Celebrating the 10-year milestone

As part of our Years of Service celebration during School Leader Appreciation Week, we’re proud to recognize Achievement First team members marking the 10-year milestone in their service to our schools and communities. A decade at AF represents years of leadership, growth, and unwavering commitment to scholars. These leaders have helped shape school culture, strengthen teams, and ensure that students experience both challenge and care every day. Jessica Alhasnawi, Principal at AF Hartford Summit Middle Jess, from your early days as a passionate history teacher and department leader at Hartford Summit to your leadership today, you have consistently centered excellence for our scholars. This year, you stepped into the Interim Principal role with courage and selflessness, providing steady, thoughtful leadership for your community during a pivotal time. You lead with a growth mindset, champion critical thinking, and remain unapologetic about what students need to thrive. Your deep belief in their brilliance drives your work every day. Thank you for 10 years of dedication to Achievement First and the lasting impact you continue to make. - Olivia Levey, CT Regional Superintendent Jennifer Arce, Dean at AF Hartford Elementary Jenn, congratulations on 10 years of service! You are deeply reflective, relentlessly push for excellence, and lead with a powerful standard for what is right for kids. Your thoughtful preparation raises the bar for everyone around you and challenges teammates to bring their very best each day. You are truly a whole-school leader, and because of your guidance, teachers feel supported and scholars thrive. Thank you for the clarity, care, and high expectations you bring to our community year after year. I’m grateful for your partnership and impact on our school community! - Sueleidy Cruz, AF Hartford Elementary Principal     Alexandria Blackwood, Dean at Elm City Middle Alex, you are truly one of the most special people in our community. For 10 years, you have poured into AF schools as a student, a teacher, and now a leader, and your impact is felt everywhere. You have brought innovation, creativity, and bold ideas to Elm City in ways no one ever has, and the difference shows up daily for both kids and adults. You are deeply loved because you lead with heart, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to our students. While this is only my 1st year working alongside you, the year-over-year impact of your work is undeniable. Your passion for this work and for these kids is felt in everything you do, and I am so incredibly grateful for you. Happy 10 years of positive impact that will keep rippling in our New Haven community for our lifetime.  - Leisel Renaud, Elm City Middle Principal   Katelyn Billings, Dean at AF Ujima High Katelyn, you have had such a tremendous impact in the short-time you’ve been at Ujima lion. Your consistency, care, dedication and discipline are admirable! - Nana. One of my favorite things about Katelyn is her warmth, dedication, sassiness coupled with kindness, and just how much she loves these kids. Our community is so incredibly lucky to have her as one of our leaders (Ajay Abraham). One of my favorite things about Katelyn is her honesty, how dedicated she is to helping the students, and her personality. She's been an amazing addition to the team!!! (Kantor) Katelyn’s dedication, intelligence, and deep investment in building meaningful connections with both your team and your students truly set you apart. It has been such a joy to work alongside her since the start of this school year! (Carlosluis Perez) To My Katelyn, sister of SZA, LT resident Note Taker & Optics liaison- I admire your grit, dedication, fun, zest for life, & care for the team. There is an essence that you carry that brings a combination of joy, & “let’s get down to business”. I see it in your work ethic, I see it in your posture towards life, & I get to see it on this team. The kids love you and are always excited for you to visit or help out in the class. You’re amazing at what you do and we’re so lucky to have you!! XOXO (Chrissy) Katelyn has brought out a wave of growth and development in myself and our team at Ujima this year in radical ways! She is a steadfast beacon of warm and demanding leadership and demonstrates such hard work and care in making sure her team has everything they need to be successful. (Sam B) One of my favorite things about Katelyn is her dedication to improvement in all things.  She’s already great and keeps getting better. :) She leads by example with her focus on evidence-based results, hard work, and caring.  So happy to be growing together.  (Joe B) One of my favorite things about Katelyn is her adventurous spirit that is translated to her work ethic. She is always ready to tackle anything and everything. An inspiration to us all. (O) - Nana Effah, AF Ujima High Principal Jadine Boone, Principal at AF Endeavor Middle Jadine, you have served scholars across two campuses for a decade, growing from a master teacher into a respected leader as the Principal of Endeavor Middle. While these professional milestones are significant, they are surpassed by the deep love and commitment you pour into your community every day. To spend an afternoon in your office is to see that love reflected right back to you. It is felt in the scholars who drop in just to say hello, the teachers who stop by to check on your spirit, and the leaders who seek out your advice. You have created a sanctuary that feels like home. Thank you for your ten years of service! - Tamla Frater, NY Regional Superintendent  Andrew Broadrick, Dean at AF Hartford Summit Middle Andrew, congratulations on 10 years of service! It has been a pleasure to witness your growth and leadership here at HSMS. Thank you for your dedication and pursuit of excellence. The relationships you’ve built and the lives you’ve touched are a big part of what makes HSMS such a special place. Congratulations on this incredible milestone! - Jessica Alhasnawi, AF Hartford Summit Middle Principal         Jelani Brooks, Dean at AF East New York Elementary  Congratulations to Jelani on celebrating 10 incredible years of service at Achievement First. Jelani’s journey began at Crown Heights Elementary where he built deep, authentic relationships with staff, scholars and families and consistently drove strong academic outcomes. From the very start, it was clear that he was a natural leader grounded in instruction, rooted in community, and unwavering in his commitment to excellence. His transition to East New York Elementary School as an Academic Dean marked the next chapter and he has truly found his home in the Wolfpack!  Jelani is a brilliant leader with a powerful vision for instruction. He brings unmatched positivity, joy, and dedication to scholars and families, and his impact is felt in classrooms, hallways, and across the broader school community every single day. Jelani is one of the most effective academic leaders I have had the privilege to work alongside, and his influence over the past decade has been nothing short of tremendous. Congratulations on 10 years of meaningful, lasting impact. I am so grateful to continue watching you grow and leave such a mark on this community. - Meryl Senter, AF East New York Elementary Principal Jose Bucca, Dean at AF Hartford Summit Middle Jose, congratulations on 10 years of service! It has been a pleasure to watch your growth since joining HSMS. Over the years, you have consistently challenged yourself to grow by seeking out and implementing feedback. The lasting relationships you build with scholars and families play a powerful role in shaping their futures. Thank you for your deep commitment to our scholars, and congratulations again on this incredible milestone! - Jessica Alhasnawi, AF Hartford Summit Middle Principal       Sherell Coles, Dean at Amistad Elementary I want to share my HUGE appreciation for Sherell!!! Even though she just joined our team this fall, she shows up every day with the confidence, expertise, and presence of someone who has been part of the work for years. Sherell consistently pushes our thinking and challenges us to go deeper, especially when it comes to high-quality, rigorous reading instruction and what we can collectively achieve. She is fierce about doing what’s right for kids and isn’t afraid to raise the bar in conversations about literacy, school culture and how we as adults operate, which makes all of us better educators. What I also appreciate so much is how Sherell balances that strong instructional and schoolwide leadership with warmth and connection. She has quickly built relationships across the team (with us on LT, our staff, our families and our kids) and helps create moments that bring people together. She brings great energy, humor, and authenticity to our community, which makes collaboration feel natural and fun. She is also is sooooo deeply reflective, which makes her unstoppable. She’s constantly growing and takes such pride in her work. And of course, we can’t forget one of the most impressive fun facts… Sherell is also a snowboarding queen,  spending her weekends teaching snowboarding. Somehow I feel like this perfectly fits the fearless, confident way she approaches both the mountain and our work. Sherell, we’re so lucky you joined this team. Thank you for pushing us, inspiring us, and helping strengthen both our instruction and our community. I (and ALL OF AAES) is BEYOND LUCKY you’ve joined us!! LOVE YOU! - Lauren Raimondi, Amistad Elementary Principal Sonia Castleberry, Director of Empower at AF Brooklyn High Congratulations on 10 years of service, Castleberry! You work daily with some of our most vulnerable scholars and communities, and you consistently show up and show out with excellence, compassion, and commitment. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. We truly appreciate the care, support, and leadership you bring to Brooklyn High School each day. Thank you for your continued impact and for always putting scholars first. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done over the years and for all that you continue to give to our community. Truly appreciate you! - James Fernandez, AF Brooklyn High Principal Jason Coalter, Principal at AF University Prep High Celebrating a decade of excellence, Jason Coalter is a cornerstone of the University Prep and Bushwick communities. As a master of systems leadership, Jason leads with a proactive brilliance that ensures his school remains one of Achievement First’s brightest spots. His tenure is defined by an incredible ability to harmonize rigorous operational precision with an infectious sense of humor. Jason's leadership team radiates a vibrant energy, a direct reflection of his commitment to infusing joy into every facet of the school day. Under his steady guidance, University Prep operates with seamless consistency, creating a flourishing environment where excellence is the standard. We honor Jason for ten years of visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to our scholars. - Kiersten Gibson-Cooper, NY Superintendent Devin DeLaFuente, Director of Empower at AF Bushwick Elementary Today we celebrate twelve years of extraordinary leadership, unwavering advocacy, and deep commitment to students. You have been a champion for inclusion, belief, and possibility, ensuring every learner is seen, supported, and believed in. Your work goes far beyond compliance or programs; it lives in relationships, trust, and the countless lives you’ve changed along the way. You have guided teams with clarity, compassion, and courage, especially when the work was hard and the stakes were high. Bushwick and the Empower Program are stronger because of you. Congratulations on twelve impactful years; thank you for leading with both expertise and deep care throughout. - Courtney Saretzky, AF Bushwick Elementary Principal Kamilah DePass, Dean at AF Brooklyn High Congratulations DePass on your 10 years of service! We truly appreciate everything you bring to our high school community. As you continue to accelerate and strengthen our Math department, we are grateful for your drive, commitment, and willingness to step back into Achievement First and take on both the challenges and opportunities each day. Your dedication to scholars and your teachers does not go unnoticed. Thank you for your continued impact and leadership. - James Fernandez, AF Brooklyn High Principal Dr. Jazmin Gordon-Rose, Dean at AF Ujima Jazmin, your care, warmth and understanding spirit are so crucial to Ujima’s daily atmosphere, even amidst great challenges. Your expertise, ability to hold different truths and experiences, and generosity are truly top notch ! - Nana. One of my favorite things about Dr. JGR is the way she leads with such a generous spirit. A decade of outstanding service at AF is very inspiring and a true testament to the heart and soul you bring to this team every day. It’s been an incredible decade of dedication, and I still think back fondly to when I joined 7 years ago. You were one of the first faces to greet and welcome me to the team. Your genuine welcome made it so easy for me to settle in and feel comfortable right away, and for that, I am truly grateful to you. AF is lucky to have had you for ten years, and I’m even luckier to call you a colleague and a friend. Cheers to a decade of excellence! - Sankara One of my favorite things about Dr. Gordon-Rose is her emphatic and patient personality, but she does not hold back the truth. I thank her for the way she treats everyone around her with love, dignity, and respect. It's phenomenal how she sees both sides of the coin. I think that is one of her greatest “me”.<----figure it out. One of my favorite things about JGR is her warm demeanor that emanates from her and into everything she does. She has a big heart, and is always embodying the value of care for the whole person no matter what. Congratulations on your ten years with AF! You have touched the lives and hearts of so many teachers, scholars, and families! - Katelyn. One of my FAVORITE things about Dr DJ JAZZY GR is her ability to immediately find a positive in any situation and with any person. She’s a true embodiment of “assuming the best”. I could say “Jaz, I look blue today and I hate it.” and she’ll say “ but you’re the brightest shade of blue, darling. Look at you being the bluest of blues! Be your best blue self and that's what matters.” 