Danza made the grade as a teacher

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

When former sitcom star Tony Danza began teaching English at a Philadelphia high school, no one really knew what to expect. Not even Tony Danza.

Certainly school officials were holding their breath after the district greenlighted “Teach,” an A&E reality show premiering Friday that chronicles Danza’s year at the head of a class.

Danza, with no teaching experience, was enthusiastic but overwhelmed when filming began last fall at Northeast High School. His students seemed excited but puzzled; some had no idea who he was. (“Wasn’t he in, like, ‘Cheers’?” one teen asks in the first episode. Um, no.)

While critics contended that education was being sacrificed to benefit the actor best known for “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss?”, students and administrators say “Mr. D” ended up making the grade.

“You’re hoping that all the new teachers grow the same way he did,” Assistant Principal Sharon McCloskey said.

“Teach” comes at a time when education reform is a huge topic in public policy and popular culture, from President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top grant program to major film documentaries such as “Waiting for ‘Superman’” and “Race to Nowhere.”

Danza underwent weeks of prep and new-teacher orientation before starting at Northeast, a diverse 3,400-student public high school in a blue-collar neighborhood. His class of 26 sophomores ran the gamut from jocks and divas to brains and immigrants.

Initially, it’s rough going for the boss of Room 230. Danza talks too much and gets corrected by a student in front of the class. He deals with cheating and violence, meets with parents of obstinate students, and tries to balance discipline with empathy — all while teaching “Of Mice and Men” and other books to teens with varying academic abilities.

At the end of the year, students issued their own report cards on Danza. They largely praised him, citing everything from his lessons on “To Kill a Mockingbird” to his caring attitude and positive outlook on life.