On March 16, the Bank Street community gathered virtually for the annual Lucy Sprague Mitchell Society Tea, hosted by the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO). The event brought together 39 alumni, faculty, donors, and friends of the College to learn more about Bank Street’s work advancing equitable education and to recognize supporters who have included Bank Street in their legacy giving plans.
This year’s theme, “The Power of Partnership: Bank Street and New Leaders, Redefining Principal Preparation and Practice,” highlighted the College’s growing collaboration with New Leaders to prepare equity-focused school leaders. Through this collaboration, the National Aspiring Principals Fellowship® was launched in 2023 in response to a significant representation gap in educational leadership. While more than half of public school students identify as people of color, only about 20 percent of principals identify as Black and/or Hispanic/Latinx. The fellowship seeks to expand pathways for transformational leaders committed to equity and excellence for all students.
The conversation opened with an overview of Bank Street’s leadership programs and their impact across New York City. Dr. Suzanne McCotter, Dean, Bank Street Graduate School of Education, noted that Bank Street prepares more school leaders in the city than any other institution.
Building on that foundation, the discussion turned to the evolving role of school leadership itself. Lydia Colón Bomani, Chair, Educational Leadership Programs, Bank Street Graduate School of Education, reflected on how the phrase “the principal’s office” has historically been associated with fear and punishment. Through the partnership with New Leaders, Bank Street aims to reimagine leadership as relational, collaborative, and rooted in equity and shared decision-making.
According to Dr. Nicole Limperopulos, Director, Leadership Partner Programs, Bank Street Graduate School of Education, that vision requires principals who can navigate both institutional demands and the realities of classroom life. She described the tension principals face balancing policy and compliance with the intellectual and emotional work of teaching and learning. The fellowship is designed to help leaders bridge these worlds while remaining deeply connected to students and educators.
Speakers also emphasized the broader impact strong school leadership can have on student outcomes and school communities. Denise Corbett-Dennis, Chief Fellowship Officer, New Leaders, noted that equity-minded principals play a critical role in improving school culture, supporting teachers, and creating better outcomes for students—particularly students and teachers of color.
The scale of that impact was further illustrated through the work New Leaders has accomplished nationwide. Kavish Burney, Executive Director of Strategy and Operations, National Aspiring Principals Fellowship®, shared that the organization, which has been running for two decades, has trained more than 8,000 leaders across 41 states and 130 districts, ultimately reaching over 2 million students.
At the center of the fellowship is a commitment to accessibility and sustained support. Designed for full-time teachers, the program removes barriers to leadership development by pairing fellows with both leadership coaches and in-school mentors. Graduates leave prepared to lead with a strong moral purpose, build equitable school communities, and center the strengths and identities of their students.
Since its launch, the partnership has expanded rapidly—from an inaugural cohort of 35 fellows in Chicago, Washington, DC, and New York to seven cohorts totaling 520 school leaders across 30 states. An eighth cohort will begin this summer.
The event concluded with a student video, a Q&A session, and closing remarks from Tracy Snyder, Donor Engagement Officer, DARO, who shared ways supporters can continue advancing Bank Street’s mission and the legacy of founder Lucy Sprague Mitchell.
Watch a video recording of the event
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