Susan Thompson

Sue has served as the principal of George Washington High School since 2016. Under her leadership, George Washington High School achieved a 6.8% increase in Algebra I Keystone scores, a 6.2% increase in Biology Keystone scores, a 5.1% increase in ELA Keystone scores, and a significant increase in students who report that they felt safe. George Washington High School is steadily increasing enrollment of students from its catchment. For school year 2019-20, 79% of 9th grade students were on track to graduate and moved to 10th grade and 74% of 10th grade students were on track to graduate and moved to 11th grade. This represents a 14% increase from the previous year. Additionally, 93% of George Washington students who took the Marketing NOCTI passed, and 90% of students in Culinary passed the NOCTI.
Over the course of two years during the COVID pandemic, seven George Washington High School students earned the IB diploma.
Sue has been an educator since 1995. In 2012, Sue served as a founding principal of Freire Charter Middle School. Prior to becoming a principal, Sue served as 7th and 8th grade science teacher, biology and psychology high school teacher, executive director at Breakthrough Los Angeles, guidance counselor and dean of students. In 2018 Sue was honored by State Representative Martine White as the Pennsylvania Woman of the Year. Sue was also the 2011 winner of a silver EPIC award for notable academic gains for students. In 2022, she won the Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals, and Sue currently serves on the Learning Network 4 Equity Team.
She grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire.