School Leaders

• Samantha Jones

  Samantha Jones is the principal of Achievement First Bushwick Middle School.

  AF Bushwick Empower Program

  The Empower Program is currently housed at the AF Bushwick Elementary, AF Bushwick Middle, and AF Brooklyn High School. The purpose of the Empower Program is to ensure that the <1% of students with disabilities in our school communities who have more significant and complex needs have the support they need to achieve their most ambitious individual academic goals, and, ultimately, complete high school with a clear pathway for financial security, personal fulfillment and a choice-filled life. This means that Empower students have access to all of the programming, services and supports that are available to all students. The ways in which an individual student engages with, or participates in, supports and services is determined on an individual basis. Empower students have been identified and selected for this program because they have complex and significant needs. To ensure that we are systematically and intentionally meeting their needs, Empower students receive an additional layer of specialized services that are supplemental to the core program. Empower is a STUDENT-CENTERED EXPERIENCE, with specialized instruction and increased collaboration and communication as a core part of the program model K-12.

• Em Slezak

  Em Slezak is the new Director of the Empower MS Program. Em is coming from Los Angeles where she worked for the regional special education and instructional team at Citizens of the World Charter network. Prior to Los Angeles, Em worked at AF Endeavor Middle School. Throughout her eight years as an Endeavor Charger, she was a 5th grade learning specialist, dean of special services, dean of student experience and PIR. See Em’s introduction, below! 

   

  After a short detour to Los Angeles, I am incredibly excited to reunite with the Achievement First community and join the Bushwick Middle School team as the Director of Empower! Together we will continue to deliver on the promise that All Means All for students and caregivers within the Achievement First network and propel the larger conversation around special education in charter schools for our city, state and nation. I cannot wait to connect with you all in the coming months!