What are the Varied and Complex Facets of Leadership in Public Education? 

Cohort 1 Yonkers Leadership Academy Participants can Describe Them, and Demonstrate Them.

In collaboration with the New York City Leadership Academy, Yonkers Public Schools launched the Yonkers Leadership Academy in July 2017.  The purpose of the Yonkers Leadership Academy is to strengthen the leadership pipeline in the district.  The central belief of the Yonkers Leadership Academy is skilled, passionate, and equity-focused leaders are the core of transforming schools. 

Through a series of professional learning sessions, the Academy elevated the 21st Century skills of instructional leaders while equipping them with the necessary tools to effect change in today’s educational landscape.

On Tuesday, May 29th the “Class of 2018” celebrated completion of the program at a Recognition Ceremony.  In addition to sixteen days of professional development in the “Summer Intensive”, Cohort 1 participants developed unique change projects addressing district-wide focus areas.  Sample projects included use of restorative practices to establish shared classroom goals, open ended questioning in the science classroom and improved performance in conducting lab experiments, measuring impact of accountable talk structures in classrooms with new language learners, and identifying readiness indicators in children from birth to age two.  Change projects were implemented, adjusted, and presented during the yearlong “Residency”. 

Cohort 1 was comprised of 14 Yonkers Public Schools employees who are teacher leaders, assistant principals, or central office administrators.  Cohort 2, with nine Yonkers Public Schools employees, begins their Summer Intensive in June 2018.

The Yonkers Leadership Academy is another way we continue to foster a culture of Innovation, Inspiration, and Excellence for All at Yonkers Public Schools.