chronic truancy, rampant school-related violence, and an atmosphere of disorder, disrespect and lack of security. Fifteen years later under Frank Mickens' leadership, 85% of Boys and Girls High School graduates are college bound while Mr. Mickens continues his relentless campaign to sustain and improve educational excellence, self-esteem, and safety at Boys and Girls High School.

Born and raised in Bedfort Stuyvesant, Frank Mickens is a product of New York City public schools. After graduating from Erasmus Hall High School in 1964, he majored in History at the State University of New York at Potsdam and received his Masters Degree from New York University. Mr. Mickens completed post graduate work at Columbia University and attended the Principals' Center at Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 1992 Medgar Evers College awarded him an Honorary Degree of Letters.

A man of vision who believes so strongly in young people that they sense his care and love for them, Frank Mickens speaks about effective schools, educational standards, and how to improve schools internally. He talks straight talk about what it took to turn Boys and Girls High School around, "Assemble a few good people who believe in your vision to get schools moving and take action rather than having meetings and producing reports."

During 30 years as an educator in the New York City public schools system, Frank Mickens has served in the positions of teacher, dean, basketball coach, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. The New York Times has featured him six times in its Metropolitan section and in the New York Times Magazine. He has appeared on CNN, the Today Show, The McCreary Report, and the MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour with Charlayne Hunter Gault regarding his initiatives for young people. In July 1998 he spoke at the Chautauqua Institution to a packed crowd of professional educators who gave him a standing ovation.

Mr. Mickens is the author of the acclaimed handbook, "It Doesn't have To Be This Way" and produced the video, "Whose Kids? Our Kids: Urban Education That Works."

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