After Stormy Exit
Sunny Weather For New Tech Principal

By HOWARD MEGDAL

Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein Oct. 12 officially installed Randy Asher as Principal of Brooklyn Technical High School, whose previous leader, Lee W. McCaskill, resigned earlier this year amid evidence that he had falsified residency information.

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James A PRINCIPAL GROWS IN BROOKLYN: Former Brooklyn Tech Assistant Principal Randy Asher (right) is formally installed as the School's new Principal by Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein during a ceremony Oct. 12.

Mr. Asher was praised in all corners during and after the ceremony at the high school. He had assumed the duties on an acting basis seven months earlier.

UFT Believes in Asher

"All of us are rooting for Randy Asher," United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said. "We believe he and the staff can and will do great things."

Mr. Asher declined to comment specifically on the tenure of Mr. McCaskill, whose time was marked by many disagreements with faculty, eventually triggering a protest last year demanding his ouster.

"Although I can theorize about what happened, I wasn't here," Mr. Asher, who at the time was Principal of the High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at the City College of New York. "But we have a strong staff, good students, and we're going to accomplish a lot together."

He drew praise from new Teacher Nicole Byrne Lau, who joined the school after being fired by her charter school for asking to see a UFT salary chart.

'He Genuinely Cares'

"I love it here, and I love him," said Ms. Lau, whose father, Joseph, is a Tech alum Class of '56. "He seems to genuinely care about the Teachers. I could walk into his office any time and talk to him."

Mr. Asher stressed openness, calling for "a school of no obstacles. My job is to overcome any obstacles impeding their progress to be coming the pre-eminent math, science and technology school in the country."

The enthusiastic reception stood in stark contrast to the many complaints regarding Mr. McCaskill, who was ultimately forced out in February after the Special School Commissioner of Investigation, Richard J. Condon, determined that he had provided a false Brooklyn address in order to avoid paying tuition for his children to attend city schools. Mr. McCaskill resigned in exchange for DOE agreeing not to bring disciplinary charges.

Joseph Lau hadn't been to the school in the 50 years since he graduated, leaving him free of any negative feelings about past regimes. On this night, he couldn't have been prouder of his daughter - or his alma mater.

"It seems like lifetimes," Mr. Lau said. "But I was happy for Nicole because it is the best school - the pinnacle of everything a school should be."