The sole purpose of the developed software was to make things easier for those around him and help the school he so loved. Each program was self contained. That is, no software, other then the operating system, was required. In his free time he listened, and thus learned more about the needs of those charged with performing various tasks. All while he installed and showed others the rudiments of his programs. Thanks to the foresight of Dr. William Doughterty, Clinton was one of the first schools to have computers widely dispersed in various offices.
This provided the perfect backdrop. Within a few years other schools had heard about the "Clinton Programs." Teachers, deans, coaches, department chairs, counselors, etc., found themselves much more effective. That software, combined with the legacy of the Clinton teacher and the dynamic leadership of then principal Norman Wechsler helped earned Clinton a place in the Redbook of 400 best high schools in the country!
Few, if any members of a school staff have the ear of someone who could almost immediately improve the way things were done. These are the ones on the educational front line. Though their voices may not be heard by many effecting change, they are often the ones who see some of what may be missing and really needed. From these unique experiences has his software been written and his understanding forged.
Mr. Bergen started his career as a chemical engineer. His first job was in the new products (think tank) division of a manufacturer of fossil fuel and nuclear power plants. He holds a Master of Engineering (in chemical engineering) from NYU and earned every credit required for a Ph.D.
A career change evolved when he entered teaching to support himself during his graduate studies. In addition to teaching math he has been chess coach, boy's varsity soccer coach, boy's junior varsity basketball coach, Alumni Coordinator, math director for special education, and school store advisor. After retirement he did some consulting work at a few other City high schools. There he gained additional insight, and saw, first hand, how different ideas and needs can dramatically change a school's routines.
Through his association with General Reproduction Products he currently has 14 programs on the City's approved software list. City schools can order these items, as site licenses, directly through the Fastrack system.
Mr. Bergen can provide insight, advise, and software to assist a school systems' staff. The purpose, as always is to make staff more efficient in their effort to reach and assist students and their parents. Over the past 14 years he has devoted his time to both help and listen to hundreds of people working in New York City's school system.
Consider a big wrench and a small one. It might be too difficult to start with the big wrench, for the resources to use it one might not muster. If your school school can't realistically reach every truant, how about reaching every student under 15 who was absent between 10 and 30 days in the last two months and print out a letter to their parents. Can each counselor edit the letter within the program? Of course. The address is printed so that it is placed in a see through envelope and you can optionally include report card grades. And all this savings of time gives staff the ability to eventually find the time to reach a bigger portion of those with needs. Finally, resources are there to use the wrench. Surely educators are interested in helping turn young lives around, to save money, and instill respect for school property. If you would like to know more about having this kind of capability with your school's data, and/or draw on the wealth of Mr. Bergen's experience you may contact him at edusoft@highschoolsoftware.info