Norman K. Spencer, 80, longtime educator
He led two public high schools and the Berean Institute.
EDUCATIONAL institutions in Philadelphia knew when Norman Spencer had been with them.
Norman had an impact as potent as a punch on public schools and on a private institution that trained minority students for the job market.
How about what he did for Benjamin Franklin High School, of which he was principal from 1982 to 1993? The dropout rate plunged. It had soared to 60 percent in 1982 and dropped to 10 percent by 1989.
How did he do it? Mostly by getting the students interested in learning. He established six innovative learning centers that emphasized self-esteem building and employability via a specialized, career-oriented curriculum.
And if a kid didn't show up for school, the parents or caregivers could expect a call from the school to find out what was going on.
Student violence dropped wherever he was, because Norman wouldn't put up with it.
Norman K. Spencer, who held a number of teaching and administrative positions with the Philadelphia School District; was the retired president of the former Berean Institute, which was an important part of the African American community since 1899; and an active fraternity brother and Mason and devoted family man, died Monday of complications from cancer. He was 80 and lived in Mount Airy.
Before taking the reins at Ben Franklin, Norman had been principal of Jay Cooke Junior High School since 1976.
"He reformed Jay Cooke and Ben Franklin by reducing violence and promoting academic achievement," his family wrote in a tribute.
At Ben Franklin, he pioneered the use of student ID cards and closed-circuit TV for surveillance.
He established school wellness clinics to provide primary health care for students through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Philadelphia HMO Collaborative. He also started child-care centers for students with children and added courses in child development.
"He got to see a long life," said his son, Norman K. Spencer II. "He had a big heart, a heart he shared with his students, his friends, his coworkers, his fraternity brothers, Masonic brothers, the world and most of all his family. He was a great man, not just in my eyes but in the eyes of everyone he touched."
Norman Spencer was born in Philadelphia to Elder Melvin A. Spencer and Estelle J. Spencer. He graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1953, and went on to Tennessee A&I State University, now Tennessee State University, from which he graduated in 1957.
"He viewed his collegiate years as both an integral part and transformative time in his life," his family said.
As a student, Norman was a member of the history, geography and Spanish honor societies, and became active in the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Alpha Theta Chapter.
Norman continued his education after returning to Philadelphia. He earned a certificate in student support counseling from the Temple University School of Psychiatric Medicine in 1967. He received a master's degree in counseling psychology from Temple in 1969, an intergroup-specialist certificate from Boston University in 1972 and secondary principal certification from Temple in 1976.
In 1979, he received a doctorate in educational leadership from Florida's Nova University (now Nova Southeastern University). He received a superintendent's letter of eligibility from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990.
Norman began his career with the Philadelphia School District in September 1957 as a substitute teacher. In 1960, he became a full-time social-studies teacher. He became a counselor in 1967, acting vice principal in 1969, and integration specialist in 1970. He was an administrative assistant to the late school board member Ruth W. Hayre in 1973, and administrative assistant to the late John A. Frangipani, a district superintendent.
Norman then moved on to run Jay Cooke in 1976, and Ben Franklin in 1982.
He retired from the School District in 1993 and assumed the presidency of the Berean Institute.
"As president, he transformed Berean Institute into a 21st century postsecondary and associate-degree-granting institution," his family said.
He greatly expanded the curriculum for the institute, which was sold in July to Philadelphia Technical Training Institute and became Philadelphia Technician Training at Berean. Among annual programs he started were the Technology Fair, the Living American History Wall of Fame, Law Day, the Women Recognition Program, and Hair Expo.
He retired in 2006.
Over the years, Norman often was heard on the radio discussing educational matters on WDAS-AM/FM and WURD-AM. He appeared on Schools on Trial on ABC, and produced "Blackboard Violence Teacher Safety 101."
Norman began his Masonic activities in 1985, and became a 33d degree Mason. He was a member of the Union League.
Besides his son, he is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rosemary W. Spencer; sons Sidney M. Spencer and John W. Spencer; and seven grandchildren.
Services: Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church, 6611 Ardleigh St. Friends may call at 8:30 a.m. Burial will be in Ivy Hill Cemetery.
215-854-5573