School Type
Faith-based
Grade Levels
K – 8
Student Enrollment
400
Neighborhood
North Philadelphia
Education
M.Ed. Educational Leadership,
Administrative Cerftication,
Cabrini University
B.A. English/Education,
Saint Joseph’s University
Kelly Lanza
Principal, St. Martin de Porres School
Independence Mission Schools
2018 Neubauer Fellow
“I serve as a principal because I believe very strongly in Catholic education. As a Catholic educator, I have three responsibilities: lead an academically excellent school, help students discover their unique relationship with God, and foster a community dedicated to service and social and emotional development. As a Neubauer Fellow, my personal learning and development never stops. It enables me to be the best Catholic urban leader possible and for that I am extremely grateful.”
Kelly became the principal of St. Martin de Porres School in 2020. Previously, Kelly served as the principal of West Catholic Preparatory High School (2017-2020). Under her leadership, West Catholic HS school received a $300,000 grant from Philadelphia School Partnership for school turn-around work with The New Teacher Project. West Catholic also became a finalist for the Lemelson-MIT Grant of up to $10,000 to help high school students, educators, and mentors invent technological solutions to real-world problems of their own choosing.
Kelly has been an educator since 1999. Prior to becoming a principal, Kelly served as a 7th and 8th grade teacher, director of education for the Women’s Christian Alliance, assistant principal of academics and student affairs for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and a high school English teacher. Kelly grew up in Philadelphia and attended Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls.