Amy Deal

Resourceful and student-focused educational leader with expertise in cultivating high-performing learning environments, designing and aligning curriculum, and implementing data-driven instructional strategies to drive academic achievement across K–12 settings. Skilled in staff development, leadership mentoring, and professional growth initiatives to enhance teacher effectiveness and retention. Proficient in student assessment analysis, intervention program management, and performance monitoring to optimize outcomes.

Experienced in operational oversight, budget and resource management, technology integration, and coordinating community and partner engagement to support school-wide initiatives and college readiness programs.

Principal – Promise Academy I High School at Harlem Children's Zone (2021-01 – Present)

Cultivate a high-performing school culture focused on growth and excellence, managing staff development, student assessment, and instructional performance. Strengthen parent and stakeholder engagement with weekly newsletters and systematic contact monitoring. Organize weekly staff huddles, monthly professional development, and coordinate with partner programs, including College Success Office, Healthy Harlem, and Success in Motion, to support training and student needs.

Provide educational guidance through site visits and presentations at the William Julius Wilson Institute and Practitioners Institute. Mentor grade-level and content team leads to build leadership capacity and instructional effectiveness. Present school performance, academic updates, and community engagement metrics at monthly board meetings.

Contribute to humanities and elective curriculum development, aligning with academic standards.

• Achieved 100% graduation and college acceptance rates annually by directing all academic, operational, and leadership functions at Promise Academy I High School.
• Maintained 95% staff retention by coaching leadership team members, fostering professional growth, and leading weekly one-on-one and group development sessions.
• Strengthened college readiness via panels, career fairs, tours, and visits from college representatives, ensuring comprehensive exposure to higher education.
• Accelerated graduation timelines by designing and implementing a district-wide alternative schedule program for overage and under-credited scholars.
• Launched network technology initiatives, including 1:1 student devices, CodeHS programming, and AI-integrated instruction.
• Consistently elevated Regents exam performance with 82%+ ELA and 81%+ Global History passing rates over three years.
• Boosted student monthly attendance to 94–95% through targeted incentive programs and accountability systems.
• Piloted APAAS coursework, attaining a 77% AP exam pass rate in the program's second year.

Principal – Promise Academy II Middle School at Harlem Children's Zone (2018-01 – 2021-12)

Directed the turnaround of Promise Academy II Middle School, addressing historically low attendance and high staff turnover while cultivating a culture of high performance, engagement, and academic excellence. Administered school budget and resource allocation to prioritize student outcomes and program effectiveness. Mentored and developed school leadership team members and direct reports via weekly one-on-one and group coaching sessions.

• Limited instructional disruption to a single day at the pandemic onset by designing and implementing a remote learning program for 300 staff and 1,800+ students, with ongoing support for new staff.
• Elevated staff performance and onboarding by organizing weekly huddles, monthly professional development, and a comprehensive summer training program for new teachers.
• Expanded elective and extracurricular offerings, including journalism, chess, school beautification, and anime clubs—by developing the master schedule.
• Provided actionable insights for strategic decision-making by presenting monthly performance, academic, and community updates at board meetings.
• Promoted HCZ initiatives and leadership development by representing the school at colleges, universities, and professional development events.
• Increased monthly attendance from 92% to 97% through targeted engagement strategies and incentive systems.
• Strengthened teacher recruitment pipelines via partnerships with Teach For America and NYU Teaching Fellows.
• Boosted parent and stakeholder engagement through weekly newsletters and systematic contact monitoring.

Assistant Principal – Promise Academy I Lower Elementary at Harlem Children's Zone (2016-01 – 2018-12)

Steered day-to-day operations and instructional leadership for grades K–2, developing the school master schedule and coordinating staffing to optimize teaching effectiveness. Collaborated with network instructional coaches to ensure educators had the time, resources, and support necessary to implement high-quality instruction. Partnered with the recruiting department, attending job fairs and college events to attract and onboard high-quality instructional staff.

• Guided teacher development by coaching and mentoring teachers, teaching fellows, and assistants, successfully supporting three teaching fellows through their Relay graduate programs.
• Raised student reading levels by three or more grade levels within six months by designing and managing Tier 2 and Tier 3 academic intervention programs.
• Optimized program fidelity and resource allocation by creating and implementing a master schedule aligned with network instructional requirements.
• Improved literacy outcomes, lesson delivery, and school culture by supporting the design and execution of targeted professional development initiatives.

Physical Education & Health Teacher – Promise Academy Upper Elementary at Harlem Children's Zone (2011-01 – 2016-12)

Led network-wide physical education initiatives while teaching grades 3–5, developing and implementing curricula. Provided instructional support and guidance to staff across grades K–12, fostering consistent quality and adherence to best practices. Observed and coached staff, supporting curriculum delivery and enhancing instructional effectiveness across the network.

• Advanced student fitness, wellness, and healthy habits by delivering grades 3–5 health and physical education instruction, elevating student engagement and learning outcomes.
• Standardized K–12 physical education programming and elevated instructional quality by designing a network-wide curriculum.

Physical Education Teacher & Athletics Coach - Roybal Learning Center & Belmont High School at Los Angeles Unified School District

Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) Participant at Los Angeles Unified School District

Ed.D. in Educational Administration, Leadership & Policy – Fordham University (2020-01 – 2023-12)

Certificate in School Management & Leadership Certificates – Leading People, Leading Change, Leading Schools – Harvard Business School Online (2019-01 – 2020-12)

M.S. in Educational Administration & School Leadership – College of Saint Rose (2015-01 – 2017-12)

M.S. in Physical Education – Canisius College (2013-01 – 2014-12)

B.S. in Education – Bowling Green State University (1999-01 – 2003-12)