What Educators are Saying

"Dr. Fibkins’ special strength is the manner in which he deals with students individually as well as in groups. He provides a problem solving methodology for students to deal with drugs, alcohol, smoking, personal problems, and family problems. The list of problems that the students bring to him as Student Assistance Counselor also include pressure for college admissions, pressure from school testing and college entrance exams, class rank, poor performance in school, self-esteem, suicide, loss, problems with the legal system, well-being and health problems such as eating disorders, separation anxiety, failure and failed dreams and hopes, re-entry to home, community and school after rehabilitation for drugs, alcohol, and eating disorders, and physical and emotional abuse issues. He deals with each of these issues in a sensitive and supportive way. He has also developed a five-hour-a-day smoking intervention program to help students reduce/stop smoking, and a 48 hour program to help students reduce/stop use of alcohol and drugs on weekends, and has served as a trainer for our student advisory program. He has had a huge impact on the entire student body, teacher and support staff, parents, and our administrative staff."

From Thomas F. Heinegg, principal, Northport Middle School, Northport, N. Y. Mr. Heinegg is a former principal of Shoreham-Wading River High School, Shoreham, NY, where Dr. Fibkins founded the Student Assistance program.

"In my opinion Dr. Fibkins personifies the consummate educator: inquiring, proactive and accountable. Over his career Dr. Fibkins has been willing to invest his energy in building and maintaining supportive organizations while building skills in students and professionals. He made important contributions to the Suffolk County Legislative Committee on Child Abuse as well as other professional and educational organizations within New York State. His books and articles expand and extend his commitment to schools, students, and parents. His research topics are as absorbing as his observational skills are acute. Dr. Fibkins respects learning and remains willing to work tirelessly for education reform and better understanding of children’s needs for their healthy developments. I particularly admire him for his interest in and willingness to write and present about overlooked and ignored educational concerns: adolescent pregnancy, teacher sexual misconduct, defiant behaviors among others. I believe one of Dr. Fibkins greatest strengths is his ability to get along with people, particularly teenagers. Their histrionics neither threaten him nor put him off. He is able and willing to negotiate with them while focusing on their future and responsibilities. An equal strength of Dr. Fibkins is his ability to articulate his ideas and values with clarity, enticing others to join their beliefs and experience to his. Together these skills are formidable and inform his writings and presentation. Dr. Fibkins values others for who they are rather than what they are saying. He is purposeful, motivated, and eager to contribute to the well-being of youngsters, and by extension, to the public schools."

From Martha M. Mobley, Ph.D. Director of the Teaching Performance Center, College of Education, Kean University, Union, NJ

"I have always found Dr. Fibkins to be a persevering, productive person who committed himself fully to all aspects of any given involvement such as founder of our school-based teacher center, a collaboration with Stony Brook University. He is, by nature, an optimist who strives constantly to improve the human endeavor. Dr. Fibkins appears to hold himself personally responsible for improving the welfare of the less fortunate. In Bay Shore he had ample opportunity to demonstrate this. We are a community with a high percentage of foster children and impoverished families. His understanding and his experience with children from all backgrounds were definite assets from which our students and staff benefited. I know of few persons who are as capable as Dr. Fibkins in being able to help others, children and adults as well. Dr. Fibkins is a warm, sincere person who exemplifies a style of leadership that is both effective and unique. He is able to assess a given situation and then work with those involved to collectively plan and implement any needed improvements or changes. This skill was most evident during the time Dr. Fibkins developed the Teacher Center here at Bay Shore. It was a nationally recognized successful project that contributed directly to the development of our staff and to the implementation of our curriculum and educational goals. As building principal I was able to observe the transition of our building staff from a more self-involved faculty to one in which rich interpersonal relations flourished. Within this climate of mutual acceptance and caring, staff members worked together closely in providing for the personal, social, and educational needs of their students. It is indeed a compliment that the fruits of his endeavors continue to sustain. Finally Dr. Fibkins has always appreciated the necessity and importance of maintaining close school-community relationships and involvement in community affairs. He played a leadership role in helping bringing racial balance to our schools. Dr. Fibkins was also instrumental in the development of the Bay Shore Resource Network that served to join school and community resources in order to improve the quality of life for all Bay Shore citizens and children. This was another nationally recognized model program which helped our citizens to focus on the success of our school district rather than problems, and to pass our school budgets. Dr. Fibkins deserves great credit for his risk-taking ideas, proposals, and implementation, overcoming great initial resistance from fellow administrators, staff, parents, and community members. His steady hand, optimism, courage, and persistence helped move our school-community beyond rancor into mutual respect and inclusion. Thanks to his efforts we became doers and collaborators rather than complainers sitting on the sidelines."

George G. Forbes, former principal of Bay Shore Middle School, Bay Shore, NY. Dr. Fibkins founded the Bay Shore Public School-Stony Brook University Teacher Center training program at the school as well as serving as student assistance counselor.