Deirdre A. DeAngelis-D’Alessio is a leader in high school reform and has the reputation for implementing new and exciting programs. Under her leadership as principal, New Dorp High School has been the New York City model for high school reform in which parents and community are involved to enhance the educational experience for students.
Motivated by her love of educating, Ms. DeAngelis-D’Alessio has maintained a school with very low teacher turnover. By bringing faculty, students and parents together, she has created a sense of community not found at other schools. During the current 2011-2012 school year, New Dorp High School has met all New York State standards by making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in all sub categories, received an “A” on the NYC School Progress Report and a “well-developed” on the NYC Quality Review. Ms. DeAngelis-D’Alessio attributes this progress to the instructional and structural changes as well as to increased teacher leadership and commitment.
Ms. DeAngelis-D’Alessio is not new to school reform. As an assistant principal of special education at The High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology from 1991 to 1999, she was a pioneer in integrating special needs students into mainstream settings.
Because of her exemplary work, Ms. DeAngelis-D’Alessio has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors which include the Carrie and Pete Rozelle Award from the National Center for Learning Disabilities, the Beacons of Excellence Award from the University of Minnesota, the Education Update Outstanding Administrator of the Year, the Council for Supervisors and Administrators Incentive Award for School Progress, the U.S. Department of Education: Model SLC School, and the Staten Island Women of Achievement Award. She was also named International Educator of the Year by Virtual Enterprises and was named Unlimited Educator of the Year by United Activities, to name a few.
In addition, Ms. DeAngelis-D’Alessio has been invited to present at educational and reform conferences at the city, state and national levels. Recently, she published an article in Principals Leadership, The National Association of Secondary School Principals Journal, entitled, “Starting Small for Big School Improvement.” Ms. DeAngelis-D’Alessio is also a breast cancer survivor. She celebrated her three-year anniversary in April of this year.
