David V. Bouie
David V. Bouie, a school developer with a background in education and psychology, has been appointed the new principal of the Henrietta G. Lewis Campus School. Located at Wyndham Lawn Home for Children in Lockport, the Campus School helps youths with emotional and behavioral problems. It is a program of New Directions Youth and Family Services. “He comes to us with a good deal of experience working with at-risk youth,” said James Coder, chief executive officer of New Directions. “He sets very high standards in academic performance and success and has great sensitivity to the needs of our students.”
Bouie (pronounced BOO-ee) was most recently a school developer in the Washington, D.C., area for Imagine Schools, Inc., a charter school development company. He developed and was principal of the Buffalo United Charter School, an elementary school that has made great academic progress. He was also developer and principal of Southside Academy Charter School in Syracuse and the Family Learning Center, an alternative and adult education school, in Rochester.
Bouie was a counselor in the Rochester City School District and a classroom instructor with the Urban League of Rochester. He holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Grambling State University and a master’s in counseling education from Brockport State College, as well as certification in school and district administration from Brockport. He also has experience as a middle school principal in New York City. Bouie said he grew up on the west side of Rochester “fighting, fussing and stealing— doing the same crazy things these kids do. There were a whole lot of times that a whole lot of people told me I would not amount to anything.”
He was able to prove those folks wrong with the help of “two good parents, a couple of good teachers and the grace of God.
“I’m trying to ‘pay it forward,’” he explained, referring to the idea popularized by the book and movie of that name. When someone helps you out, instead of trying to pay them back, you “pay it forward” by helping someone else. “We have to help these students understand they’re vital human beings,” Bouie said. “That’s our duty; that’s our calling.”Bouie is impressed by the openness and friendliness of the staff. “The staff really seems to care about the kids and each other,” he said. “It seems to be a cohesive body working together.” He also remarked on the cleanliness of the school. His plans for next year include improving communication between the school and residential staff.
The job at the Campus School allows Bouie to get back into school work after dealing with the business end of schools. It also puts him closer to his daughter, Davina, 10, who lives in Rochester. A steadfast Buffalo Bills fan, Bouie is also glad to be back in the area to cheer on his team, though even when he lived in Baltimore and New York City, he was able to find places where Bills fans gathered.
March 2007