10 years is nothing to scoff at. I love her dedication to her craft and her patience through it all. She’s an inspiration to me. -C. Blackman. HUGE SHOUTOUT to You Doctor ! You’re always the brightest in the room, You show up & show out day in and day out for our staff & Scholars. Our ENTIRE community thanks you for all you have done & all you do. Thank you for always checking in with me & always finding a way to make me smile  - Young. Jazmin is the light in any space she enters. We’ve known and worked together for sometime now and she never dims her light or others. The way that she shows up during challenging times is unmatched. - Nana Effah, AF Ujima High Principal Amanda Holloway Amanda, congratulations on 10 years of service! AF Hartford has been incredibly fortunate to benefit from your leadership over the past decade. The strong relationships you’ve built with scholars, families, and staff reflect your deep commitment to our community. You play a vital role in shaping and strengthening middle school culture, and we are truly grateful for the impact you continue to make. Thank you for your commitment, leadership, and dedication to AF Hartford! - Jessica Alhasnawi, AF Hartford Summit Middle Principal     Suahd Iddrissu, Dean at AF Brooklyn High Congratulations on 10 years of service, Iddrissu! The work you’ve done over the past decade has made a lasting impact not only within our school community, but on the lives of countless scholars and families. Your dedication to the College and Career role has been nothing short of exceptional, and you lead with both style and grace. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. I truly appreciate your commitment, professionalism, and the positive energy you bring to the BHS community each day. Thank you for your continued leadership and for the difference you make. - James Fernandez, AF Brooklyn High Principal     Sandeep Kaur, Dean at Amistad Middle Congratulations on 10 years of service, Kaur!!!! Your leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to students and families have made a lasting impact on our school community. Over the past decade, you have been an advocate for equity, inclusion, and student-centered practice. Your ability to lead with both expertise and heart has strengthened systems, empowered staff, and ensured that every student receives the support they need. Recently, you’ve revamped our attendance practices and led Amistad Middle to be a model for other schools. You play no games when it comes to decreasing chronic absenteeism! Thank you for your honesty, your humor, and your joy. You are an invaluable member of our team and an inspiration for us all. - Jasmine Watts, Amistad Middle Principal Sara-Kay Logan, Dean at AF Hartford Elementary Congrats, SK, on 10 incredible years of service! You’ve poured your heart and soul into our Hartford community through your deep love for kids, your passion for reading, and your unwavering belief that scholars can reach their highest potential. Your energy and joy make our school a brighter place, and your commitment to growth pushes both students and teachers to rise above and give kids exactly what they need to thrive. Thank you for being such a fun, inspiring, and dedicated leader. Here’s to the impact you’ve made and the many lives you’ll continue to change! I’m grateful for your leadership on our team and in our school. - Sueleidy Cruz, AF Hartford Elementary Principal   Jahki Manley, Dean at AF Hartford High Jahki Manley has gifted Achievement First with a decade defined by unwavering commitment, deep love for students, and an unshakable belief in what is possible. At the heart of his work is a powerful balance of love and demand. Students, staff, and families know that in his presence they will be pushed, supported, loved, and celebrated. He cultivates relationships rooted in trust and high expectations, ensuring that every young person experiences both challenge and care. He operates with clear and high standards, and those standards anchor everything he does. Even when faced with hard decisions, the kind that can make you the least favorite person in the room, he remains unwavering. He makes the tough calls not for popularity, but because it is what is right and what is best for students.  Mr. Manley serves as both a model and a testament to what is possible, and he has poured that inspiration into the lives of young people. His impact cannot be measured in years alone, but in the countless lives changed, standards elevated, and community strengthened. Congratulations and thank you for leading with heart, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to students. - Laneka Thomas, AF Hartford High Principal June McRae, Dean at Elm City Elementary June marks ten years at Achievement First, what a climb, what a run, From New York’s classrooms to Amistad, getting the work done. Middle to Elementary, now leading in her own right, Her first year as a leader and she’s rising to the height. She reflects on who she is and how she shows each day, Laughing like your best friend, always honest in her way. Her passion is the kids, whatever it may take, To make their school experience strong for every kid's sake. Her planner is her kryptonite (it’s somewhere, we assume!), But her commitment never wavers, she’s steady as she blooms. This Wolf Pack is lucky, June’s just getting started, With heart, drive, and vision, she’s boldly Wolf Pack hearted. - Serena Johnson, Elm City Elementary Principal Brittany Omoniyi, Dean at AF Providence High From Firefly, to Phoenix, to Falcon - over the past ten years, Brit Omoniyi