Dr. Latoyia Bailey

Dr. Bailey has served as the principal of The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School since July 2021. Dr. Latoyia Bailey continuously celebrates the achievements of the staff, students, and families. Rush is nationally recognized as the only 2022 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence awarded in the City of Philadelphia. Rush students maintained a graduation rate of 100% fin 2023, and has exceeded the growth standard with 2.44% growth index in PVAAS, which places them in the category of “well above” the growth standard. 95.1% of students are considered On-Track and 62.8% of them are enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement class. This is a steady increase over the past three years, with an additional increase of three AP classes and eight honors classes.

Before Rush, Latoyia learned leadership skills at The Academy at Palumbo High School, which afforded her the courage to become an Assistant Principal at South Philadelphia High School. Her roles as the English Department Chair, Roster Chair, Instructional Reform Facilitator, School-Based Teacher Leader, and Building Committee Member all taught her one of her greatest mantras: One must lead from behind for real leadership to shine. In 2009, she became the South Philadelphia Regional Finalist for the Dr. Ruth Wright Hayre Teacher Award, and in 2010 she became the Winner for Distinguished Teaching and she was awarded the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award.

Doc B or Momma Bailey as she is lovingly called by her students, is an author, educator, public figure, and motivational speaker who uses her platform to work with children, families, and other educators extend beyond Philadelphia into both the national and international areas such as South Africa and India. Hailing from Paterson, New Jersey Latoyia started as a per diem substitute in 1996 and attended Passaic County Technical High School.