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Ben Warren is the Director of Communications for the Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders. Ben honed his communications and marketing skills in the corporate world before joining the Chicago Public Schools’ Children First Fund in 2018, where he supported the city’s public schools through strategic partnerships and philanthropy. Since then, Ben has been a passionate spokesperson and advocate for school communities both public and independent. In 2022, Ben joined New York’s Village Community School, where he served as the K–8 school’s Director of Marketing Communications until moving to Philadelphia and joining the PASL team in 2026.

Ben grew up in Baltimore and graduated from The Park School before attending Lake Forest College in Illinois, where he earned a BA in Communications and Philosophy. After living in Chicago and New York, Ben remains a loyal fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens, teams that are, thankfully, in different conferences than the Phillies and Eagles. Talk to Ben about books, movies, and music.

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.

Elyssa Yuen has served as head of school at Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School since January 2019. She opened the school’s doors to its first class of 156 kindergarten and first grade students in August 2019 and has since overseen the community’s growth from a founding elementary program to a fully enrolled K–7 school community. In the 2026–2027 school year, the school will reach a full projected enrollment of 740 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Under her leadership, Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School earned a five-year charter renewal in 2024, including approval to expand and found a middle school.

Elyssa has secured significant funding to support the school’s growth and instructional vision, including a $1.5 million Public Charter Schools Program grant to support the middle school expansion and a $482,250 grant from the William Penn Foundation’s Certification Strategy initiative, received over 24 months to strengthen teacher certification pathways and educator pipelines.

In addition to her role as head of school, Elyssa serves as a national facilitator for SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity), supporting educators across the country in engaging in professional learning focused on equity, identity, and inclusive school communities.

Elyssa’s career in education spans more than 15 years across the city of Philadelphia and brings a deep belief that schools can be powerful spaces for opportunity, belonging, and academic excellence for all students. Prior to her professional career in education, Elyssa completed her K–12 schooling at International Christian School in Hong Kong before returning to the United States for University.

Kristin Williams Smalley has served as principal of the Academies at Roxborough High School since 2022, proudly serving a school community of approximately 499 students with a mission to develop strong college and career competencies that empower students to compete in our global society.

Under her leadership, the Academies at Roxborough High School provides students with opportunities to participate in five Career and Technical Education programs: the Academy of Visual Arts Production including Film and Video Production and Graphic Design, the Academy of Health Sciences and Research including Biotechnology, the Academy of Business, Technology and Entrepreneurship including Business Administration and Marketing, as well as a Kinesiology pathway and a JROTC program.

During her tenure, the school has demonstrated measurable growth in student outcomes. The percentage of students attending 90% or more days improved by 3.8% during the 2024–2025 school year, and the percentage of chronically truant students decreased by 1.6%. Student dropouts decreased from 32 to 8 year over year. During the 2024-2025 school year, STAR Reading results demonstrated growth in at or above benchmark increasing from 18.8% in the fall to 34.4% in the Spring.   Consequently, the percentage of students in the intensive intervention decreased from 56.8% to 43.6%.  Likewise, Math saw similar milestones.  During the 2024-2025 school year, STAR Math results in the at or above benchmark increased from 11.5% in the fall to 29.5% in the Spring.

The school’s STAR Math score was the highest in the network for brick-and-mortar schools. The Career and Technical Education programs at the Academies at Roxborough were honored at the 2025 Accelerate Philly Awards for increased NOCTI proficiency, and a 2025 graduate attained the highest NOCTI score in the film and video production program citywide.

Throughout her career she has served in roles including science teacher, agriculture teacher, teacher leader, instructional specialist, career integration specialist in the Office of Career and Technical Education, assistant principal at Randolph Career and Technical High School and Universal Audenried Charter High School, and principal resident at the Academy at Palumbo High School before assuming her current role. Principal Williams Smalley has a relentless passion for unveiling and nurturing the untapped greatness of the black and brown children of Philadelphia, especially those in our neighborhood/catchment high schools.

Principal Williams Smalley grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Robert E. Lamberton High School.

Megan Wapner has served as principal of James Rhoads Elementary School in Philadelphia since 2020. Under her leadership, the school has demonstrated measurable gains in student achievement, engagement, and school climate. Over the past four years, students performing at or above benchmark on the STAR Reading assessment increased by 11%, while those in intensive intervention decreased by 16%. In mathematics, students at or above benchmark on STAR Math increased by 7.6%, and those requiring intensive intervention decreased by 13%. These improvements have been accompanied by gains in student attendance and overall school climate.

