NYC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PRINCIPALS WIN CAHN FELLOWSHIPS One-Third of 2008-2009 Cahn Fellows Trained at the NYC Leadership Academy
New York, N.Y. Mar. 31, 2008: The Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished New York City Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University has named 24 New York City school principals as Cahn Fellows. Eight of these newly named Cahn Fellows began their careers as school leaders in NYC Leadership Academy programs.
Founded through the vision and generosity of Charles and Jane Cahn in 2002, the highly-selective Cahn Fellows Program is the only program in New York City specifically designed to support the growth of exemplary school leaders. The program selects principals with a proven track record of high or markedly improved student academic performance, who have implemented innovative school programs and who demonstrate intellectual curiosity. The 15-month program affords Fellows the opportunity to influence their educational practice through a two-week Summer Leadership Institute and five half-day study sessions and each mentors a new or aspiring NYC school principal.
“The school leaders selected as Cahn Fellows represent the top two percent of principals in the system and are exhaustively screened by the selection committee,” said Krista Dunbar, Director of the Cahn Fellows Program; over 13% of New York City principals have gone through the Program either as Fellows or as mentees. “I am not surprised that so many in our cohort this year have come through the NYC Leadership Academy programs and through this Fellowship they will be able to further strengthen their leadership skills while mentoring other, less experienced or aspiring New York City principals.”
The NYC Leadership Academy, a central element of New York City’s sweeping educational reform agenda, is a not-for-profit organization established by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein to recruit, prepare and support transformational school leaders. The Leadership Academy offers comprehensive leadership development and support to aspiring principals through its Aspiring Principals Program (APP). Today, 13% of New York City public school principals are APP graduates. The Leadership Academy also offers one-on-one coaching and leadership development to all early-career principals in New York City through its New Principal Support (NPS) and New School Intensive (NSI). Some of these coaches are Cahn Fellows Program alumni. More than a third of current principals are enrolled in these early-career support programs.
Dr. Sandra J. Stein, CEO of the NYC Leadership Academy, stated: “We congratulate each of the Cahn Fellows for their impressive achievements and are pleased that eight of them have received training and support at the NYC Leadership Academy. We believe our programs and unique approach help school leaders leverage their vision, commitment and a complex set of skills to the critical work of school leadership; whether it is strengthening a school community or building one from the ground up. While these Fellows lead very different schools, they share a common purpose in that they are dedicated to maximizing the potential of every child and closing the achievement gap.”
The eight new Cahn Fellows who trained at the NYC Leadership Academy are:
- • Lottie Almonte, Principal of Performing Arts and Technology High School, NPS participant
- • John Barnes, Principal of The Bronx School of Science Inquiry and Investigation, APP graduate and NSI participant
- • Rafaela Espinal, Principal of P.S. 147 Issac Remsen, APP graduate and NPS participant
- • Donna Finn, Principal of Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School, Participant in New Principals on Boarding Program (precursor to NPS)
- • Tanya Lippold John, Principal of (High School for Violin and Dance, APP graduate and NSI participant
- • Margaret Russo, Principal of P.S. 160 William T. Sampson, Participant in New Principals on Boarding Program (precursor to NPS)
- • Buffie Simmons-Peart, Principal of I.S. 211 John Wilson, APP graduate
• James Waslawski, Principal of P.S. 279 Captain Manuel Rivera, Jr., APP graduate
The Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished New York City Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University is committed to recognizing outstanding NYC principals and providing them with opportunities for professional, intellectual and, personal growth. Charles & Jane Cahn founded the Program with the belief that, in recognizing and supporting excellence, one could help an entire system to rise. The Program enables Fellows to become even more effective principals while leveraging their talents to support less experienced and aspiring school principals. For more information about The Cahn Fellows Program, please visit the program's website at www.cahnfellows.org.
Contact info: Krista Dunbar, director 212/678-8204 dunbar@tc.edu Catie Marshall, NYC Leadership Academy cmarshall5@schools.nyc.gov