Dr. Michelle Pierre-Farid is a highly accomplished leader in education, currently serving as the National Senior Executive Director for New Leaders. Previously, she was the Chief of Schools for the LEARN Charter School Network in Chicago, where she significantly increased student achievement, with 100% of her schools receiving a Commendable rating from the Illinois State Board of Education. Dr. Pierre-Farid has a proven track record of driving academic excellence, as evidenced by her tenure as Chief Academic Officer at Cleveland Metropolitan School District, where she impacted 40,000 students and increased the graduation rate by 22% over six years, resulting in one of the highest urban district graduation rates in the country at 74.5%.
Dr. Pierre-Farid also served as the Executive Director of the New Leaders program in Washington, DC, where she oversaw the development and support of urban school principals. As a member of the inaugural New Leaders class of 2003-2004, she used her training to turn around two schools in five years. Her last school, Southeast Elementary Academy, achieved double-digit academic gains in two years, increased student attendance, and won the EPIC award for excellence among charter schools nationwide.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University, two master’s degrees from Towson University and Trinity University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she has earned certificates from the BROAD Leadership Academy and Georgetown University. Dr. Pierre-Farid is also a dedicated mother to two wonderful daughters, India and Simone, whom she considers her most important work.