Megan is a National Board-Certified Teacher in English Language Arts. Megan has led significant school-based partnerships, including securing $75,000 in funding and support for the Eagles Playground Rebuild, enhancing outdoor learning and recreational spaces for students.

Megan’s career in education began in 1999 in the Chester Upland School District as a sixth grade reading and social studies teacher. She joined Penn Alexander School in Philadelphia in 2002, where she taught English language arts for ten years. She transitioned into leadership as dean of students in 2012, became assistant principal in 2018, and served as interim principal in 2019.

Megan grew up in Media, Pennsylvania and attended Agnes Irwin High School.

Dr. Brian Roy Wallace has served as principal of Parkway Center City Middle College since 2024, bringing over two decades of dedication to educational leadership in Philadelphia.

Under his leadership, the school achieved a 100% graduation rate. Furthermore, over 90% of students scored proficient or advanced on the 2025 ELA Keystone exam, and the Class of 2025 received over $44 million in scholarships for the 2026 school year.

Dr. Wallace has served as principal of Parkway Center City Middle College, Meredith School, Elkins Park Middle School, and Morton McMichael School. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Wallace is a committed community leader. An Eagle Scout and former Scoutmaster of Troop 358, he is also an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

A proud Philadelphia native, Dr. Wallace is a graduate of Germantown Lankenau High School.

R. Michelle Torres has served as principal of Isaac A. Sheppard School since 2023, bringing 19 years of experience in the educational and clinical sectors to her leadership. Under her leadership, Sheppard achieved a 16.3 percentage point increase in reading proficiency and a 5.3 percentage point increase in math proficiency. Notably, teacher attendance reached 100% during the 2024–2025 school year, a 36.8 percentage point increase since her arrival.

Michelle secured a grant to fund the Fiesta Schoolyard, a major enhancement to the school’s physical environment.  Michelle served as founder of the district-wide Latino/e School Leaders Think Tank, which she established during her principal residency, and recently served on the School Leaders Facilities Advisory Committee to inform the district’s Facilities Master Plan.

Michelle brings a “whole-child” lens to executive leadership. Her career is defined by a nearly two-decade commitment to the School District of Philadelphia, where she has intentionally chosen to serve the same community that shaped her. Her professional foundation includes early career work as a school-based clinician providing students with intensive mental health support, followed by a decade as a school counselor across all K-12 grade bands.

Michelle grew up in North Philadelphia and is a graduate of Central High School.

Susanna Tagoe has served as principal of KIPP North Philadelphia Academy since 2024, leading turnaround efforts across both the elementary and middle schools. Under her leadership, elementary school NWEA MAP Growth scores increased from 25% to 47% in ELA and from 32% to 54% in math. In the middle school, NWEA MAP Growth scores rose from 25% to 55% in ELA and from 32% to 55% in math. Student attendance also improved significantly, with the percentage of students attending at least 90% of school days increasing from 46% in 2024 to 55% in 2025, and the percentage of students attending at least 95% of school days increasing from 18% to 27% during the same period. Chronic absenteeism decreased by 10 percentage points from 54% in 2024 to 45% in 2025, and by 19 percentage points since 2023, prior to the turnaround efforts.

Susanna has been recognized as a Rising School Leader of Color finalist with Teach for America and was accepted into the Harvard Graduate School of Education School Turnaround Leaders Program.

Susanna’s career in education began as a founding kindergarten teacher at Uncommon Schools Camden Prep. She later served as principal of Uncommon Schools Camden Prep, Mt. Ephraim Elementary School. Susanna is deeply committed to transforming school communities into joyful, rigorous, and academically enriching learning environments where all students can thrive.

Susanna grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, and attended Easton Area High School.

Dr. Douglas Strobel has served as principal of Stephen Decatur Elementary School since 2022, bringing over 14 years of experience in education to his leadership. Under his leadership, Stephen Decatur has demonstrated measurable academic and operational growth. Math PSSA scores increased by 10.5% over three school years. Student attendance improved by nearly 12% and teacher attendance improved by over 5% over the same three school years.