has supported the Achievement First Rhode Island community through three different Academy levels- literally bridging the K-12 gap in her daily work. Watching her welcome her former students into the high school gives you all the data you need to see the impact she has on students. Her calm leadership presence blends into the hallways of Providence High, creating a consistent and predictable school environment for students. Brit, thank you for your 10 years of service with our Achievement First Rhode Island community. – Aja Davis, AF Providence High Principal     Jerrell RoperHawthorne, Dean at AF Brownsville Elementary Jerrell, congratulations on a decade of excellence! You are a true BRES staple and an anchor for our entire community. Over the last 10 years, you have been the thread that makes BRES, BRES--weaving together a culture of deep care, high expectations, and authentic joy. You have a rare gift for keeping people and kids at the center of every decision, ensuring that everyone who walks through our doors feels seen and valued. Whether you are bringing the fun to a school-wide celebration or leading through a challenge, your heart and commitment never waver. Thank you for 10 years of being our heartbeat. We love you, Jerrell! - Katherine Delacruz Soto, NY Regional Superintendent Shané Ramos, Principal at AF Aspire Elementary Shané, when I think of the definition of a “ride or die,” I think of you! You care so deeply for the Aspire community and you fight so hard to give our scholars and staff the best experience possible. You’ve seen Aspire through so many stages – from turnaround to top of the line. You’ve served in various capacities – from TIR to Lead Teacher to GLL to Dean and now as Principal. Throughout it all, one thing remains clear: you will go above and beyond and deliver excellence at every level. I’m so proud of you and so grateful that I’ve gotten to see your growth from GLL to Principal. Thank you for answering the call. Thank you for being a model for those around you. Thank you for your service. - Alicia Harper, NY Regional Superintendent  Lakendra Thompson, Dean at AF Bridgeport Elementary  Congratulations on 10 years of service, Lakendra! We have been incredibly lucky to have your talent, commitment, and resilience at Bridgeport Elementary. Our scholars and staff have had the privilege of experiencing your teaching and your deep love for ELA, which shows up daily in the way you push for excellence and believe deeply in what children can achieve. From leading strong fourth grade state test results in your final years in the classroom to owning testing and the Crescendo Arc year over year, your impact on student achievement is undeniable. You have served through two principals and now me, navigating leadership and staffing transitions while staying focused on what matters most, doing what is right for children. Over the years, you have faced setbacks with determination, learning from challenges and adapting your approach to better support the teachers you coach. You have grown into a skilled academic coach who continues to refine her practice, learn new strategies, and find meaningful ways to inspire others. Through patience and consistency, you have become a mentor who not only strengthens teaching practice but also builds confidence in others. You have elevated our GLL program by ensuring it is not just a time for sharing information, but a true pipeline for developing and supporting future teacher leaders. In the 2024–25 school year, you founded the G.I.R.L.S. program at BPES, creating space for our young girls to build confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of identity. This year, you modeled true leadership by returning to the classroom and showing excellence as both a teacher and a leader. Quiet and humble, yet deeply impactful, you remind us all that when we show up as our authentic selves, we give others permission to do the same, making our team stronger and richer. It is truly a gift to do this work alongside you. - Shalia Garnett, AF Bridgeport Elementary Principal Alyssa Zabinsky, Dean at AF Bushwick Middle Alyssa - congratulations on 10 years with our network! Since becoming Principal at Bushwick Middle School, I've had the opportunity to see firsthand just how deeply committed you are to scholar growth and teacher development. You are constantly thinking about how to create the conditions for scholars to experience both joy and rigor while engaging with content, and our Math program is stronger because of your leadership. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our staff, scholars, and families. We are incredibly lucky to have you at Bushwick Middle School, and our network is better because of you. Happy 10th year anniversary.  - Michael Ortiz, AF Bushwick Middle Principal 

Thank you for a decade of leadership, dedication, and impact across Achievement First! Stay tuned for the final post in our Years of Service series, where we’ll celebrate team members marking the 15-year milestone.