Dr. Jean-Pierre is selected as Principal of Paige Elementary School
The Schenectady City School District is pleased to announce that Dr. Patrick Jean-Pierre has been selected as the next principal of Paige Elementary School. His official appointment is pending board approval at the August 18 board of education meeting.
Jean-Pierre joined the Schenectady City School District in July 2018 as the assistant district director of Diversity, Recruitment and Retention. In July 2020, he was selected to be the district’s first district director for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. In this role, he led the district’s efforts to ensure equity and he established and led the implementation of a district-wide anti-racism task force and building leadership teams in all the district schools. Jean-Pierre developed a 5-year plan to support all schools and departments in the development of culturally responsive, equity and anti-racism beliefs, policies, and practice including the coordination of the board of education Equity Policy Committee. As part of his commitment and work to guide and support staff, Jean-Pierre led professional development initiatives, coordinated affinity groups, facilitated community engagement meetings, developed resources and support materials for staff, and provided mediation and support. He also designed equity audits and led a strategic planning pillar team.
"I am excited and am confident that Dr. Jean-Pierre’s leadership skills, experience, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to equity make him the right leader for the Paige School community," said Superintendent Anibal Soler, Jr. "He has an impeccable record of always putting the care and interest of our students first. He is committed to partnering with parents and staff and ensuring that every student has access to what they need to be educationally successful."
“I am excited to serve the wonderful Paige Elementary community in my role as principal,” said Jean-Pierre. “I look forward to working with students, families, community members and staff to continue to cultivate a community school that is driven by equity and excellence. Paige Elementary is a special place and I am honored to join such a vibrant community.”
Prior to coming to Schenectady, Jean-Pierre worked as deputy assistant director at the University at Albany’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion where he developed an institutional theory of action for diversity change management. He led the development and implementation of curriculum and cultural competence professional development to support teaching and learning, and best practices to diversify, recruit and retain staff.
Jean-Pierre’s other experiences include working in a variety of K-12 professional development and coaching roles supporting teachers, principals, and district leaders during his tenure at the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools (formerly Metro Center for Urban Education). He supported district and school leaders in a complex urban school system which resulted in a 50% decrease in suspensions and 17-26% increase in academic achievement. From 2014-2017, Jean-Pierre served as director/co-investigator for New York State Technical Assistance Center on Disproportionality at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, serving districts throughout the state. Prior to that in 2012, he held the role of co-director for the Center for Strategic Solutions, in which he coordinated systems change to support school principals in establishing school-based systems and supports for ELL’s at Uniondale School District, Engagement Centers in Denver Public Schools and supported Atlanta Public School District by coordinating a community driven process that produced a birth-to-career model, and comprehensive three-tiered family engagement plan.
Jean-Pierre began his career in education as a middle school teacher in Brooklyn, where he established an award-winning debate club. Over the years, he has garnered experience as a career counselor, group counselor and coach, character education instructor, behavioral specialist, and clinician.
He has held many teaching and scholarship positions including adjunct faculty at Sage College, Clarkson University, Briarcliffe, and Manhattan College. He was a part-time lecturer as well as a Power Lab group instructor at the University of Pennsylvania and a co-instructor at Rider University. He is a certified organizational leadership group dynamic certified consultant at A.K. Rice Social Systems.
Jean-Pierre is a lifelong learner and has a long list of educational accomplishments, degrees, and certifications. These include:
Doctor of Psychology, Rutgers University
ASSA, Howard University Urban Superintendent Academy, Certificate, Superintendent
School District Leadership, Advance Certificate of Study, The College of Saint Rose
Masters of Professional Development, Human Resource Management, University of Stony Brook
Masters of Arts, Industrial Organizational Psychology, City University of New York
Masters of Arts, Administration, Leadership and Technology, New York University
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Social Science, International Studies, University of Stony Brook
He holds a NYS Building Leadership Certificate and a NYS District Leadership Certificate.
Jean-Pierre sits on many professional committees and advisory boards including NAACP Schenectady, the SchenEquity Partnership and the Capital Region Antiracist Community Training Initiative.He has delivered keynotes and presentations on many topics including diversity, disproportionality, equity, race relations and culturally responsive education.