During her 38 years in education, Ilene Friedman has been a teacher, guidance counselor, public school principal, district-level educational administrator, and university instructor. Ms. Friedman was named Vice President of the Leadership Academy’s Aspiring Principals Program after serving as program faculty for two years. In her current role she oversees the development and implementation of standards based curriculum and a pre service program that prepares graduates to take on the realities of the principalship. Prior to joining the Leadership Academy she was the principal of PS 40, a Manhattan elementary school recognized by the Chancellor as one of the City’s top 200 schools, and identified as an outstanding school in New York City’s Best Public Elementary Schools: A Parents Guide. During her tenure, she successfully focused on recruiting and developing a skilled professional staff, which led to increased student performance. Prior to her principalship, Ms. Friedman served as Director of School Choice supporting the development of small theme based NYC public schools and Director of Parent Education for District Two in Manhattan. She also served as an Education Field Advisor for Columbia School of Social Work, establishing internship placements and coordinating internship supervisors.