WPCNR School Days. By John F. Bailey. August 17, 2004: The Board of Education voted 5-0 Monday evening to approve the hiring of Ivan Toper of New City, New York as the new Principal of White Plains High School. Mr. Toper was to begin his new assignment this morning. Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors described Mr. Toper  as “a strong leader with great communications skills, with a passion for learning,” and as an educator with over 30 years of experience.

Ivan Topper. New Principal of White Plains High School, waiting to be introduced at the Board of Education Meeting Monday evening. Photo by WPCNR News

Mr. Toper comes to White Plains from having turned around Lincoln High School in Yonkers after taking over as Principal of that troubled high school in September 2000. Using a combination of student-parent-teacher involvement he was able to improve the performance of the school to the point where it was removed from the State Education Department Schools Under Registration Review list in three years. Toper is described as having been a “father-figure” to many of his students there.

WPCNR asked how he created the atmosphere at Lincoln that produced the turnaround in academic performance, a school that has an 80% minority enrollment.

“I think one of the things we have to understand, is teamwork is critical,” Toper told WPCNR. “You have to understand what the issues are. You have to work with the team, and you have to focus on what is that your outcomes are. As long as you collaborate and coordinate what you’re doing, you tend to be successful.”

He stressed another condition for success in improving performance: “I think the other thing is, I was highly visible. I think what’s critical, and what  Mr. Connors spoke to me about was visibility, and at a high school like White Plains, that’s essential. Last but not least, I think that we have to be sensitive to the needs of all students and the community as well. By being sensitive to everyone’s needs and addressing them to the best of our abilities, I think we can provide.”

WPCNR asked how he came to White Plains, “I was recruited. I knew somebody who worked in the district who made me aware of it. I was not initially interested, and after being asked several times, I met with Mr. Connors, and I just fell in love with the district and the opportunity to be here.”

Asked what he expected to do on Day 1 at WPHS, the affable Toper said “I couldn’t predict what it will be like, but I’m excited to be here. I’m looking forward to meeting whoever is available to meet with me.”

Addressing the Board of Education, Toper said he felt White Plains High School was "a place where people can make a difference, " that he hoped "to make it what it should be."

Toper also served as Principal of Yonkers Evening School; Yonkers Mark Twain Junior High School, a roving Principal, organizing staff development throughout the Yonkers School District. Prior to the roving Principal assignment he was Principal of two elementary schools in Yonkers, an Assistant Principal. He began with the Yonkers District in 1969 as a Math Teacher at Emerson Middle School, where he taught for six years.

He is a graduate of City College of New York (1969) with a B.A. in Mathematics. He earned his Masters of Science in Mathematics from CCNY in 1975, his Masters of Science in Education from Manhattan College in 1982.

The Jewish Council of Yonkers honored as Educator of the Year in 2004. Prior to this recognition, he was named Administrator of the Year by  the North Yonkers Rotary Club in 1996. He is a frequent speaker at state conferences on education.