Dr. Strobel’s career in education began with City Year Philadelphia, where he facilitated after-school programs and tutored students in small groups. It is there that he developed an understanding of the importance and inequitable nature of student opportunities and the impact an individual can have on a student’s life. That passion led to his involvement in Playworks, an AmeriCorps program supporting organized recess with an emphasis on movement and social-emotional learning. He then joined the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows program and began teaching in January 2011 as an eighth-grade ELA teacher at John Barry School. He has also served in roles including emotional support teacher and special education case manager before becoming the assistant principal at Solis-Cohen Elementary School in 2017.

Dr. Strobel is from Merrill, Wisconsin.

Jacqueline Stewart-Mack has served as principal of Dr. Ethel Allen School since 2022, bringing over 25 years of dedicated experience in urban education to her leadership.

Under her strategic leadership, Dr. Ethel Allen achieved a remarkable turnaround, successfully exiting Comprehensive Support and Intervention status within three years of state monitoring. Under her leadership, STAR Reading Assessment at/above grade level scores increased by 11.4%, STAR Math Assessment at/above grade level scores increased by 3.4%, and the percentage of students attending school 90% or more days increased by 9.4%.

Jacqueline’s career in education began in 1998. Throughout her career she has served in roles including classroom teacher, school-based teacher leader, Title I coordinator, testing coordinator, and assistant principal. Jacqueline spent her formative years watching her mother’s ministry work in underserved communities, where she saw clearly how inadequate conditions and educational disparities limited the potential of those around her. This fueled her mission: to dismantle those barriers and provide every child with an elite educational experience.

Jacqueline Stewart-Mack grew up in Wyncote, PA and is a graduate of Cheltenham High School.

Erica Smith has served as principal of Mastery John Wister Elementary School since 2021, leading over 500 students and 60 teachers and staff. Under her leadership, the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced in reading and math has increased significantly. PSSA reading scores have increased approximately three times their baseline, and math scores have increased approximately five times their baseline, while early literacy data reflects an increase of approximately 3.5 times the baseline.

Erica Smith has expanded community partnerships with Philalandmarks, Horizons at Greene Street Friends School, and several special education support agencies to enhance programming and student supports at Wister. She has also secured grants from Foundations, Inc. to expand out-of-school time programming and from the Mastery Fund to install indoor STEM gardens for science classes. Most recently, she secured an additional Mastery Fund grant to support renovations and programming for the John Wister Performing Arts Program

Erica Smith’s career in education began in 2008 and has spanned K–12 schools and classrooms across New York City and Philadelphia. Prior to assuming her current role, she served as a high school principal in Brooklyn for two years, as well as in roles including assistant principal of specialized services, dean of student supports, lead case manager, special education teacher, and chemistry, physics, and biology teacher across New York City and at Mastery Charter Shoemaker Campus.

Erica Smith grew up in Hatfield, MA and attended Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Dr. Torrence Rothmiller was appointed principal of Andrew Hamilton School in 2020. Over the last three years of his tenure, Andrew Hamilton’s student attendance improved by 19.1%, teacher attendance improved by 28%, and STAR Assessment Math scores at or above grade level improved by 11.5%.

Dr. Rothmiller has established significant partnerships that directly benefit the Andrew Hamilton school community. Through a partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, the school created a community garden that produces fresh produce annually, implemented in-school tutoring, and developed a range of additional student programs. In 2025, he collaborated with Mural Arts Philadelphia and Hamilton alumna Quinta Brunson to install the “Blooming Gardens” mural on the school building.

Dr. Rothmiller was named the recipient of the Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals in 2024, one of the most prestigious honors in the School District of Philadelphia.

Dr. Rothmiller’s career in education spans over 20 years, beginning in 2004. Throughout his career he has served in roles including 6th–8th Grade emotional support teacher, 6th Grade ELA teacher, 6th Grade math teacher, 6th–8th Grade social studies teacher, and assistant principal.

Dr. Rothmiller was born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of West Catholic High School.

Bianca Reyes has served as principal of Julia de Burgos Elementary School since 2021, bringing over 15 years of experience as an educator deeply committed to equity, community, and high expectations for all students.

