Dr Mojica: Why and how did you
come up with this historic idea?
Dan: When I was a kid there were
three specialized high schools in
NYC: Brooklyn Tech, Bronx Science
and Stuyvesant. You had to take a test
to get in. We used to say they were for
the smart kids. Now, you have about
18 specialized high schools: for advertising,
American history, nursing, so
I said to myself, what about an entire
school for basketball, BUT not merely
for the playing of the game.
Dr Mojica: What do you mean by
that?
Dan: Basketball is ‘THE City
Game,’ and thousands of boys and
girls love it, eat it up, but not everyone
can play in the NBA. So what.
The game is filled with all sorts of
other future professions, but nobody
embraces young students to expose
and teach them ‘full time,’ about how
to get a head start, to fall in love,
to learn. A 9th grader may dream
about being a broadcaster, a coach,
a reporter, a nutritionist, a physical
therapist, an owner, agent, psychologist,
designer, lawyer for a team or a
network or the players association. I
know I did, so now is the time. Today
is our moment. It’s been an eight year
effort, and we open our doors in the
Bronx in
September for our first freshman
class of 110 lucky boy’s and girls!
Dr Mojica: Why did you decide
upon the Bronx?
Dan: Thats funny in a way because
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, a
product of public schools, Lincoln,
thru and thru. But, cmon, the Bronx
is the place to be now, and people are
beginning to see it, feel it, and invest
in it. And then I met so many folks
who work in non for profits in different
communities, their passion was
infectious. They reminded me of my
mother, my neighborhood, the same
hopes and dreams for their children,
thru education, I fell in CK love. I still
get lost, which would to this day never
happen in Brooklyn, but I’ll figure it
out
Dr Mojica: You directed many
great films, but both you and Earl
Monroe won the prestigious Peabody
Award for ‘Black Magic,’ about the
civil rights movement told thru the
lives of players and coaches from Historical
Black Colleges and Universities
only. What does’social justice’
then mean to you?
Dan: That’s a critical question.
Your running the day to day of the
school, let me pass it back to Kern.
You tell me?
Dr Mojica: Sure, social justice occurs
when we acknowledge the inequities
that revolve around education
and privilege in society. We will address
this by providing our students
and families with a sense of belonging
and empowerment and do everything
we can to cultivate skills and educate
the whole child.
Dan: I agree completely. So what
role will the school play with the families
of our students?
Dr Mojica: We have to be partners
in order to create and implement
a support structure. Families and
educators are committed to working
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M 28 ARCH 19-25, 2021 BTR
together, or have to be committed to
consistently address mutual support.
Dan: What are the special programs
boys, girls, families will love
because of our hugely progressive and
creative approach?
Dr Mojica: This is hugely exciting
stuff: a one on one full time in house
mentoring program in which every
single child is matched with a singular
mentor from the private sector, an
extensive internship program for all
students in their desired career paths,
a college and career counselor beginning
year two... usually that process
starts when kids are juniors, the Ben
Jobe Scholarship Fund, in which we
will provide financial assistance for
college tuition. I go back to our philosophy
which is based upon the future
of education... creativity and execution
of your new ideas matter. Hey
Dan, I have a question for you?
Dan: Sure.
Dr Mojica: Of course, David Stern,
the legendary NBA commissioner was
our lead Trustee. I know his death
hurt you and us on many levels. Has
Adam Silver and the league been as
supportive of our mission since then?
Dan: You can’t get better. I’m
friends, close friends with Adam
for about 25/30 years. He and Kathy
Behrens believe in our mission, completely.
Look at our Board for a second,
Paul Hirshheimer heads NBA
entertainment, Marv Albert, Val Ackerman,
the first commissioner of the
WNBA, Russ Granik, the hall of fame
former deputy commissioner, Bill
Bradley, Nate Archibald, Mike Greenberg
from ESPN, the brilliant Philadelphia
legend, Sonny Hill.
These are serious people with
strong NBA pedigrees. Oh, and my
man, Wes, the exec board of the
Knicks... that guy has helped more
young people who cherish the game
as anyone I know.
Dr Mojica: Amazing. When is the
lottery for students, and what’s the cut
off date for them to register?
Dan: Our lottery is on april 6th. The
cut off date is April 3rd. Students and
families can get the registration form by
going on our site, earlmonroeschool.org
Dr Mojica: They should get their
quickly. We have 110 slots each year,
for boys and girls
Dan: Let me ask you one final
question, what is your definition of
‘success?’
Dr Mojica: That’s a good question:
success is a measure of progress,
not an endpoint. We are on
a journey that we continually improve
each day. When we open our
doors in September, we will meet
each students needs at their current
level of learning, and support them
wholeheartedly. We will open new
opportunities to which they would
not have access .
Dan: It’s a journey as you say,
and a fight. I love the commitment
we’re making to children with special
needs too
Dr Mojica: That’s right Dan. We
will implement instructional practices
to meet all student’s needs, and
have a number of dual certified special
education teachers.
BRONX – R E N A I S SANCE BASKE TBAL L S C H O O L
Q and A Between Dan Klores, the founder of the
Earl Monroe Néw Renaissance Basketball School,
and Dr. Kern Mojica, the school principal
Dan Klores, is the founder of the
school. He is a Peabody Award winning
filmmaker, and playwright. He is
also the founder of the New REN’s
nationally renowned AAU basketball
program.
Dr. Kern Mojica, Principal of the Earl
Monroe New Renaissance Basketball
School earned a Doctorate in Computer
Science from Pace University and
Advanced Certificates as a School
Building and District Leadership.
Lottery is April 6th
Cut off date is April 3rd
/earlmonroeschool.org