GothamSchools — daily independent reporting on NYC public schools

MARGIN NOTES

October 23, 2009

New Explorers High School principal passes away suddenly

by Anna Phillips, at 5:45 pm

The principal of New Explorers High School, Denise Simone, passed away last night at the age of 50.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education, Ann Forte, said Simone had been principal of New Explorers, a high school in the Bronx, since January of 2007. Her cause of death is unknown.

Chancellor Joel Klein sent out the following statement:

“Denise Simone was a dynamic and widely loved educator who changed the lives of more than a generation of New York City schoolchildren. Most recently the principal of New Explorers High School in the Bronx, Denise previously taught English-her specialty was Shakespeare-for 23 years at Susan E. Wagner High School in Staten Island, Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, and Seward Park High School in lower Manhattan. She imbued her students with a love for learning and the desire to excel in their studies. On behalf of the Department of Education, I offer my deepest condolences to the New Explorers community and to her family, including her parents, Evelyn and Vincent Simone.”

Forte said that when a school is suddenly left without a principal, the district superintendent will appoint an interim principal while the department begins looking for a replacement.

Print Print
  • Robert

    This is very sad. New Explorers was her heart and soul. Each and every student had a personal relationship with her. How will our school recover?

  • Mitch

    Denise’s commitment to the kids and families she devoted her life to was inspiring. She was a passionate educator through and through as she shared her deep love for literature, theatre and the arts with everyone she could. We’ll really miss her warmth and laughter.

  • http://jd2718.wordpress.com Jonathan

    I know it is off topic, but did Goldstein move? Brighton Beach?

  • JohnJohnson

    This is shocking and came out of nowhere since she was here one day and the next we hear she gone and its like just hit us out of nowhere
    she was a helpful person who always help us and was kind to the students
    and care about a lot of people and we will miss her deeply.

  • JD

    My memories of HS @ Seward would not be complete without Ms. Simone. RIP.

  • Christina Seblano

    Ms. Simone was not only a teacher but a friend. She was my english teacher at Wagner HS. I also worked with her in many school productions and had plenty of after school one on one talks. SHe was an amazing person and will deeply be missed. I will always remember her and everything she had done for me. My deepest condolences go out to her family.

  • Jeff

    Denise Simone’s passing is a profound loss for the New Explorers High School as well as her friends, family, students (past and present) and those of us who were fortunate enough to have worked with her. During the past eight months I’ve spent teaching at New Explorers I found Ms. Simone to be one of the most exceptionally caring, professional and decent administrators that I’ve encountered during my 21 years working for the Board of Education; there is no one like her. She was always there on multiple levels for her students and her staff and her absence from our school will leave an empty space that can never be filled.

  • Iman Simon

    she was a great principal she will be missed greatly. our school will be lost with out her. RIP SIMONE…

  • ebonie pons

    she meant so much to me if not for her i wouldn’t be graduating this year. she helped me overcome so many things in my life. she helped me find the confidence i needed to succeed and for that i am forever grateful to have met and known such a wonderful woman. Ms. Simone i promise you your words and teachings will not go unheard. R.I.P ms.Simone and thank you so much!!

  • M. Jammeh

    We all remember one or two teachers who made an impact on our life and MS. SIMONE was one of them. I thank her for the gift of education she shared with every student. May she rest in peace and for those who are still here make her proud.

  • ASHLEY

    MS SIMONE YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING U HAVE DONE FOR ME I’M VERY THANKFUL!

    RIP MS SIMONE

  • Heaven gained an angel

    Ms Simone was the kindest person I know. She was a wonderful teacher and a great friend and role model. I was a student in high school when I met her and although I was never in her class many of my friends were they lover her too.

    She was always there for me when I felt lost, helped me with my college essay, and wrote letters of recommendation for me. Now Six years after I met her I am half way through medical school and she helped me get here.

    I last saw her one week before she passed and she was the same kind soul and smiling face that I met 6 years ago. She has had a huge impact on my life and my entire family.

    At her wake today the priest said that although she if gone physically she is still among us and it is true she will be with me every day because she has helped me get this far and has touched may students and people. As I write this tears fill my eyes because I will miss her but she will always be with me.

    Her memorial card reads:
    Your Gentle Face

    Your gentle face and patient smile
    With sadness we recall,
    You had a kindly word for each
    And died beloved by all.

