[Cambodian] Asian named as South Philadelphia High's assistant principal

By Jeff Gammage
The Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer

Kimlime Chek-Taylor, a veteran Philadelphia educator of Cambodian descent, has been named assistant principal at troubled South Philadelphia High School, fulfilling Superintendent Arlene Ackerman's earlier notice that she would name an Asian to the post.

Chek-Taylor was previously dean of students at John Taggart, a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school.

She immigrated to this country as a child with her family, learning to speak English through school classes, a life experience that mirrors those of many Asian students at South Philadelphia High.

New principal Otis Hackney said he wanted Chek-Taylor on his staff to broaden the diversity of the school leadership, but even more because of her ability and experience.

"It wasn't for optics," Hackney said. "It was for substance."

Chek-Taylor is bilingual, speaking both English and Khmer, the Cambodian language. She graduated from Easton (Pa.) High School. Efforts to reach her were unsuccessful.

She joins a school still recovering from a period of accelerated violence that culminated on Dec. 3, when 30 Asian students were attacked by groups of mostly African American classmates during a daylong series of assaults. The violence made national headlines and spurred three investigations.

This week, Ackerman announced a series of changes planned for Southern, as the school is known, including a program run by Asian Arts Initiative, an in-school center for new immigrants, and classes offering Chinese language instruction. She also said she would appoint an Asian assistant principal.

Several leaders of the city's Asian community responded with doubt. Arts programs are fine, they suggested, but the school needs to focus on anti-Asian violence and harassment.

Helen Gym, a board member of Asian Americans United, said Thursday that she was not impressed by Chek-Taylor's appointment.

"I'm not as concerned about the race of someone as I am about whether they can address the problems at the school," she said. "We don't need to be pandered to."

School District officials declined to respond to Gym's comments.

Hackney said he drove the conversation that led to Chek-Taylor's assignment, although ranking district officials made the decision.

"When I was told she was coming on board, I was really excited," he said. Her life story will be an example of immigrant success to students and "help with my own understanding" of the challenges faced by newcomers.

South Philadelphia High serves many students from China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and other Asian countries whose families have settled in the neighborhood in increasing numbers. The school is about 70 percent African American and 18 percent Asian.

Contact staff writer Jeff Gammage at 215-782-3146 or jgammage@phillynews.com.