The Performance Partners Program is designed to support high-potential Philadelphia principals (“Performance Partners”) to achieve their most significant school goals and deepen the skills necessary to drive growth in student outcomes. Each Performance Partner is paired with a high-performing current or previous principal – either an alum of the Neubauer Fellowship in Educational Leadership (“Senior Fellow”) or a participant in the School District of Philadelphia’s Aspiring Assistant Superintendent Program – who shares expertise, encouragement, and skills utilizing a goals-based peer support approach.

Performance Partners are invited to apply to the the program based on their potential to become future Neubauer Fellows. Senior Fellows are invited based on demonstration of exceptional school leadership and interest in building their capacity to mentor and develop other leaders.

What we provide

Over the course of a year, the Performance Partners Program aims to:

• Support principals (Performance Partners) to achieve their most significant school and leadership development goals while honing critical skills to drive growth in student outcomes
• Support Neubauer Fellowship alumni (Senior Fellows) and Aspiring Assistant Superintendent Academy participants to develop their coaching skills to mentor other leaders while preparing for future school system leadership roles (e.g., assistant superintendent)
• Increase participants’ commitment to Philadelphia by developing a network of support

Performance Partners receive one-on-one support to achieve school-based goals, build their ability to increase student outcomes, and improve their candidacy for the Neubauer Fellowship. Senior Fellows receive a $2,000 honorarium for their full participation in the one-year program.

Program Components

During the Performance Partners Program:

• Participants attend four leadership development sessions
• Performance Partner/Coach pairs:
  • Develop and work towards achieving a leadership goal to drive student outcomes
  • Conduct at least five individualized coaching conversations to support goal achievement
  • Evaluate progress towards goals throughout and at the conclusion of the program
• Coaches also receive five coaching touchpoints to problem solve and better support their Performance Partners

2019-2020 Performance Partners Program Participants

Coaches

Christine Borelli – Benjamin Franklin High School

Michael Calderone – Frankford High School

Natalie Catin St. Louis – Nebinger Elementary

Toni Damon – Murrell Dobbins CTE High School

Ted Domers – G.W. Carver High School of Engineering and Science

Shakae Dupre-Campbell – Middle Years Alternative

Tamara Edwards – Thomas K. Finletter

Sharif El-Mekki – Center for Black Educator Development

Luke Hostetter – C.C.A. Baldi Middle School

Brian Johnson – Tilden Middle School

Pheng Lim – Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School

Andrew Lukov – Southwark School

Tim McKenna – Central High School

Shakeera Warthen – F. Amedee Bregy School

Chris Zagacki – Freire Charter School

Performance Partners

Sherri Arabia – John H. Webster Elementary

Christian Aument – Mercy Career & Technical High School

April Brown – Laura W. Waring School

Alexa Dunn – W.B. Saul High School

Rauchaun DuPree – The Benjamin Comegys Elementary School

Crystal Edwards – W.D. Kelley School

Christine Gullotti – Belmont Charter Middle School

Nicholas Huck – St. Helena-Incarnation Catholic School, IMS

Lillian Izzard – Samuel Fels High School

Meaghann Lawson – Mastery Shoemaker Campus

Charlotte Maddox – Lewis Elkin Elementary

RJ McDaniel – Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School

Prerna Srivastava – John Welsh Elementary

Gretchen Stewart – Vare-Washington Elementary

Tom Szczesny – Dobson Elementary