Principal Ryan James now leads the William Boyce Thompson School after most recently serving as the principal of Cross Hill Academy.

Mr. James has been an influential figure in Yonkers Public Schools since 2003. He started his career as a substitute teacher and later as a special education teacher, teaching Therapeutic Intervention, Intensive Support Programs, and mainstream skills.

Mr. James holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mercy College and a Master’s in Special Education from Lehman College. He further advanced his education with a Master’s in School Building Leadership from Mercy College, where he was inducted into the Honor Society.

His administrative career began at Gorton High School as an assistant principal, where he led the MBK program and oversaw the Special Education Program and Math Department. In 2022, Mr. James took on the role of principal at Cross Hill Academy, where he led the school out of receivership, significantly reducing chronic absenteeism and improving academic proficiency.