    The voice is mute and
    stilled the heart
    “That loved us well and true,
    Ah, bitter was the trial to part
    From one so good as you.

    You are not forgotten loved one
    Nor will you ever be,
    As long as life and memory last
    we will remember thee.

    We miss you now, our hearts are sore,
    As time goes by we miss you more.
    Your loving smile, your gentle face,
    No one can fill your empty place.

    It seems as though it was written for her. I am only comforted by the fact that I know she is now an angel watching over us and that I will someday see her again. Everyday I will miss you Ms. Denise Simone

  • Daisy

    TO MS DENISE SIMONE:
    All though we’ve never met you I feel as though I have known you……I have heard sooo many wonderful things about you…..I know that the kids in the school all love you and have the highest respect for you…..It was so heart breaking to hear that the kids in the school were all so sad when finding out about your passing…..I have seen a recent picture taken of you and I really must say you are such a beautiful woman what a wonderful smile on your face……you look like an angel in the picture you also look so happy and I bet it’s because of the job GOD has chosen for you to do…which was to lead the kids of your school…….I know that whenever you spoke about the kids in the school you always referred to them as your babies…….you really put your whole heart and soul into your job and that’s because you loved what you do, and in this world it’s all that really matters……you remind me so much of my daughter Ms Angelica, your Cheer leading Coach……I want to thank you sooo much from the bottom of my heart for welcoming Ms Angelica with open arms and heart to your school….when I heard of your passing I also cried because all though I did not know you but I felt as if I did, and that’s because Ms Angelica talked to me about how a wonderful person you are and how you would do anything to make these kids happy and how it was very important it was to you that these kids succeeded in school and in life ….. so again THANK YOU for touching so many lives including mine and my Daughter, Ms Angelica……you see these kids also like and respect Ms Angelica, just like they did you………may your family,friends and all your loved ones find strength to deal with your passing…… Rest In Peace Always……DAISY

  • Pingback: explorers | EXPLORER

  • john simone

    Denise was my older sister,I want to thank everyone for the kind words. My sister always talked about her students, she loved you all. She will be missed greatly.

  • Brendalis Cordova

    She meant alot to me Ms.Simone was a great person she always was there when ever i needed her she would tell me to do better in school to keep up with my life. to lift my head up and keep up. Ms Simone was loved in New Explorers High School. She was the best principal we ever had no one can replace her. the school feels really different with out here there . she would always be loved and miss at our school.

    RIP Ms.Simone, love you and would see u soon!

  • Octavio Santos

    I was in disbelief when I learned of her passing away. Denise was a celebration of life. She always had a kind word for everyone and I, as a NYC Teaching Fellow, would always go to her for advise. No matter how busy she was, she would take the time to answer my questions and guide me. I still can’t believe she’s gone. I will have her always in my prayers and I agree with all the previous comments made regarding her warmth and her enthusiasm for all who crossed her path. It was infectious!

  • Anabelle

    I am currently a sophmore in NEHS and when I heard of Ms.Simone Passing I thought that it was all a cruel joke and she would come into my classroom smiling. but as the day went by it slowly started to hit me that ” no this isn’t really a joke, this is real.” That day was filled with tears and loving memories of Ms.Simone. I remeber teachers and students breaking down in the middle of the hallways. I remebered her walking into our class and talking to us about our future. She took the time out of her day to teach us because one of our teachers weren’t there one day. I miss you Ms.Simone and my You Rest in Peace .
    I Love You.

  • Studentx3

    When She Died My School Went Down The Drain , Then To Make It Even More worst Not Even a month later we get a new principle and he tries to change what she made us into by making us move to a new building and trying to make us wear uniform i use to love New Explorers High School but now i just cant stand walking into that building mr.hobson is trying to change MS.SIMONES KIDS into something their not and it makes me sick to my stomach its a terrible lost that we had that day and she we will forever be missed .

Tips, questions, feedback?

Contact us at .

Word from Our Sponsor

Follow GothamSchools

RSS
Subscribe to the daily email digest:

Chalk It Up

Recent Comments

0 comments so far today
View all comments »

Events Calendar

RSS Feeds

Newsroom posts Community posts All GothamSchools content

Archives

May 2013
M T W T F S S
« Apr  
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Copyright Notice