Under her leadership, Julia de Burgos Elementary has demonstrated measurable growth in both student outcomes and school climate. Student attendance (students attending 90% or more of instructional days) increased from 37.3% to 49.7%, a gain of 12.4 percentage points. Teacher attendance increased from 71.4% to 80.3%, a gain of 8.9 percentage points, and student dropouts in grades 7–8 were reduced from 2 to 0. Academically, Grade 3 Reading proficiency increased from 11.9% to 22.0%, a gain of 10.1 percentage points, and Grade 3 Math proficiency rose from 3.4% to 9.6%, a gain of 6.2 percentage points. Overall grades 3–8 Math proficiency increased from 3.9% to 5.1%, and grades 4 and 8 Science proficiency nearly doubled from 11.2% to 22.5%, a gain of 11.3 percentage points. The school improved in 12 of 14 eligible district metrics under her leadership.

Prior to becoming principal, she served as assistant principal at John F. Hartranft School and as a special education network case manager for the Office of Diverse Learners. She has also taught both special education and general education students at the elementary and middle school levels. Bianca is a proud product of public education and deeply believes in the power of neighborhood schools to transform lives. Bianca is passionate about representation, equity, and ensuring all students know that their zip code does not determine their destiny. She is committed to increasing Latino representation in school leadership and creating opportunities for students to see themselves reflected in positions of success.

Born and raised in North Philadelphia, PA, Bianca Reyes is a graduate of Thomas Alva Edison High School, the same high school many of her students matriculate to, giving her a personal connection to the community she now serves.

Vance McNear has served as principal of Edwin Forrest Elementary School since 2022. Under his leadership, Forrest Elementary has seen significant academic gains within a Comprehensive Support and Improvement school context. His leadership has resulted in double-digit growth in students performing at or above grade level in ELA, with kindergarten seeing an 11.4% increase and first grade seeing a 12% increase, confirming the strength of Tier 1 instruction, along with a 10% increase in ELA and an 8.9% increase in Math in overall STAR proficiency across the school.

These gains are further reflected in state assessment data, with third grade ELA increasing by 5.2% year over year on the PSSA and grades 3–5 ELA seeing a 2% year-over-year increase. Fourth grade led consistent growth in Math with a 6.5% increase, contributing to an overall 4.3% increase in Math for grades 3–5 on the PSSA. Chronic truancy dropped by 3.3 percentage points, falling from 5.6% to 2.3% of students, while cumulative attendance grew by 4 percentage points year over year among students with 90% or higher attendance.

In recognition of his distinguished leadership, Vance was awarded the 2025–2026 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals, resulting in a $20,000 grant for school improvement projects. He has also been featured as a guest on the Next Man Up: MCEL Podcast and serves as a recurring guest on Principal Baruti Kafele’s AP and New Principals Academy, bringing his leadership perspective to a national audience.

Vance has secured a major partnership with the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office and obtained over $160,000 in donations and grants to fund vital initiatives for his students.

He serves on the School Leader Facilities Planning Process Committee and as co-facilitator of the Black Male Leaders Think Tank, both within the School District of Philadelphia. He has also completed the 2025 Howard University Superintendent Academy, a certificated executive leadership and fellowship program.

Vance’s career in education spans 19 years within the School District of Philadelphia. Throughout his career he has served in roles including special education teacher, fifth-grade math teacher, technology teacher leader, special education compliance monitor, dean of culture, special-needs instructional specialist for early childhood, and assistant principal.

Vance grew up in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Roman Catholic High School.

Susan H. Lofton has served as principal of Joseph Pennell Elementary School since 2022, bringing 32 years of experience as an educator within the School District of Philadelphia. She is deeply committed to the academic and social-emotional growth of her students and has made professional learning a top priority, fostering a culture where staff are committed to their collective growth and development.

Since assuming leadership at Joseph Pennell, Principal Lofton has overseen significant student achievement gains. PSSA Reading proficiency rose from 16.3% in 2021–2022 to 25.4% in 2024–2025, while PSSA Math proficiency climbed from 5.1% to 16.1% over the same three-year period. In the 2024–2025 school year, third-grade students achieved 33.3% proficiency in Reading and 29.6% in Math, representing year-over-year growth of 16.0 and 20.5 percentage points respectively. Student attendance also increased by 20.9 percentage points, rising from 42.0% to 62.9% during her tenure.

Principal Lofton’s career in education began in 1994 and includes a comprehensive list of roles including elementary teacher, school based instructional specialist, administrative liaison and dean of students, academic math coach, assistant principal, and principal resident. Her leadership is guided by the Native American proverb, “He who learns from one who is learning drinks from a flowing river,” which serves as the foundation for her vision of growing better together.

Principal Lofton grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a proud graduate of Parkway Zeta.