Neubauer Fellows Community

Amanda Strain

Principal, Alexander Adaire School
School District of Philadelphia
2026 Neubauer Fellow
Sector
District
Grade Level
K-8
Student Enrollment
450
School/Org Neighborhood
Fishtown
Education
M.S. Ed, Elementary Education, Dowling College
B.A., Economics, Fordham University

Amanda Strain has served as Principal of Alexander Adaire Elementary School since July of 2026. Prior to that, she served as the Principal of Laura W. Waring Elementary School. Under her leadership, Waring achieved a 15.2% increase in PSSA Math scores and a 9.4% increase in PSSA ELA scores since 2022. Additionally, teacher attendance increased by 6.7% since 2022.

Amanda has facilitated significant partnerships, grants, and donations for Waring, including partnering with Friends of Waring to reopen the school library after a 10-year closure. Today, it is a thriving community-led space featuring a diverse collection that reflects students’ interests and identities and fosters a love of reading, staffed by 90 volunteers!

Amanda’s career in education spans 22 years. She has served as a teacher for New York City Public Schools and Wissahickon Charter School from 2004 to 2013, reading specialist/literacy coordinator at Wissahickon Charter School from 2013 to 2018, assistant principal at McClure Elementary School from 2018 to 2021, and principal at Laura W. Waring Elementary School from 2021 to 2026 before assuming her current role.

Amanda grew up in Long Island, New York and is a graduate of Bellport High School.

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