Alexa Dunn
Alexa is the founder and lead educational consultant/coach with North Star Collaborative, LLC. In this role, with a commitment to equity-based practices, she seeks to empower leaders to be the best authentic versions of themselves, to hold students at the center, and to effect positive change in their schools. She is an ACC-certified coach with the International Coaching Federation and has experience coaching leaders across the country and in Philadelphia. Additionally, she is a Fieldwork Coach and Instructor in the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.
Previously, Alexa served as the principal of Walter B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences, a Career and Technical Education school in the School District of Philadelphia (2018-2022). Under her leadership, Saul achieved a 17% increase in students attending 95% or more of scheduled time, along with an 11% decrease in truancy and lateness. Students also achieved a 65% increase in proficient and a 75% increase in advanced Biology Benchmark scores. From 2021 to 2022, Saul began a dual enrollment program with West Chester University and doubled student participation in two years. Saul also became an Agriculture and Youth Organization Grant Recipient, Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Recipient, and winner of the Philadelphia Insectarium’s Eco-Sculpture Contest. From 2018-2022, Saul was awarded Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals at the PHS Flower Show for its Horticulture program’s exhibit.
Over Alexa’s four-year tenure, Walter B. Saul High School decreased suspensions for fighting by 50%, and overall suspensions went from 40 to 15. Additionally, between 2018 and 2022, Saul’s 9th Grade On Track rate rose to 79%, up 40%. Alexa attributes these dramatic changes to a focus on strategic goal-setting, socio-emotional wellbeing, advisory programming, professional learning communities, relationship building, and restorative practices.
Alexa has been an educator since 2000. Prior to becoming a principal, Alexa served as a teacher, founding faculty member of Science Leadership Academy (SLA), academic coach, professional learning specialist, and adjunct faculty at University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education’s Urban Teaching Program. Alexa grew up in Philadelphia and attended Germantown Friends School.