Neubauer Fellows Community

Dr. Benita Jessup

Principal, James R. Lowell Elementary School
School District of Philadelphia
2026 Neubauer Fellow
Sector
District
Grade Level
PreK-4
Student Enrollment
431
School/Org Neighborhood
Olney - Oak Lane
Education
Ed.D., Educational Administration and Leadership, Walden University
M.Ed., Elementary & Special Education, Chestnut Hill College
B.S., Education, Temple University
B.A., Central High School

Dr. Benita Jessup has served as principal of Lowell Elementary School since 2024, bringing over 20 years of experience as an inquiry-driven leader committed to accelerating student achievement, strengthening instructional practice, and building equitable school communities.

Under her leadership, Lowell Elementary has demonstrated significant academic and operational growth. Dr. Jessup led the school to earn a PSSA Improvement Award for a 10% year-over-year increase in overall math proficiency on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, along with sustained growth in reading and math across grades 3–4. Teacher attendance increased by 6.4% year over year, representing a 9.4% increase over three years, and student attendance improved, with more learners achieving 90% or higher attendance. Dr. Jessup also launched inaugural boys’ and girls’ mentoring programs to strengthen student identity, engagement, and belonging.

Dr. Jessup has expanded school-community partnerships at Lowell Elementary, including Extended Day and Extended School Year programming in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Education and the Olney Arts Project, providing students with enriched learning opportunities beyond the school day.

Throughout her career, Dr. Jessup has been recognized for her impact on student achievement and community service, including the PSSA Improvement Award (2025), the Community Service Award in Education from Highway Word of Faith (2013), and a Service Award from the PBT Christian Education Department.

Her prior experience includes serving as assistant principal at Benjamin Franklin High School, supervisor of English language arts (K–8) at Chester Community Charter Schools, and earlier roles as director of early literacy (K–2), literacy coach, curriculum writer, and classroom teacher within the School District of Philadelphia. Her leadership is guided by Maya Angelou’s words— “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Dr. Jessup was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and is a graduate of Central High School (Class of 254).

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