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Jamal has served as the principal of Crossroads at Hunting Park since 2019 and of Philadelphia Learning Academy North since 2022. During the 2023 – 2024 Fall to Winter STAR assessment, the average student at Crossroads at Hunting Park outgrew 75% of their academic peers nationally in mathematics and 79% of their academic peers nationally in reading.

Jamal has been an educator since 2000. Before becoming a principal, Jamal served as a 6th – 8th grade Math and Science teacher, high school English teacher, middle-year teacher leader, School-Based Teacher Leader, PhillyPLUS resident, and an adjunct professor for the Early Childhood Education Department at Harcum College. He was also the principal of Edward T. Steel from 2015 to 2019.

Outside of school, Jamal currently serves as a Volunteer Fire Fighter for the Lansdowne Fire Department, a board member for Caring People Alliance and Committed Community Mentors, a member of the board of directors for ENSPIRE Foundation, and a member of the Delta Sigma Sigma Alumni Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated. He received the Lang Lang International Music Foundation Keys of Inspiration Grant for $185,000.

In 2023, Jamal received a Citation from the Council of the City of Philadelphia. Jamal is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Bartram Motivation High School.

Derrick has served as the principal of Shoemaker High School since Spring 2022. Under his leadership, Shoemaker’s 7-8 Math MAP growth is in the top 75th percentile of the network, while Shoemaker’s Algebra 1 achievement has seen over 35% increase in proficiency on quarterly assessments year over year. In ELA, Shoemaker saw a 5% proficiency increase on the PSSA from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023. All of these gains can be partially attributed to his team’s focus on student retention and attendance, the latter of which has seen over a 10% increase from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024. Derrick has spent his entire career in education starting in 2013. Before becoming a principal, Derrick served as a middle and high school math teacher (8th-10th grade, Algebra 1), corps member advisory, summer program director, and an assistant principal of instruction. Derrick was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Lansdale, PA.

Melissa Bragg has served as the principal of John Hancock Demonstration School for two years. Under her leadership, staff attendance increased 6%. Hancock’s students scoring at or Above Benchmark in reading and math on the STAR assessment increased by 8%. While at Hancock Melissa, in conjunction with her leadership team, has implemented instructional coaching for all teachers and staff. She has also facilitated a single school culture for both school’s campuses and collaborated with stakeholders to introduce the K-8 mascot, the Hancock Husky. In January of 2024, John Hancock Demonstration School was featured as the Philadelphia Tribune’s School of the Week.

Melissa has been a School District of Philadelphia educator for 18 years. She has had the privilege to teach at LP. Hill Elementary School, GW. Childs Elementary School, and Hill-Freedman World Academy. After deciding to pursue educational leadership, Melissa was accepted into the Philly PLUS program in 2016. Prior to serving as principal at Hancock, Melissa was an Assistant Principal at Baldi Middle School in Northeast Philadelphia for five years.

Melissa is a native Philadelphian and a proud Philadelphia High School for Girls alumna.

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.

Now a Regional Schools Officer for Mastery Charter Schools, Rickia previously served as the principal of Mastery Molina Elementary School in Camden, New Jersey, from 2015 through 2022. In her first year as principal at Mastery Molina, the school doubled proficiency rates in Math and English Language Arts on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exam. Each year since, Mastery Molina increased its number of students scoring proficient on the PARCC English Language Arts exam. In 2018 – 2019 Mastery Molina made the Top 10 District and Renaissance School list in ELA Proficiency and the Top 10 District and Renaissance School list in Math Proficiency in Camden. Also in 2018–2019 44% of Mastery Molina English Language Learners met their target score on the Access 2.0.

Prior to becoming principal at Mastery Molina, Rickia was principal at Simon Gratz Mastery Charter School in Philadelphia (2013–2015), during which the school increased student attendance rates and Keystone Literacy exam scores.

Rickia has been an educator since 2002.  Rickia is a recipient of the Philadelphia 76ers Game Changer Award (2018-2019) for leaders who mentor the next generation of innovators and she is a member of the Mastery Charter Schools – Health and Safety Plan Board. Rickia has also served as Assistant Principal of Instruction, 8th Grade Team Lead, Geometry teacher, and 8th Grade Math teacher. Rickia grew up in Philadelphia and attended Strawberry Mansion High School.

Lisa currently serves as principal of Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences. Prior to this, she served as principal of Philadelphia High School for Girls (Girl’s High). Lisa was also the Director of the New Principals’ Academy at the School District of Philadelphia, transitioning novice leaders into their new roles as School District of Philadelphia principals through two years of ongoing coaching and professional development.

From 2013-2016, Lisa was the principal of Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin from. Under her leadership, AMY at James Martin moved from the 12th to the 3rd ranked middle school overall in one year according to the School District of Philadelphia’s School Progress Report. Additional highlights from her leadership at AMY at James Martin include increasing the school’s “Overall” score by 19%, increasing the “Progress” score by 35%, and receiving the 2015-16 “Peer Leader” award (out of 14 schools). Prior to becoming principal at AMY at James Martin, Lisa was principal at Sheridan West Academy (2011 – 2013) where she led the school to a 9% increase in both Math and English Language Arts PSSA achievement scores.

Lisa has been an educator since 1996. Prior to becoming a principal, Lisa served as assistant principal, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) representative, student-teacher mentor, leadership/safety/distributed leadership team member, and middle school literacy teacher. Lisa grew up in South Philadelphia and attended Saint Maria Goretti High School.

James (Jim) has served as the principal of  Lansdale Catholic High School since 2023. Previously, he was the principal of Nazareth Academy from 2018 to 2023. Prior to his role at Nazareth Academy, Jim was Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, principal of Archbishop Ryan High School, and principal of Pope John Paul II High School. In addition, Jim has been an assistant principal and teacher of various elementary through high school grades.

Jim has been an educator since 1996 and is the proud father of five daughters. Jim grew up in Philadelphia and attended Father Judge High School.

Noah has served as a School District of Philadelphia Assistant Superintendent since 2020. In this role, he oversees Learning Network 4, partnering with school leaders to focus on student achievement, equity, and emotional/social development. Prior to joining the School District of Philadelphia, Noah served as the principal and then CEO of Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter, the only all-boys public school in Pennsylvania. Under his leadership, Boys’ Latin maintained an average college matriculation rate of 85% and an average college persistence rate of 77%.

Noah has been an educator since 1998. Prior to becoming a principal, Noah served as Assistant Principal, Acting Director of Guidance, and middle school English teacher. Noah was named University of Pennsylvania’s Educator of the Year (2017) and received the YMCA Achievers Excellence in Service to Youth Award. Noah is a contributing author to Repositioning Educational Leadership (Teachers College Press. Columbia University). He has served on the boards for Philadelphia Charters for Excellence and North Carolina Outward Bound School. Noah grew up in Harrisburg, PA.