Teachers: Turning Potential into Progress
Teachers for the school are also selectively chosen. Hans credits Exodus teachers as being highly intelligent, very flexible, energetic, loyal, and passionate outside of the classroom, inferring that they have to not mind going the "extra mile" for the kids. Another facet commonly seen in the Exodus staff is a solid educational background.

"Our teachers come from very good colleges and universities as it's a proven fact that students' achievement is tied to the educational [equivalency] of their teachers."

"You'll have a Harvard graduate telling you that you can do the same things that they've done, or even better, and then teaching you how to. That helps," says the grandmother of one Exodus student.

Tuition for this school is $100 dollars a month. If the parents of a student find it difficult or beyond their financial capability to pay the tuition, they then have the choice of helping out around the school to make up the balance.

The Future of Exodus House: Hopes of Expansion
More than a financial issue, there's an issue of space. By 2003, Hans says, they'd like to have a drastic augment in finances to expand the school. "I'd like to add in a residential sector for students who need it." Ideally, the school would like to have more students, no more than 130, because "we can do the same with more kids." They'd also like to expand their outdoor program, instead of being surrounded by city concrete.

Reflecting on the future of Exodus House, Hans Hageman goes to say with as much of a fervor of any hero, "We're not going to give up. We're giving kids who need a chance -- a chance. Everyday a student needs me. I don't look at this as charitable work, I look at it as an INVESTMENT. These kids are looked at as deprived and depraved. [That's a stereotype.]"

Hans sees the future Exodus House as bigger, and better in its reach to a larger number of students. His only regret in the school is that they can't service more kids. For the fortuned few who are accepted, they're nearly guaranteed a great leverage into a world today that can so oftenly seem imbalanced for young minorities.

"There were 600 children vying for 5 spots in 5th grade," he says. The school is in dire need of financial assistance to expand. However, the school doesn't have the money to expand. For those students who are here, Hageman hopes that they walk out at the end of each school day knowing "that they can deal with and do anything...that it may have been difficult, but the love is always there. They'll always be loved and cared for."

In an area in East Harlem that's been referred to as the worst neighborhood in New York City, only a few blocks from the wealthy Upper East Side of Manhattan, Hans and Ivan Hageman have done what many have deemed impossible. Asked if he has any regrets about leaving behind a prestigious law career, Hans says no. 'Detect your mission" says Hans. "These kids...they're my source of pride."

For more information on East Harlem School at Exodus House:
check out their website at www.ehseh.com
or call them at 212-876-8775

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(Editor's Note: Since production of this story, Hans Hageman has since acquired the position of Executive Director at Boys Harbor,a non-profit multi-service educational youth agency with a history of 64 years of service to the children and families of East Harlem, Central Harlem, and the Bronx. He still offers his time and passion as executive director at Harlem School at Exodous, however.)

| YWLS | Thea Bowman | Harlem School at Exodus |