Current Role: Chief Academic Officer, Rochester City School District (Rochester, NY)
Fellowship Role: Chief Academic Officer, AppleTree Public Charter Schools (Washington, D.C.)
Dr. Kathleen Black currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer of the Rochester City School District in Rochester, NY.
Kathleen began her career as a youth counselor, helping to cultivate workforce development and recreational programming for the Buffalo Urban League in Buffalo, New York. In that work, she recognized that her passion was grounded in providing quality opportunities for students. She made the transition to the education sector through her participation in Teach for America where she served as a classroom and inclusion teacher. She joined New Leaders, where she was an administrator within the District of Columbia Public Schools. She served seven years as a principal in Washington, DC, leading her school to gain authorization as an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program School. She most recently worked for TNTP, helping to design and lead a school leader development program recognized nationwide.
She holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s in Elementary Teaching from American University, a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Trinity University, and a Bachelor’s in Communications and Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.